Publications

Twenty scholarly articles prepared on the basis of presentations at the international conference on the Union of Lublin at the Lithuanian Museum of Art’s Applied Arts Museum on November 19-20, 2009.

This book is a first attempt to become reacquainted with what historians have forgotten and archaeologists have found – old toys and games, which were the most important friends and educational tools of our youth. At first glance, research into the leisure activities of prehistoric times might seem simple and fun but, in truth, is also important and meaningful. By researching the games of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the 13th-17th centuries, an attempt is made to answer essential questions concerning their chronology, geographical and social spread, origin, development, and ties with their geographical neighbors, near and far. The book raises questions concerning the social and cultural aspects of leisure activities; the probable cultural, economic, and political reasons for the popularity and legality of toys and games, and their place in the populace of the time. This book should be of interest not only to specialists, but also to the general public interested in the history of Lithuanian toys and everyday life.

Previously unpublished research reports covering thirty years of archaeological investigations of ancient burial sites, ritual sites, settlements, and graves of important historical persons.

The first part of this two-part book is an original and comprehensive scholarly monograph on the historical collection of tapestries belonging to the rulers of Lithuania and Poland and the fate of that collection by the art historian and researcher of old Lithuanian artistic textiles and associate professor at the UNESCO Cultural Management and Cultural Policy Department of the Vilnius Art Academy, Dr. Ieva Jedzinskaitė-Kuizinienė. A catalogue of the tapestry collection at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania (as of 2011) prepared by the author is the second part of this book.

This palace chronicle is a serial publication begun in 2011. It contains survey articles in Lithuanian reflecting the broad sweep of work done at the National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania during a set period of time, from scholarly publications to public education. It also contains articles by museum staff and other scholars from Lithuania and abroad (one article is in German) on particular topics of interest.

The book cover features Sigismund Vasa, Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland, who recaptured Smolensk on June 13, 1611, after the city had been under the rule of the Grand Duchy of Moscow for nearly a hundred years. The ruler’s victorious military expedition was crowned by a day of triumph, ceremoniously celebrated in Vilnius on July 24, 1611. This is evidenced by a unique surviving manuscript dedicated to the ruler, Dies Triumphi, which is decorated with golden letters and verses laid out to recreate triumphal arches. After 400 years, this Latin manuscript and its Lithuanian translation is being published.  The ruler’s reception ceremony and the historical circumstances of the regaining of Smolensk are discussed in introductory articles by Vilnius University Prof. Eugenija Ulčinaitė and Dr. Eugenijus Savičevas.

The book presents a brief history of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in Vilnius Lower Castle and the reconstruction of this important residence of the rulers of Lithuania.  It also presents highlights from its very large, varied, and valuable archeological collections and some of the most significant acquisitions for its interior displays, reflecting Lithuania’s historical ties with Europe. The book provides floor plans for planned exhibitions, a chronology of the most important dates in the history of the palace, and information about new objects from abroad relating to Lithuanian history.

The book presents a brief history of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in Vilnius Lower Castle and the reconstruction of this important residence of the rulers of Lithuania.  It also presents highlights from its very large, varied, and valuable archeological collections and some of the most significant acquisitions for its interior displays, reflecting Lithuania’s historical ties with Europe. The book provides floor plans for planned exhibitions, a chronology of the most important dates in the history of the palace, and information about new objects from abroad relating to Lithuanian history.

This biographical list consists of the published works of the architectural historian, architectural heritage object conservator and restorer, cultural and social activist  Dr. Napaleonas Kitkauskas: books; articles in encyclopedias, periodicals and internet websites. The bibliography also contains an introduction by the director of the National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, Dr. Vydas Dolinskas, a note from the compiler of the bibliography, Inga Vaitiekūnaitė, photographs of K.N. Kitkauskas, and a chronological list of works about K.N. Kitkauskas and his scholarly research.

This scholarly monograph by the long-time professor of history at Vilnius University’s History Department, Dr. habil. Mečislovas Jučas, outlines the major historical features of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The Lithuanian state protected the nation against foreign enemies, created a legal and administrative infrastructure, protected the Roman Catholic faith, watched over the economy and culture, and provided a home for the Lithuanian people. The most important aim of this book is to show how the old Lithuanian state came into being, how it flourished, how it later grew weaker and became diminished, and finally was destroyed by foreign powers. The book is based on the professor’s lectures at Vilnius University, but it also takes into account recent scholarly research, and attempts to look at many questions in a new and original way. The greatest attention is paid to various aspects of state development.