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M K Ciurlionis National Museum of Art
Vlado Putvinskio str. 55, Kaunas
Tel.: +370 37 221418
E-Mail: MKC@takas.lt
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Works by M.K.Ciurlionis | Lithuanian art. 15th-19th c. | Lithuanian art. 1st half of 20th c. | Lithuanian folk art
Sonata Nr. 5 (Sonata of the Sun).
Finale. 1907/1908 |
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Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis is the great master of Lithuanian music, art and letters. His unique ideas and forms of expression attract interest of still more and more artists and scholars all over the world. Already in early 20th c.
I.Strawinski, I.Duncan, R.Rolland, J.Lipschitz, O.Messiaen showed interest and appreciation of his works.
M.K.Ciurlionis is mentioned together with the famous modernists W.Kandinski, E.Munch,
O.Redon, F.Kupka and others. In the exhibitions organized in Japan, France, Italy, Canada, Spain, Germany
Ciurlionis is presented as one of the most prominent figures in Symbolism and Avant-garde art. |
His creation is recognized as a fusion of various philosofical and religious systems, art trends of the fin-de-siecle and Lithuanian life philosophy. Nearly all
Ciurlionis creative legacy is kept at the Museum (2 works are in the possession of the Museum of Fine Arts of Lithuania in Vilnius, 1 work is in the National Museum in Warsaw, 2 - in the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, several works are the property of the
Ciurlionis family). The permanent exhibition presents 70 renowned works by
Čiurlionis.
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| M.K.Ciurlionis was born on 20 September 1875 in Varėna (Southern Lithuania). The first teacher of music was his father. From 1889 to 1892 he played in the Duke M.Oginski Orchestra School in Plungė (Western Lithuania), later studied at Warsaw Institute of Music (1894-99) and Leipzig Conservatoire (1901-02). In 1902 began to attend the Warsaw J.Kauzik drawing studio. In 1904-06 studied at the Warsaw School of Fine Arts headed by K.Stabrowski. In 1906 visited the biggest art centres of Europe: Prague, Vienna, Dresden, Munich. |
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The Offering. 1909 |
| Having moved to Vilnius took an active part in Lithuanian cultural life. He was among the organizers of the first exhibitions of Lihuanian art. In 1908-09 he spent several months in St. Petersburg where took part in the exhibitions of groups of Russian artists 'World of Art' and 'Union of Russian Artists'. In 1909 he married the writer Sofia Kymantaitė. On April 10, 1911 died in Pustelnik near Warsaw. Burried at the Rasos Cemetry in Vilnius. |
Fairy Tale (Castle Fairy Tale). 1909 |
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M.K.Ciurlionis' creative life was very short (only six years of intensive artistic work devoted to painting), however even this short period of time reveals a very rapid evolution of form and ideas. In works created from 1903 to 1906 the main themes the artist was preoccupied with were manifested: the structure of the world, harmony, the greatness and order of the Universe, the beauty of nature, the world of mythological, ethnic and biblical images. |
The early works ('Funeral Symphony', 1903; 'Rusting of the Forest', 1904; 'Truth', 1905 and others) witness open, direct allegories, a little constrained forms.
But very soon Ciurlionis' manner of drawing becomes unrestrained and graceful, colours very subtle. The contents of the works are filled with profound philosophical thinking. The most eminent works of this period include 'Creation of the World', 1905/06, 'The Zodiac' Cycle', 1906/07, 'Fairy Tale of the Kings', 1909, 'The Offering', 1909. The idea of synthesis in art so popular in early 20th c. found the unique implementation in
Ciurlionis' works. The artist and composer applied the principle of musical composition to his painting. Not only the titles of the paintings (sonatas, fugues, preludes) link them with music. The variable rhythm, recurrent symbols and signs, variations of themes, multi-layered images resemble the structure of a musical piece. Musical paintings by
Čiurlionis mark the period of the highest maturity in the artist's creative life. The accent of the display is one of the last works by
Ciurlionis 'Rex', 1909. In a complex concentrated form the main artistic ideas of the author are manifested in this picture. |
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M.K.Ciurlionis had a gift for writing also. The museum possesses surviving pieces of literary work, poems, articles, over 300 letters.
M.K.Ciurlionis was the founder of the professional Lithuanian music and wrote the first symphonic poems, the first string quartet. The main musical pieces - cantata 'De Profundis', 1899, overture
'Kęstutis', 1902, symphonic poems 'The Forest', 1900-01, 'The Sea', 1903-07, nocturnes, preludes, harmonized folk songs. A museum visitor may listen to
Ciurlionis music in the Music Room of the museum. |
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Fairy Tale (Fairy Tale of The Kings). 1909 |
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