National Gallery (Athens)

The National Gallery (Greek: Εθνική Πινακοθήκη, Ethniki Pinakothiki) is an art museum located on Vasilissis Sofias avenue in the Pangrati district, Athens, Greece. It is devoted to Greek and European art from the 14th century to the 20th century.

National Gallery
Εθνική Πινακοθήκη
Established1878 (1878)
LocationPangrati, Athens, Greece
Coordinates37°58′32″N 23°44′57″E
Typeart museum
DirectorSyrago Tsiara
Websitewww.nationalgallery.gr/en/
One of he Gallery's collections

The newly renovated building reopened after an 8 year refurbishment, on 24 March 2021,[1] a day before the 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence.[2]

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 Georgios Jakobides, a famous Greek painter who was a member of the Munich School artistic movement. After World War II the works began for a new building. After relocating the sculptures in the new National Glyptotheque, there was a discussion to renovate the main building and to build a new wing,[3] which was actually completed in 2021.

Directors
  • Georgios Iakovidis (1900-1918)
  • Zacharias Papantoniou (1918-1940)
  • Georgios Stratigos (1940-1944)
  • Dimitrios Evangelidis (1945-1947)
  • Nikolaos Bertos (1947-1949)
  • Marinos Kalligas (1949-1971)
  • Andreas Ioannou (1971-1972)
  • Dimitris Papastamos (1972-1989)
  • Maria Michaelidou (1990-1991)
  • Marina Lampraki-Plaka (1992-2022)
  • Syrago Tsiara (2022- present)

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.[4]

Renaissance

17th-20th century

Greek artists

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.[5]

Visitor information

The gallery is situated on Vassilissis Sofias Avenue, opposite the Hilton Athens in Pangrati district. It can be reached with the Athens Metro at the Evangelismos station. It had been closed since March 2013 due to expansion works[6] and reopened in March 2021. 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

References
  1. "A tour of the National Gallery of Athens". www.discovergreece.com. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  2. "Greece marks 200 years of independence with hopes of rebirth". Reuters. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  3. "Discover the National Gallery of Athens". www.greeknewsagenda.gr. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  4. "National Gallery – Alexandros Soutzos Museum, Athens, Greece". HiSoUR - Hi So You Are. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  5. "nationalgallery.gr | Annexes of National Gallery of Greece". Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  6. "Contact". National Gallery of Greece. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
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