For a cultural institution, the centenary is a milestone worthy of special attention, especially if it has survived several political regimes in its continuous operation and successfully endured war conditions as well. What is the history of our cultural institution, which houses the greatest Slovenian works of art, what awaits you there and what it offers you, read below.
Timeline of the National Gallery
The date of birth of the National Gallery Society is September 18, 1918, when the founding general assembly was convened in the uncertain situation of the collapsing two-headed monarchy. It started without an art fund and without exhibition spaces. National awareness helped to create an institution that took over the city's art collection and supplemented it with the first purchases, March 1920 ceremoniously opened in the residential premises of the first floor of Ljubljanska Cressia. In June 1924, the National Gallery Society took over the lease from the magistrate Jakopič's pavilion and thus acquired an exhibition space for occasional exhibitions, already November 1925 however, a large part of the premises in National House, with the exception of those occupied by the Sokol gymnasium, later Partizan, even later renamed Narodni dom.
At the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the existence of the National Gallery Association, they December 1928 exhibited an exhibition in twelve rooms of the National House 230 paintings, 132 sculptures and 746 works on paper as a selection of works from the gallery collection; but from this social drive it is in June 1933 followed by the opening of a permanent exhibition, for which they gave up or lent their works National Museum, Diocesan Museum and the already mentioned collection of the Ljubljana City Municipality.
The Society of the National Gallery are August 1945 dissolved by state decree, s June 1, 1946 however, it was established by state regulation The National Gallery as a state institution.
The growth of the art fund, which was significantly increased in 1986 by the incorporation of the government fund, dictated the expansion of the premises, so it was 1994 a new wing was added to the National Palace building with an exhibition space for occasional exhibitions, a gallery floor for the European collection, storage and garage spaces, modern offices for professional workers and spaces for a library, photo library and photo studio, all of which made it possible to modernize museum standards. The missing connection between the National House and the new wing made it difficult to work smoothly, and this deficiency is in September 2001, the installation of a new glass lobby was cancelled, which connected the two existing works.
A few years ago, the thoroughness finally started restoration of the Narodni Dom palace. The acquisition of additional premises was followed by a rearranged and significantly expanded permanent installation of the art collection, spanning the period from the beginning of the 13th to the middle of the 20th century. A resounding opening January 27, 2016 is the result of long-term efforts to update the collection of national importance is still strengthened the position of the National Gallery among European art museums.
A large retrospective exhibition of Ivana Kobilca
During her forty-six years of creative work, Ivana Kobilac was inspired by of the greatest European naturalists and symbolists. She was an associate member of the French Salon Société nationale des beaux-arts and placed three times in her exhibition. She exhibited all over Europe, among others with Ferd Vesel as the first Slovenian woman at the Venice Biennale. As the only Slovenian woman, she followed exhibitions regularly and closely of the three main secessions (in Vienna, Munich and Berlin). She was winning prestigious orders for ecclesiastical and secular authorities, at home and in Bosnia, and as a master of social contacts, she succeeded in portraying people of all walks of life and ages: from Berlin millionaires, politicians, middle-class women and children to Gorenje village specials.
At the first comprehensive exhibition of Kobilča's oeuvre in the last four decades, around 140 of her works from all stylistic periods and genres. Kobilca and other Slovenian realists of her generation were united by common creative interests and places of education, which is why key works of contemporaries are also exhibited, namely Jurija Šubica (1855–1890), Anton Ažbet (1862–1905), Jožef Petkovšek (1861–1898) and Ferd Vesel (1861–1946).
The exhibition consists of twelve sections, which they explore the development of Kobilča's motifs from Munich portrait studies and Orientalism, child portraits and genre images, genre interiors to nudes and bourgeois portraits. In addition to the step towards plein air, a modern way of painting, the circumstances of the creation of the allegorical image Slovenia bows to Ljubljana and some of the places where the artist worked: Ljubljana in the early and late period, Paris, Sarajevo and Berlin are also presented.
To popular pictures like Summer and Kofetarica, are associated with the painter's artworks from private collections, which are almost unknown to the general public, but all of them reflect Kobilča's creative power and the diverse influences of European art epicenters.
The exhibition will be on display until February 10, 2019.
Photo exhibition of details of works of art from the collection of the National Gallery on the Jakopičevo promenade
You can enjoy the Jakopič Promenade in Ljubljana's Tivoli Park until November 4, 2018 see a photographic exhibition of works of art from the collection of the National Gallery. The exhibition was created in cooperation between the National Gallery and Tourism Ljubljana on the occasion of the centenary of the National Gallery, which is a milestone for the cultural institution, worthy of special attention. They are exhibited details of works of art from the permanent collection of the National Gallery, enlarged after the renovation of the National Palace in 2016. Recognizing the creations of our artists in them means being part of the Slovenian community, participating in its happy and less happy days with that creative will that brought the National Gallery to life.
The National Gallery in the Arboretum
In the Volčji Potok Arboretum, from March 2018 to February 2019 gradually present selected gallery pictures whose content or origin are related to the eternal beauty and significance of flowers and women. Not in the original, but in magnification and in reproduction technique, which correspond to the park area and outdoor conditions. Every month, three new paintings are exhibited in the Arboretum, so they will all be on display for a year 36 works of art. Each picture is accompanied by basic art historical data and a comment on the floral content. The National Gallery in the Arboretum is also preparing various events for visitors, such as expert guides, painting workshops and workshops for children.
Did you know …
... that you can also visit the National Gallery get married? In one of the most beautiful ceremonial halls in Slovenia, the Golden Hall of the National Gallery, you can confirm your love with a wedding ceremony.
... so that you can attend any of the creative courses for adults? A watercolor painting course, a drawing course for beginners, a clay sculpting course and a course in gravure printing techniques are available.
... yes you can until February 10, 2019, celebrate your birthday in a pleasant atmosphere among the wonderful artworks of our most famous artist Ivana Kobilac? Under expert guidance, you can walk through the exhibition and try your hand at drawing flower arrangements, portraits or coffee watercolors in the company of academic painters.
... that they are also available creative workshops for families and children? The first part of the workshops takes place in the exhibition spaces, where we explore works of art with the help of objects, puzzles and clues, while the second part takes place in the creative studio. They are intended for elementary school and preschool children accompanied by their parents.
More information:
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