Uroš Knežević (2 January 1811 – 21 October 1876) (Урош Кнежевић) was a Serbian painter. He was born the town of Sremski Karlovci (province of Vojvodina, then Austrian Empire, now Serbia), to father Teodor and mother Julijana. Even though he spent most of his life in Serbia, there is very little information about his life.
Life
About his first years of education the artist himself wrote that he had enjoyed drawing even as a child and that he felt thoroughly devoted to that "wonderful art" of drawing. He first studied drawing at the Sremski Karlovci gymnasium (high school). He transfers from Vojvodina to Serbia in 1834, where he actively practices painting until 1844. His work was essential in introducing art to Serbia and educating the local population in art appreciation. During his time in Serbia he supported himself by painting portraits of the local nobility and prominent citizens. However, the local population was still quite unwelcoming of the art, and the portrait fees were often not paid. This made it difficult for Knežević to earn enough to support himself, let alone to save enough for his education in Vienna which he so passionately wanted. Even the royal family refused to pay for the many portraits, coats of arms and other symbols that Knežević made for them.