Unique collection of Radziwill family portraits and belongings showcased in Minsk

The unique exhibition “The Radziwills: The Fate of the Country and the Family” has opened in the National Art Museum of Belarus. It invites visitors to peek into the glorious past of Belarus and trace the family chronicle of one of the oldest and most influential dynasties of Europe.

Prince Maciej Radziwill, an aristocrat, businessman, public figure and patron of arts, presented his exclusive collection in Minsk. By the way, it was not the first visit to Belarus of the descendant of the famous family that originated from Mikolaj Krzysztof Radziwill Czarny. The prince largely contributed to the modern museum collections of Mir and Nesvizh Castles. In 2009, he donated two original portraits and seven copies of paintings to the collection of the family residence.

It was in the 1990s when Prince Maciej Radziwill started to assemble his collection. He attended European auctions to purchase the family relics – paintings and drawings, miniatures, art fabrics and medals, many of which are showcased in the current exhibition that features about 100 items. Especially valuable are the decorative upholstery fabric from the 18th century castle interior, a portrait of cardinal Jerzy Radziwill of the 16th century, a painting by Julian Falat depicting Emperor Wilhelm II hunting together with the Radziwill family. The exhibition also includes paintings from the holdings of the National Art Museum that were kept in Nesvizh Castle until 1939.

During the opening of his first exhibition in Belarus, Prince Maciej Radziwill told the visitors about the history of the unique exhibits and donated a copy of the Radziwill family tree to the museum. It displays twenty generations of the dynasty. He also shared his plans to publish a family album in 2018. The album will include about 300 photos collected in Belarus, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine. History and art lovers are invited to attend Saturday lectures and meetings with famous Belarusian historians, musicians and theater directors to discuss the heritage of the Radziwill family on the sidelines of the exhibition.

Photo and video by Oksana Manchuk