In an official ceremony at Riga Castle, a day before the centenary of the Republic of Latvia, the highest state decorations for significant personal contribution to Latvia were conferred upon several individuals. The Director of Rundāle Palace Museum and art historian Imants Lancmanis was bestowed the Cross of Recognition (First Class Order) and appointed...

In an open competition for the post of the Director of Rundāle Palace Museum the tender commission appointed by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia nominated Dr Laura Lūse as the most suitable candidate amongst 16 applicants. ‘The commission positively appraised Laura Lūse’s professional knowledge and experience, including her work on the...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

 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...

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...