Expositions

Address: Arsenalo Str. 3A, LT-01100, Vilnius, Lithuania
Tel/fax: 370 (5) 212 18 13; 262 80 80

EXPOSITION OF EXHIBITS FOR THE RESTORED PALACE OF THE GRAND DUKES OF LITHUANIA

ACQUIRED AND DONATED IN 2007–2008

The exhibition of authentic 15th-17th century items for the interior expositions of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania was opened at the Museum of Applied Art in 2005. To mark Lithuania‘s State Day in 2006 and 2007, this exhibition was updated and expanded over both levels of the museum.

This latest presentation to open on July 6, 2008 consists of the third and last updated exposition displaying authentic treasures newly acquired, donated or recently restored in 2007–2008. Over 150 of the latest 15th-17th century exhibits of rare and valuable historic Gothic, Renaissance and Early Baroque furniture, tapestries, armaments and armour can be seen. Of distinct historical and artistic value in this collection is a tapestry titled Adam and Eve, estimated to have been created in 1660 in the famous Jean Leyniers workshops in Brussels. The creation of this tapestry utilised one of Sigismund Augustus‘ (1544/1548– 1572) Biblical tapestry series’ fragments from Paradise Bliss, depicting the scene of the creation of Eve and her presentation to Adam, created before 1553 by the renowned master Michiel I Coxcie. The ‘blueprint’ cardboard used in this tapestry was also the basis for other versions produced in the 16th-17th centuries that are also protected today in the Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow, Poland, the Bavarian National Museum in Munich, Germany, and the La Granja de San Ildefonso in Segovia, Spain.  

The collection of works for the exposition of interiors for the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania has also been immeasurably enriched by selected Lithuanian treasures: 16th-19th century maps depicting the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; etchings of rulers and cities; glass chalices having belonged to the 17th-18th century rulers of Lithuania, Poland and Saxony, Augustus II the Strong (1697–1733) and Augustus III (1733–1763), decorated with the colourful coats of arms of states they ruled; as well as valuable Lithuanian books, most noteworthy being the Third Statute of Lithuania in Polish, History of Lithuania by Albertas Kojelavičius, a book of poetry by Motiejus Kazimieras Sarbievijus illustrated with etchings by Peter Paul Rubens, among other treasures.

The updated exhibition also features a gold-plated silver chalice having belonged to the brother of Lithuanian Court and Great Chancellor Lew Sapieha, Gregor Sapieha, estimated to have been created in 1560, that was given as a present to the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Valdas Adamkus, by the brothers Nicolas, George and Oliver Ortiz. The Office of the President of Lithuania handed over this chalice to the Lithuanian Art Museum for conservation and exposition. 

Next year, all the treasures that have been acquired and donated for the restored Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania will be transferred from the Museum of Applied Art to the representational interior exposition halls of the Palace. On July 6, 2009 in celebration of the most important day of the 1000 year anniversary of Lithuania, all these treasures will be presented to the Lithuanian public and guests to the capital as part of the residency‘s permanent exposition.