National Gallery of Slovenia

A detail of the facade of the historical building Narodni dom in Ljubljana, built at the end of 19th Century. Today the National Gallery of Slovenia.

The National Gallery of Slovenia (Narodna galerija) is the main art museum in Slovenia that holds the country's largest fine art collection from the late medieval period up to the early twentieth century. It was founded as early as 1918 as the National Gallery Society with the aim of establishing a museum for Slovenian fine arts. First housed in the Kresija Palace, the Gallery relocated to the Narodni dom palace in 1926.

A completely reorganised and expanded permanent exhibition of the collections returned to public view in January 2016, following an extensive renovation of the Narodni dom palace.

Prenova Narodnega doma - uresničene sanje Narodne galerije by Narodna galerija Slovenija on YouTube

History

Narodni dom (National House) building by František Škabrout, built in Ljubljana 1894–1896. In 1927 the National Gallery of Slovenia rented some rooms in the building that housed also sport and leisure activities. Postcard, 1910.

The National Gallery of Slovenia was founded in 1918 as the National Gallery Society with the aim of establishing a museum for Slovenian fine arts. The National Gallery was originally housed in the Kresija Palace, where the first Permanent Exhibition was opened to the public in 1920. The Gallery relocated to the Narodni dom Palace in 1926, where it remains to this day. During the German occupation, the Gallery collections were relocated to the basements of the National Museum and the National and University Library. After the war, on 1 July 1946, the National Gallery of Slovenia became a state institution.

In the 1980s, the Gallery embarked on an expansion and renovation project that lasted for four decades. In 1988, the Gallery acquired the premises of the neighbouring Club of Delegates and in 1993 completed the New Wing in its lot. In 2001, the glass Entrance Hall, which connects the Narodni dom Palace and the New Wing, was completed. The Robba Fountain was placed inside the Entrance Hall in 2008. In 2009 the Gallery began the renovation of the Narodni dom Palace, which reopens in January 2016.

National Gallery of Slovenia, view of the northern wing by Edvard Ravnikar and the entrance hall by SADAR + VUGA Architects, 2009.

Next to permanent exhibition premises, there is an exhibition area for temporary exhibitions, educational activities and the National Gallery of Slovenia Library.

Collections

After its foundation in 1918, the Gallery succeeded in a relatively short time in bringing together works from both public and private collections, including works by Slovenian artists purchased by the City of Ljubljana and works belonging to the Society for Christian Art; it also began to systematically purchase other works of art. An important acquisition was 90 paintings from the Strahl Collection. In 1927 the Gallery ordered casts of classical sculptures from the Louvre and in 1934 augmented its collection with fine art works belonging to the National Museum of Slovenia. After the Museum of Modern Art opened in 1947, many of the National Gallery's 20th-century works were transferred to the new museum. Throughout the Gallery’s history, numerous works of art were donated and bequeathed to the institution by artists themselves or their relatives, collectors, companies and individuals.

Today the Gallery's collection comprises 3,500 paintings, 1,000 pieces of sculpture, over 8,000 works on paper, and around 20,000 documents, thus taking care for the works of art by more than 1,000 artists. A selection of artworks is also accessible online.

The Permanent Collection of the National Gallery of Slovenia could be subdivided into Art in Slovenia, European Painters, Government Art Collection, Collection of Zoran A. Mušič (1909–2005), and a Special Collection.

A Collection of Zoran A. Mušič (1909–2005), a Slovene Modernist painter who established himself in international art world (Venice and Paris), comprises 57 artworks that were donated to the gallery in 2014 by the artist’s niece, with further 40 works on loan. The Government Art Collection comprises over 1300 works of art that were acquired directly by the government, mostly after the Second World War, and kept in ministry and government buildings. The Gallery became the custodian of the collection in 1986. A Special Collection consists of a collection of posters, calendars and documents from the personal archives of Slovene artists who worked in the late 19th and in the first half of the 20th century.

The 2016 set up of the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Slovenia in the grand hall.

Permanent exhibition set anew

As the premises were expanded, in January 2016 a permanent exhibition was reinstalled: it features a new selection of works from all the collections arranged chronologically, covering the period between the 13th and the early 20th century.

Temporary exhibitions programme

The museum's programme counts approximately 4 major and 15 small-scale exhibitions per year. The majority of them are prepared by the house curators, some are acquired by exchange with international institutions or prepared by other Slovene organisations (e.g. Biennial of Slovene Visual Communications).

International Cooperation

On 17 April 2013 the exhibition Slovenian Impressionists and their time (1890–1920), curated by Sylvain Lecombre and Barbara Jaki, opened at the Petit Palais Museum in Paris. To date, it was the largest exhibition of Slovenian art in Western Europe.

The Gallery works together with many European art museums and institutions, including Uffizi Gallery, Italy; National Sculpture Museum of Spain, Spain; National Museum in Warsaw, Poland; University of Galway, Ireland; Regional Council of Lower Normandy, France; Finnish National Gallery, Finland; and Gallery of Matica srpska, Serbia.

Slovene Impressionism and their Time 1890–1920 exhibition at Petit Palais, Paris , 2013

The Robba Fountain

Francesco Robba (1698–1757), whose oeuvre connected Ljubljana with contemporary Venetian art, created the fountain between 1743 and 1751, and modelled it on the famous Roman fountains. The sculptures of the three river gods decorating it most probably represent three rivers in the then province of Carniola, namely the Sava, the Ljubljanica and the Krka. The original fountain was removed from Ljubljana's Mestni trg Square and replaced by a copy. The original, refurbished and restored, now resides in the Entrance Hall of the National Gallery of Slovenia.

The restored Robba Fountain by Baroque sculptor Francesco Robba was installed in the National Gallery of Slovenia entrance hall in 2006.

Music programme

Since 2001 the National Gallery hosts each year a cycle of concerts by the Slovene Philharmonic String Chamber Orchestra, entitled Harmony of the Spheres [Sozvočja svetov]. The events combine lectures on fine arts with concerts of chamber music, which include pieces from the classical repertoire and original compositions.

Education Department

Education Department of the Gallery was founded in 1961 and is among the oldest in the country. Children’s programming encourages art exploration through the adventures of Gal the Dwarf, the mascot of the Gallery since 1981, setting up the Motivational Gallery exploration space, called Gal’s Room, in the gallery. Education Department each year organizes around 200 public events and welcomes more than 20,000 young visitors.

Artworks loan, venue hire

The National Gallery also loans its artworks and photo material for exhibitions and publications , according to international standards. It is also possible to hire the gallery spaces for events.

External links

Projects

Gallery

Some exhibited pieces of industrial design at the Biennial of Slovene Visual Communications, 2015

The glass entrance hall of the National Gallery of Slovenia hosting the Biennial of Slovene Visual Communications, 2015

The Biennial of Slovene Visual Communications 2015 exhibition of posters.jpg

The main exhibition venue of the Biennial of Slovene Visual Communications is the atrium of the National Gallery of Slovenia, 2015

Narodni dom (National House) building by František Škabrout, built in Ljubljana 1894–1896. In 1927 the National Gallery of Slovenia rented some rooms in the building that housed also sport and leisure activities. Postcard, 1910.

The old set up of the Middle Ages and the 16th Century part of the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Slovenia in 2005. The collection was set up anew in 2013 and 2016.

The old set up of the Baroque section of the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Slovenia, 2006. The last permanent collection reinstallation took place in 2016.

The old set up of the European Paintings, permanent collection of the National Gallery of Slovenia, 2006. The collection was reinstalled in 2013 and 2016.

National Gallery of Slovenia is housed in a historical building (Narodni dom built at the end of 19th Century) which was later on renovated and enlarged. Ljubljana, 2006.

The old set up of the Middle Ages permanent collection of the National Gallery of Slovenia in 2006. The collection was set up anew in 2013 and 2016.

The old set up of the European Paintings, permanent collection of the National Gallery of Slovenia in 2008.

The old set up of European Paintings, permanent collection of the National Gallery of Slovenia in 2008. The collection was reinstalled in 2013 and 2016.

Slovene Impressionists and their Time 1890â1920 exhibition at the main gallery hall of the National Gallery of Slovenia in Ljubljana, 2008â2009.

The restored Robba Fountain by Baroque sculptor Francesco Robba was installed in the National Gallery of Slovenia entrance hall in 2006.

The Robba Fountain aka The Fountain of the Three Rivers of Carniola by Francesco Robba (1698–1757) is one of the most important Baroque monuments in Ljubljana. The original was installed in the central wing of the National Gallery of Slovenia in 2008.

Slovene Impressionists and their Time 1890–1920 exhibition at the National Gallery of Slovenia, 2008–2009

Startled Satyr, a student work by Ivan Zajec, 1894, awarded with Fueger Medal, today set up in the entrance hall of the National Gallery of Slovenia. Zajec was commissioned to make a sculpture of a poet France Prešeren for the central square in Ljubljana, unveiled in 1905.

National Gallery of Slovenia, view of the northern wing by Edvard Ravnikar and the entrance hall by SADAR + VUGA Architects, 2009.

The fountain sculpture commissioned by the city authorities from Francesco Robba in 1743, was inspired by the Bernini's Piazza Navona fountain and conceived as a Fountain of the Three Rivers of Carniola. In 2006, the original fountain was renovated and moved from the Town Square into the National Gallery of Slovenia.

National Gallery of Slovenia south view with the Ravnikar's northern wing (on the right) and the glass entrance hall by SADAR + VUGA Architects

The former set up of the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Slovenia, 2013

The former set up of the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Slovenia in 2013. The collection was set up anew in 2016.

The former set up of the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Slovenia in 2013.

The former set up of the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Slovenia in 2013. The new set up followed in 2016.

The former set up of the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Slovenia in 2013. The collection was set up anew in 2016.

The former set up of the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Slovenia in 2013. Reinstalled in 2016.

The former set up of the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Slovenia in 2013.

The former set up of the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Slovenia in 2013. The collection was reinstalled 2016, after an extensive renovation of the gallery premises.

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