National Gallery (Athens)

The National Art Gallery and Alexander Soutzos Museum (Greek: Εθνική Πινακοθήκη, Ethniki Pinakothiki) is an art museum in Athens devoted to Greek and European art from the 14th century to the 20th century. It is directed by Marina Lambraki-Plaka.

History

It was established in 1878 as a small collection of 117 works exhibited at the Athens University. In 1896, Alexandros Soutzos, a jurist and art lover, bequeathed his collection and estate to the Greek Government aspiring to the creation of an art museum. The museum opened in 1900 and the first curator was the famous Greek painter Georgios Jakobides from Munich. After World War II the works began for a new building. After relocating the sculptures in the new National Glyptotheque, there is a discussion to renovate the main building and to build a new wing.

Collections

The gallery exhibitions are mainly focused on post-Byzantine Greek Art. The gallery owns and exhibits also an extensive collection of European artists. Particularly valuable, is the collection of paintings from the Renaissance.

Renaissance

El Greco The Concert of the Angels, Christ on the Cross with the Two Maries and St John, Saint Peter Jacob Jordaens The Adoration of the Shepherds Luca Giordano Esther and Ahasuerus Giovanni Battista Tiepolo Eliezer and Rebecca, The Agony in the Garden Jan Brueghel the Younger The Virgin in Paradise Jan Brueghel the Elder

Lorenzo Veneziano Crucifixion Zanino di Pietro Virgin with Child and Angels Jacopo del Sellaio Saint Jerome in the desert Joachim Beuckelaer Market Scene David Vinckeboons Wine Harvest Duerer

"Eliezer and Rebecca" by Tiepolo

17th-20th century

Piet Mondrian Landscape with a mill Auguste Rodin Pablo Picasso Composition Henri Matise Francis Picabia Henri Fantin-Latour Still Life Willem van Mieris Lady with the Parrot Eugène Delacroix Mounted Greek Warrior Jacques Linard Still Life Peter Paul Rubens The Feast of the Epiphany, Adoration of the Shepherds Maurice Utrillo Cecco del Caravaggio Youth with musical instruments Rembrandt Claude Lorrain Canaletto Piranesi Albert Marquet Ivan Aivazovsky Burning of the Turkish flagship Jacob Beschey Moses Drawing Water from the Rock

Braque Antoine Bourdelle Antony Francis van der Meulen Pieter Aertsen Raffaello Ceccoli Francesco Pize

Antoine Bourdelle Dying Centaur (1914) National Gallery (Athens)

Greek artists

Georgios Jakobides Nikiphoros Lytras Nikolaus Gysis Konstantinos Volanakis Yannis Tsarouchis Yannis Moralis Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas Panayiotis Tetsis Nikos Nikolaou Dimitris Mytaras Konstantinos Parthenis Epameinondas Thomopoulos Yiannis Psychopedis Nikos Engonopoulos Demetrios Farmakopoulos Lucas Samaras

Demetrios Galanis Theophilos Hatzimihail Theocharis Mores Pericles Pantazis Theodoros Stamos Alekos Fassianos Kostas Tsoklis Nikos Kessanlis Theodoros Vryzakis Stefanos Tzangarolos Andreas Pavias George Bouzianis Ioannis Altamouras Konstantinos Maleas Polychronis Lempesis Spyros Vassiliou

Nikolaos Gyzis Ηistoria (Allegory of History) (1892)

Facts

Approximately four million people have visited the National Gallery in the last fourteen years. Its exhibition activity is mainly supported by sponsorships that cover up to half of its budget. The National Gallery has opened the last years branches in Nafplion, Sparta and Corfu^[1].

Visitor information

The gallery is situated on Vassilissis Sofias Avenue, opposite the Hilton Athens. It can be reached with the Athens Metro at the Evangelismos station. The National Glyptotheque is situated at the "Alsos Stratou" (Military Park) in Goudi, near Kanellopoulou Avenue and can be reached with the Athens Metro at the Katehaki station.

See also

• National Glyptotheque
• Art in modern Greece
• Greek Art
• List of museums in Greece
• Foros Timis Ston Greco
• Cretan School

References

1. ^ nationalgallery.gr | Annexes of National Gallery of Greece

External links

• National Gallery of Athens Official website

Coordinates: 37°58′32″N 23°44′57″E / 37.97556°N 23.74917°E / 37.97556; 23.74917