Vilnius University library's commemorative bronze doors.
by RicardMN Photography
Title
Vilnius University library's commemorative bronze doors.
Artist
RicardMN Photography
Medium
Photograph
Description
Vilnius University library's commemorative bronze doors. Vilnius, Lithuania.
To the left of the library courtyard of the University is a commemorative door commemorating the 450th anniversary of the first Lithuanian book "Catechism" by Martinas Mažvidas (sculptor Jonas Mieskelevičius) depicting important figures and events in the history of Lithuanian culture. The upper part of the granite portal weighs about 9 tons, the sides - about 6 tons, the movable bronze door leaf - about 300 kg. Doors, for the construction, manufacture and installation of which cost half a million litas (which drew criticism from the former rector of the university, Lithuanian politician Rolandas Pavilienis), are considered the most expensive in Lithuania.
At the top of the door are bronze portraits of Nicholas Christopher Radziwill the Orphan ,who founded a printing house in Vilnius in 1579 (later the printing house of the Vilnius Academy and the University of the Society of Jesus, 1585), where in 1613 the first original map of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was published. Bishop of Vilnius Valerian Protasiewicz, who founded the Vilnius Jesuit College (1570) and its library; Pope Gregory XIII , who approved October 29, 1579 was the year of the founding of the Vilnius Academy and University; Cardinal Yuri Radziwill, who appealed to the Pope to grant the rights of the Academy of the Vilnius College; King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Sigismund Augustus, who donated his library (about 5,000 volumes) to the Jesuit College; King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Stefan Batory , who signed the charter on April 1, 1579 on the reorganization of the Jesuit College into a university.
In the middle is the coat of arms of the university and the inscription "The First Lithuanian Book 1547-1997" (lit .: Pirmajai lietuviškai knygai 1547-1997). The doors of the door depict the first page of the Catechism of Mažvidas and a collection of sermons in Lithuanian published in Vilnius in 1595 by Mikalojus Dauksha's Pastila, below the views of the universities of Königsberg (Lithuanian Book Cradle) and Vilnius . portraits of the first Lithuanian linguist Konstantinas Sirvidas , father of Lithuanian historiography Simonas Daukantas , patriarch of the Lithuanian National Revival Jonas Basanavičius, the famous bookseller of the time of the ban on Lithuanian printing in Latin by Jurgis Belinis also Vincas Kudyrka and Bishop Mateusz Valanchus, brothers Vaclovas Birzyszka and Mikolas Birzyszko, writer Vincas Mikalaitis-Putinis. Below, on the left, a scene in an old printing house, on the left, a picture of a scriptwriter or writer and a text from the University of Knowledge poem "Tree of Knowledge " by Justinas Martinkevicius.
The door was inaugurated on May 21 2001. (Description from Wikipedia)
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April 26th, 2022
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