The National Gallery plans to mount an exhibition of newly acquired paintings by Slovenian Neoclassical painter Franc Kavcic in 2007. Recently, the gallery has also been awarded seven paintings by Impressionist Ivan Grohar, which are part of its permanent collection, but have been in denationalisation procedure for over a decade.
Barbara Jaki, who took over the helm of Narodna galerija a year ago, talked about the upcoming projects of this central institution housing the nation's works of art.
She said the purchase of paintings by Kavcic (1755-1828) was of extraordinary importance for the gallery as it would allow it to study this prominent representative of Neoclassicism.
Kaucic worked in oil mainly on themes from antique mythology and the Bible. He was educated in Vienna, Bologna, Rome and Venice.
He worked as a professor at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts and headed the School of Sculpture, Stuccowork, Copper Engraving, and Mosaic there. He was also the head of the State Porcelain Manufacturing in Vienna.
According to Jaki, the exhibition of twelve oil canvasses by Kavcic are currently undergoing restoration and will be put on display in October 2007.
Three of them are landscapes, while nine portray mythological scenes. They all come from Vienna. While the gallery has received two of the paintings as a gift, it will complete the purchase of the other ten by 2009.
Jaki also explained that the gallery acquired seven paintings by acclaimed Impressionist painter Ivan Grohar (1867-1911), which she labelled the "national collection icons". The paintings are part of the permanent collection and include "Sejalec" (Sower), the most famed painting by Grohar.
Jaki praised the role of Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti in the positive outcome of the denationalisation procedure in which the gallery was disadvantaged given that the law says that works of art that are of national importance and make up permanent collections are restituted to the rightful claimants to own but not to possess.
The gallery however wanted to be the owner as well as the custodian of the works as it also wanted to own the copyright, Jaki explained. She said Slovenian impressionists would be showcased in a comprehensive show in 2008, during Slovenia's stint at the helm of the EU.
Talking about other plans, Jaki said the first exhibition in 2007 would be dedicated to renowned Slovenian architect Joze Plecnik (1872 - 1957) curated by Damjan Prelovsek, an authority on Plecnik. The show will open on the 50th anniversary of Plecnik's death on 7 January 2007.
The 300th anniversary of the Ljubljana St. Nicholas' Cathedral will be commemorated with a display of portraits of Ljubljana archbishops, due to open in May.
Jaki also revealed that talks were under way with Italian counterparts to host an attractive exhibition of Etruscan treasures from the National Archaeological Museum of Florence.
Italian art seems to be very popular among Slovenians as the "Masterpieces of Siena", a selection of paintings made in the Italian city between the 14th and 18th centuries, attracted 12,500 visitors, which made it the most successful show in the National Gallery this year, according to Jaki.
She said visitor numbers more than doubled this year to 216,000 by December. Open day on 3 December alone attracted more than 2,600 visitors.
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