Commemorating 230 Years: The History and Collections of the National Gallery Prague Exhibition

This exhibition commemorates 230 years since the founding of the Society of Patriotic Friends of the Arts, which formed the core of the National Gallery Prague's collections. It highlights the gallery's acquisition policies, important historical figures, and displays key artworks from its various collections, spanning from the Renaissance masters to contemporary additions.

On February 5th, 2026, the National Gallery Prague (NGP) celebrates 230 years since the establishment of the Society of Patriotic Friends of the Arts, a private association dedicated to opening a public picture gallery and building an art collection. The artworks acquired by this society continue to form a significant part of the NGP's collections. The exhibition "230 Years of NGP" offers a comprehensive look at the gallery's development, with a special focus on the "1796—1918: Art of the Long Century" exhibition. It presents a mini-exhibition that outlines the 230-year journey, culminating in the establishment of the contemporary NGP in 1949 and acknowledging the Modern Gallery, founded in 1902. Seventy exhibits are drawn from all five NGP collections: Prints and Drawings, Asian Art, Old Masters, Modern Art, and Art after 1945. These exhibits shed light on the gallery's acquisition policies and highlight pivotal figures in its history, including administrators and donors. Visitors can view paintings by Renaissance and Baroque masters acquired from noble families, works by artists like Norbert Grund, Josef and Quido Manes, and Jakub Schikaneder, and examples of acquisitions from the second half of the 20th century and recent 21st-century additions. The exhibition also features photographs and archival documents illustrating the gallery's displays and notable exhibition projects, divided into ten thematic chapters covering periods from 1796–1818 up to 2003–2026.

The exhibition is located at Veletržní palác/Trade Fair Palace, South Wing, 4th floor. Opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00—18:00. Specific ticketing information beyond general museum hours is not detailed on this page.