Art Museum
Lithuanian National Museum of Art
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
Lithuanian National Museum of Art is an art museum in Vilnius City Municipality, Lithuania.
About Lithuanian National Museum of Art
Overview & Identity
The Lithuanian National Museum of Art (LNDM) is the largest art museum in Lithuania, serving as a central institution for the preservation and exhibition of the nation's artistic heritage. The museum operates as a public institution with a vast network of venues, currently managing 9 distinct locations spread across Vilnius and the coastal region of Lithuania. These venues include the Vilnius Picture Gallery, the National Gallery of Art, the Clock and Watch Museum, and the Palanga Amber Museum, among others. The institution attracts approximately 350,000 visitors annually, functioning as a primary cultural hub for both domestic and international audiences.
History & Founding
The origins of the museum can be traced back to the early 20th century, a period marked by a resurgence of cultural interest following the lifting of the ban on the Lithuanian language imposed by the Russian Empire. The institution began to develop as a public entity during this time. Significant planning efforts were renewed during the postwar era, with specific administrative actions taken in 1933 by the Vilnius Magistracy, an administrative division of the city, to advance the museum's establishment. These historical efforts laid the groundwork for the modern institution that now oversees the country's most significant art collections.
Collection Highlights & Notable Holdings
The museum's collections comprise approximately 250,000 valuable objects, representing a comprehensive survey of Lithuanian and European art. The painting collection includes about 2,500 works dating from the 16th to the 19th centuries, predominantly featuring portraits of the nobility and clergy of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The 20th-century holdings are particularly extensive, with over 12,000 works from the first half of the century and more than 21,000 objects from the second half. The sculpture collection spans from the 14th to the 20th centuries and includes works from various European countries, alongside significant holdings in watercolor, pastel, and photography.
Applied Arts & Folk Art
A distinct section of the museum is dedicated to applied arts, featuring a diverse array of objects crafted from amber, ceramics, metal, porcelain, glass, textile, and leather, as well as furniture, numismatics, and clocks. The institution has also accumulated a substantial collection of national folk art. This collection includes traditional clothing, fabrics, religious crosses, chapels, paintings, prints, and wooden sculptures. These holdings provide a critical resource for understanding the material culture and artistic traditions of the Lithuanian people across different historical periods.
Infrastructure, Restoration, & Digitization
The museum supports a robust infrastructure for the care and dissemination of its collections. All museums in Lithuania utilize the services of the Pranas Gudynas Centre for Restoration, which employs highly qualified specialists to research, conserve, and restore art works, historical artifacts, and archaeological finds. Additionally, the Lithuanian Museums' Centre for Information, Digitisation and LIMIS centre operates as a vital branch of the museum. Its mission involves organizing and coordinating the digitization of museum valuables to present Lithuania's national holdings on international portals, thereby enriching European digital collections and ensuring broader accessibility.
Plan your visit
Lithuanian National Museum of Art
- Website
- www.lndm.lt
What's on
- Dėkojame muziejaus rėmėjams Kortelė „Vilnius Pass” ir bilietas internetu