Publications

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.

This album presents a brief history of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in Vilnius Lower Castle – the reconstruction of this important residence of the rulers of Lithuania; highlights from its very large, varied, and valuable archaeological collections as well as some of the most significant acquisitions for its interior displays. The introduction is by the former President of the Republic of Lithuania and Chairman of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania Restoration Coordinating Commission Algirdas Brazauskas. The Director of the National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania Dr. Vydas Dolinskas provides an historical outline of the palace, its reconstruction, and planned exhibitions. The introductory article to the archaeological finds is by the Chief Curator of Collections Ėrika Striškienė and to the major acquisitions by the Head of the Department of Registration and Preservation Dalius Avižinis. In the album there are floor plans for planned exhibitions on three floors and in the basement  as well as a chronology of the most important dates in the history of the palace. The bulk of the album (364 pages) consists of large-format, full-page, color photographs of the most important archaeological finds and the most valuable acquisitions presented in chronological order from the pre-Gothic and Gothic periods to the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

This book by the noted scholar of Latin literature about the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and professor of classical philology at the University of Vilnius, Dr. habil. Eugenija Ulčinaitė, is devoted to a specific literary genre – ceremonial greetings (gratulationes) with which the grand dukes and nobles of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were honored on their arrival in Vilnius. The book contains four 16th-18th century facsimiles in the original Latin (with translations into Lithuanian) of greetings to the kings of Poland and the grand dukes of Lithuania Stephen Bathory, Sigismund Vasa, and Wladyslaw Vasa, and to the nobleman and bishop Krzystof Jan Szembek.

This book describes the birth of the opera as an art form in the first half of the 17th century and the first operas staged in Vilnius at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, earlier than in Paris or London  – the Abduction of Helen, Andromeda, and Disappointed Circe. Facsimiles of the original librettos in Italian are published together with their translations into Lithuanian. The book is introduced by a lengthy article on the history of opera in early 17 th century Vilnius by the musicologist Dr. Jūratė Trilupaitienė and on court values in Virgilio Puccitelli’s librettos by the philologist Dr. Dainius Būrė.