NEW ARRIVAL IN THE COLLECTION OF LITHUANIAN ART FOUNDATION - A UNIQUE BAS-RELIEF BY RAPOLAS JAKIMAVIČIUS
Rapolas Jakimavičius (1893–1961) made the bas-relief Mother of the Gates of Dawn, protect our Lithuania in German-occupied Vilnius in 1943. He was born and grew up in Vilnius, attended the Vilnius School of Drawing, and studied sculpture at Stephen Báthory University after the First World War. He lived in the city during the interwar period, painted portraits, made tombstones and memorial plaques, designed monuments, and was a keen advocate of everything Lithuanian. During the difficult years of the Second World War, Lithuanian Catholic activists decided to place votive offerings in the Chapel of the Gates of Dawn, in order to put Lithuania under the protection of the miracle-working picture. Votive offerings are signs of prayers and tokens of gratitude, and represent a plea for divine mercy. The interior of the Chapel of the Gates of Dawn is covered with votive offerings: symbolic silver plates in the shape of parts of the body. The implementation of this particular idea was left to Jakimavičius. He wanted to make a huge silver two-by-one-metre bas-relief, but the German authorities would not allow him to make such work. Instead, he made a smaller replica of it in bronze, as a gift from the Lithuanian community in Vilnius to Fr Pranas Bieliauskas on his 60th birthday. An arch in the image of the Gates of Dawn frames the picture of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, with motifs of Lithuanian towns and wooden folk-style crosses between its rays. Below it is a view of Cathedral Square in Vilnius, surrounded by some well-known buildings. A historic event is taking place in the square: crowds of people welcome mounted Lithuanian soldiers entering Vilnius in 1939, when, according to a treaty with the Soviet Union, Vilnius was returned to Lithuania. Vilnius is shown in the bas-relief as the capital of Lithuania, as a Lithuanian and a Catholic city.
Rapolas JAKIMAVIČIUS
Mother of the Gates of Dawn, protect our Lithuania,1943
Bronze, 56 x 36.5 x 3
Inscription: Mother of the Gates of Dawn, protect our Lithuania / To Father Pranas Bieliauskas, the Priest at the Gates of Dawn, on his 60th birthday and in remembrance of his community work / from grateful Lithuanians 1883–VIII.23–1943
Signed, bottom right: J.R.
Rapolas Jakimavičius (1893–1961) made the bas-relief Mother of the Gates of Dawn, protect our Lithuania in German-occupied Vilnius in 1943. He was born and grew up in Vilnius, attended the Vilnius School of Drawing, and studied sculpture at Stephen Báthory University after the First World War. He lived in the city during the interwar period, painted portraits, made tombstones and memorial plaques, designed monuments, and was a keen advocate of everything Lithuanian. During the difficult years of the Second World War, Lithuanian Catholic activists decided to place votive offerings in the Chapel of the Gates of Dawn, in order to put Lithuania under the protection of the miracle-working picture. Votive offerings are signs of prayers and tokens of gratitude, and represent a plea for divine mercy. The interior of the Chapel of the Gates of Dawn is covered with votive offerings: symbolic silver plates in the shape of parts of the body. The implementation of this particular idea was left to Jakimavičius. He wanted to make a huge silver two-by-one-metre bas-relief, but the German authorities would not allow him to make such work. Instead, he made a smaller replica of it in bronze, as a gift from the Lithuanian community in Vilnius to Fr Pranas Bieliauskas on his 60th birthday. An arch in the image of the Gates of Dawn frames the picture of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, with motifs of Lithuanian towns and wooden folk-style crosses between its rays. Below it is a view of Cathedral Square in Vilnius, surrounded by some well-known buildings. A historic event is taking place in the square: crowds of people welcome mounted Lithuanian soldiers entering Vilnius in 1939, when, according to a treaty with the Soviet Union, Vilnius was returned to Lithuania. Vilnius is shown in the bas-relief as the capital of Lithuania, as a Lithuanian and a Catholic city.
Rapolas JAKIMAVIČIUS
Mother of the Gates of Dawn, protect our Lithuania,1943
Bronze, 56 x 36.5 x 3
Inscription: Mother of the Gates of Dawn, protect our Lithuania / To Father Pranas Bieliauskas, the Priest at the Gates of Dawn, on his 60th birthday and in remembrance of his community work / from grateful Lithuanians 1883–VIII.23–1943
Signed, bottom right: J.R.