With the arrival of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1878, the position of mayor was introduced in Sarajevo as part of the new city administration.
The first mayor was Mustaj-beg Fadilpašić (1830–1892), who held this position from 1878 to 1892. During his mandate, Sarajevo began to acquire the features of a modern city – streets were regulated, urban infrastructure developed, and numerous projects were launched that marked the city’s development at the end of the 19th century.
The Art Collection of the Museum of Sarajevo preserves a portrait of Mustaj-beg Fadilpašić as part of the collection of portraits of Sarajevo’s mayors. This collection reminds us of the individuals who governed the city in different periods and left a lasting mark on its history.
