Museum – Page 5 – Rundāle Palace

Restoration of yet two more sarcophagi

On 2 July at the Vault of Dukes of Courland in Jelgava Palace two burials holding remains of Princes of Courland Vladislav Ludwig Friedrich (1647-1648) and Leopold Karl (1693-1697) that were restored this year were consecrated. Comprehensive preservation of the Vault of Dukes is a pursuit of employees of Rundāle Palace Museum for more than...

Visit to the Vault of the Dukes of Courland – from 1 June

Due to prolonged repair work the exhibit of Rundāle Palace Museum "The Vault of the Dukes of Courland" shall open on 1 June. Contractor Partnership PST un ARMS planned to perform renovation of doors and windows of the Vault. Due to the historical significance of those premises it was decided to restore the windows instead...

Church art exhibition

The Palace stables have already been used for exhibiting some of the Museum’s sacral art collection, including an altar and a pulpit from Lestene Church, although the latter has since been returned to its original location in the church. Now the stables feature a new exhibition of sacral art from the 17th and early...

Kitchen on the eastern side of the palace

Two kitchens with four hearths in each room are in the east wing of the Palace. Exhibition in the west side kitchen displays the likely interior of the 18th century together with individual collections of kitchen utensils. One of the hearths features a full-length flue, while the other – various sets of boiling and...

Room with Art Nouveau art objects

The last room in the decorative art exhibition is dedicated to Art Nouveau, which replaced Historism in the 1890s and lasted until the World War I. This room mainly displays work by French artists – furniture by Louis Majorelle and Émile Gallé, as well as a collection of glass ware by the Daum brothers,...

Room with Historicism art objects

The penultimate exhibition room offers an overview of Historicism when the development of historical styles in the 19th century ceased with Empire and Bidermeier. A copying of all preceding styles commenced, often with exaggerated decorative characteristics. Small interior groups depict the Neo-Gothic style, Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Rococo along with variations on the Louis XVI style...

Museum Receives a Donation

Museum has received a donation from poet, linguist and literary scholar Lalita Muižniece (Latvia/US) – books bought in US that have once been owned by the Duchess of Courland Dorothea. The books are the first four volumes of Historische Memoiren by Friedrich Schiller published in 1790 in Jena, Germany. There are ex libris of...

Advent Calendar of 2017 Produced

For the fourth year in a row Rundāle Palace Museum has issued Advent Calendar offering closer look at museum collections. One does not always have the possibility during the visit to examine each exhibit to notice tiny, delicate details and nuances. However, often they deserve the most admiration. This year we focused on hand...

Outstanding Pieces of Art Added to Rundāle Palace Exhibitions

Two unique late 17th century paintings by Nicola Van Houbraken (circa 1660–1723) are exhibited at the Blue Room besides the Golden Hall, and they excellently fit in with the still lifes with flowers by Flemish and Dutch masters. Also, the thread lace collection of the museum becomes richer. Valuable acquisitions are three fragments of 17th...

Four new rooms to be opened on the 281th anniversary of the Palace

Noticeable changes await visitors of Rundāle Palace – outstanding acquisitions forming part of the main exhibition and four reconstructed display rooms that will be open from 25 May. Two of the aforementioned – in the private apartments of the duke. Authentic 18th century sitz-bath and other peculiar household items are on display in the...

Potpourri vase acquired for donations

Foundation Rundāles Pils Atbalsta Fonds receives donations also from Latvian entrepreneurs. Part of the funds is apportioned to restoration of the Palace, another part – for acquisition of art objects. We are delighted to announce that at the end of 2016 Museum from the auction Fine European Ceramics held by auction house Bonhams successfully acquired...

More beauty at the Oval porcelain room

The most valuable portion of the Rundāle Palace Museum porcelain collection are Far East Asian vases. 17th - 19th century Chinese and Japanese vases of a size and appearance consistent with the premises are displayed in two porcelain rooms – besides the Gold Hall and the White Hall. Taking into account the symmetry considerations...