Vilnius

In this townscape painted by an unknown artist in the early 20th century, the relief is the main feature: it shows picturesque hills in the very centre of the city. It is seen from the foot of the Hill of Three Crosses, and shows the River Vilnia overgrown with shrubs, separating its sandy slopes from the hill with the ruins of the Upper Castle and Gediminas’ Tower. The townscape melts away and fades into the distance in a depression on the other side of the River Neris. Gleaming Baroque churches appear as the main landmarks: the Church of St Raphael in the centre, and the silhouette of the Church of St Philip and St James on the left. This is how the scenery unfolded to viewers 100 years ago, but today it cannot be seen, as thick trees block the view and hide the slopes of the hills. The sketch is painted roughly, with broad patches of colour, while the rich greenery of the hills and the cumulus clouds rolling past in the sky show the painter’s attempt to express the mood of a summer’s day in the hills of Vilnius.

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album VILNIUS. TOPOPHILIA I (2014). Compiler and author Laima Laučkaitė
Expositions: “Shaping the Landscape”, 30 June – 20 August 2017, National Gallery of Art, Vilnius (curator Ona Lozuraitytė); “Vilnius. Topophilia. Views of Vilnius from the collection of the law firm Ellex Valiunas”, 5 October – 26 November 2017, National Gallery of Art, Vilnius (curator Laima Laučkaitė)

In this townscape painted by an unknown artist in the early 20th century, the relief is the main feature: it shows picturesque hills in the very centre of the city. It is seen from the foot of the Hill of Three Crosses, and shows the River Vilnia overgrown with shrubs, separating its sandy slopes from the hill with the ruins of the Upper Castle and Gediminas’ Tower. The townscape melts away and fades into the distance in a depression on the other side of the River Neris. Gleaming Baroque churches appear as the main landmarks: the Church of St Raphael in the centre, and the silhouette of the Church of St Philip and St James on the left. This is how the scenery unfolded to viewers 100 years ago, but today it cannot be seen, as thick trees block the view and hide the slopes of the hills. The sketch is painted roughly, with broad patches of colour, while the rich greenery of the hills and the cumulus clouds rolling past in the sky show the painter’s attempt to express the mood of a summer’s day in the hills of Vilnius.

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album VILNIUS. TOPOPHILIA I (2014). Compiler and author Laima Laučkaitė
Expositions: “Shaping the Landscape”, 30 June – 20 August 2017, National Gallery of Art, Vilnius (curator Ona Lozuraitytė); “Vilnius. Topophilia. Views of Vilnius from the collection of the law firm Ellex Valiunas”, 5 October – 26 November 2017, National Gallery of Art, Vilnius (curator Laima Laučkaitė)