Description of the attraction
The National Museum is one of the oldest in Serbia. It was founded in 1844 at the behest of Jovan Steria Popovich, who was not only the Minister of Education, but also a versatile writer - playwright, translator, poet and prose writer. The creation of the museum began in the years when the protection and preservation of cultural heritage in Serbia was launched at the state level.
Preparations for the opening of the museum lasted more than 25 years - the first visitors entered its halls only in 1871 to see an exhibition of sculptures by Pyotr Ubavkich. The first painting exhibition took place eleven years later - in 1882, where the works of Katharina Ivanovich were presented. In the first decades of the twentieth century, the museum issued its first catalog, opened a permanent exhibition in the building now occupied by the Serbian Presidium, and organized the first exhibition abroad. In addition, the opening of the National Museum became an important impetus in the cultural life of Serbia: after it, three more museums were founded: ethnographic, historical and natural science.
In the 30s of the last century, the museum was located in the New Palace, but in the middle of the last century it moved to the building of the former bank, which it still occupies. During its existence, the National Museum has accumulated a large collection of archaeological exhibits and works of art - more than 400 thousand items. The cultural history of Serbia in this museum is presented from prehistoric times to the most recent period. In addition, the museum contains masterpieces of European painting - French, Italian, Dutch and Flemish, as well as works of Japanese art, numismatic collections.
The most valuable exhibits include the gospel, written at the end of the 12th century for Prince Miroslav, today recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Among the authors whose works are kept in the National Museum of Serbia are Renoir, Picasso, Matisse, Degas, Modigliani, Kandinsky, Rembrandt, Borovikovsky, Van Gogh, Bosch and other famous painters.
In Belgrade, the National Museum of Serbia is located on the Republic Square.
