The folk painting collection (18th - early 20th century) consists of works of art painted on wood or canvas in oil or tempera. They depict saints, moments from their life, Biblical scenes, and the life and Passion of Christ. The artists were either self-taught or were amateurs with some training. Many of them gained experience working with professional painters executing requests of churches and monasteries, and later of private clients. Their paintings show elements of individual interpretation and reveal their unique perception of the subject, faith, art, and beauty.
Blessed Virgin Mary theme
Blessed Virgin Mary and the Infant Jesus (mid-19th century) by Unknown authorLithuanian Art Fund
The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Infant Jesus is a depiction of the Blessed Virgin Mary according to the stories of the Gospel about the holy motherhood of the Virgin Mary, because she was chosen to be the earthly mother of the Son of God and to experience his Passion for the sake of the salvation of humanity.
The Virgin Mary is depicted standing on the globe with the crescent sickle under her feet and the Infant Jesus on one of her arms. She wears long clothes, her shoulders and sometimes head are draped in a robe and her head is covered in a veil. She has a crown and the stars are on her crown or a halo, which symbolises her exclusive position in the kingdom of heaven and her chastity. Jesus wears a long robe, sometimes he has a crown; he holds a cross in one hand and gives a blessing with the other hand.
Gracious Virgin Mary (second half of the 19th century) by Unknown authorLithuanian Art Fund
The Gracious Virgin Mary is a depiction of the Blessed Virgin Mary who appeared in a white dress, standing barefoot on the globe with her arms down and rays of light emanating from her hands.
Gracious Virgin Mary (late 19th century) by Unknown authorLithuanian Art Fund
Our Lady of Sorrows (1823) by Unknown authorLithuanian Art Fund
Our Lady of Sorrows is a depiction of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which symbolises the pain the Mother of God had to suffer seeing the Passion of her Son on the cross.
Our Lady of the Rosary (mid-19th century) by Unknown authorLithuanian Art Fund
Our Lady of the Rosary is a depiction of the Blessed Virgin Mary according to the apparition of St Dominic (1170–1221) where he saw the Virgin Mary and received some beads from her.
Betrothal of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1861) by Unknown authorLithuanian Art Fund
The Holy Family is also called the Earthly Trinity. Mary and Joseph were both virgin and formed a family to give the Saviour to the world. The Holy Family has suffered a great deal of hardships, persecution, and fear.
The Holy Family (mid-19th century) by Unknown authorLithuanian Art Fund
The paintings of this subject depict young Jesus led by Mother Mary and guardian Joseph. Jesus is dressed in a light tunic belted with a golden sash indicating that the child is the ruler of the world, who holds power over all creatures. Joseph is bareheaded and Mary’s head is draped with a veil; sometimes they all wear crowns.
God the Father, who takes centre stage, embraces them with His arms. A dove which symbolises the Holy Spirit is depicted below God’s arms.
The Way of the Cross theme
Jesus of Nazareth (early 19th century) by Unknown authorLithuanian Art Fund
Prior to the the Way of the Cross Jesus was scourged and called the King of Jews. He was scornfully dressed in an old scarlet robe, a crown of thorns was put on his head and a reed put in his hand. In this painting we see Jesus of Nazareth (a subject of the Passion of Jesus), which depicts the humiliation of Jesus at the trial of Pontius Pilot.
Scourging of Jesus (second half of the 19th century) by Unknown authorLithuanian Art Fund
Jesus in prison is a subject of Jesus’ Passion based on the stories of the Gospel about how Jesus was betrayed by Judas and was taken to the high priests and then to the Roman Governor. They had come together to put Jesus on trial and deliberated till early morning. Jesus was accused of blasphemy and of being an impostor and all the time his hands were kept tied. The soldiers who escorted him and the crowds humiliated him and were beating him. The Scourging of Jesus is an iconographic depiction of Jesus Christ, where Pilate took Jesus and had him beaten prior to the crucifixion. Jesus is depicted attached to the pole, leaning forward, stripped and with only a loincloth, and beaten by two soldiers.
Tenth station. Jesus is stripped of his garments (1842) by Unknown authorLithuanian Art Fund
Jesus stripped of his garments is the Tenth Station of the Way of the Cross, which depicts one of the last scenes before the crucifixion.
Eleventh station. Crucifixion of Jesus (19th century) by Unknown authorLithuanian Art Fund
The Crucifixion of Jesus is the Eleventh Station of the Way of the Cross which depicts Jesus Christ being nailed to the cross. This subject is considered the most important symbol of Christianity.
Pietà (early 19th century) by Unknown authorLithuanian Art Fund
Pietà is a subject depicting the pain of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the sight of Jesus’ crucifixion. The Mother of God is portrayed cradling the body of her Son following his removal from the cross.
The Holy Trinity (1819) by Unknown authorLithuanian Art Fund
The Holy Trinity is the main church dogma of one God in three persons. God the Father is the original source of the whole divinity. God the Son is an image or Word expressing the Father. God the Holy Spirit is a bond connecting the Father and the Son. God the Father is depicted as an old man, with a long beard and a triangular halo above His head. He is leaning against the globe, blessing with His right hand and touching the globe on the top with his right hand.
God the Son usually holds a cross with His right hand and has His left hand on the chest. The Holy Spirit radiates rays of light and flies over the heads in the form of a dove. In the paintings The Holy Trinity and Revelation it symbolises wisdom, mind, good counsel, strength, knowledge, docility and godliness. In Christian iconography, the Holy Trinity is also symbolically represented as an eye in a triangle and is called Providence; the eye of Providence is a symbol of omniscience, vigilance and the constant care of God.
Paintings of Saints
The painting depicts: St Catherine, the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Anthony, and St Joseph with the Infant Jesus who is crowning St Joseph. There was a custom to have a patron saint of the same name as a personal teacher and guardian in troubles and in the face of God. Each saint highlighted different truths of the faith and values. Paintings of patron saints were placed on the wall of the most honourable part of a house where guests or the master of the household were seated. Usually there was also a Crucifix on the wall.
St George the martyr (1793) by Unknown authorLithuanian Art Fund
St George (late 3rd - early 4th century) is the holy martyr, the second patron saint of Lithuania. In the Lithuanian spiritual worldview, he is associated with the revival of nature in spring and he is the guardian of fields and livestock.
St Jacques (1807) by Unknown authorLithuanian Art Fund
St Jacques (1185–1257) was a Dominican monk, an excellent preacher, and a missionary who travelled to Lithuania, Ukraine and Russia.
St Anthony (1195–1231) is a saint and a famous preacher and missionary. He is usually depicted with the Infant Jesus, who, according to the legend, appeared before the praying Anthony.
St Catherine (1866) by Unknown authorLithuanian Art Fund
St Catherine of Alexandria (late 2nd / early 4th century) is one of the most prominent early Christian martyrs. The instrument of her torture – the spiked wheel – is the usual way of depicting this saint.
St Agnes (second half of the 19th century) by Unknown authorLithuanian Art Fund
St Agnes is a blessed virgin who lived in Rome in the fourth century. She is depicted with a lamb as a symbol of a pure person. A belt is also a symbol of morality and chastity.
St Thaddaeus (late 19th century) by Unknown authorLithuanian Art Fund
St Jude Thaddeus (1st century) is an apostle, a relative of Jesus Christ, and a brother of St James the Less.
Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane (1861) by Unknown authorLithuanian Art Fund
The assembled folk painting collection consists of works of art painted on wood or canvas in oil or tempera. They depict saints, moments from their life, Biblical scenes, and the life and Passion of Christ. Paintings of folk artists show elements of individual interpretation and reveal their unique perception of the subject, faith, art and beauty. We also may notice that the stories of Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary testify to their special place in Lithuanian folk painting.
