The miracle-working picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Gates of Dawn

Jan Kazimierz Wilczyński, ‘Album of Vilnius’, series I, fascicle III.

Several versions of prints of the interior of the Chapel of the Gates of Dawn were made based on a picture by Vasily Sadovnikov (1800–1879), an artist from St Petersburg. Th ere are a few versions of the miracle-working picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Wilczyński's book: within a Neo-Gothic frame, surrounded by a wreath of fl owers, with sculptures of St Casimir and St Stanislaus, the patron saints of Vilnius, and with a view of Aušros Vartų St.

Text author Laima Laučkaitė

Wilczyński’s publishing activities in the mid-19th century coincided with the rise of the cult of the miracle-working picture at the Gates of Dawn and its popularity in the second half of the century. The many graphic images of the picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary that circulated contributed to its popularity. Among the prints included in the Album de Wilna, graphic images of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Gates of Dawn colourfully decorated with flowers, Neogothic architectural features, and insignia of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were in particular demand. During the 1863 uprising, the Gates of Dawn were not only a place for religious ceremonies, but also became a venue for patriotic manifestations, and the picture of the Virgin acquired a status as patron of the enslaved country.

Text author Dalia Vasiliūnienė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album VILNIUS. TOPOPHILIA II (2015). Compiler and author Laima Laučkaitė, HEAVEN AND BEYOND (2016). Compiler Dalia Vasiliūnienė. Text authors Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė
Expositions: “Heaven and Beyond. Works of religious art from the collection of Rolandas Valiūnas and the law firm Valiunas Ellex“, 31 May–24 September 2016, Church Heritage Museum, Vilnius (curators Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė); “Vilnius. Topophilia. Views of Vilnius from the collection of the law firm Ellex Valiunas”, 5 October – 26 November 2017, National Gallery of Art, Vilnius (curator Laima Laučkaitė). ‘Vilnius Forever. A Dialogue of Artworks and Guides to the City’, 25 May 2022 – 30 April 2023 Lithuanian Art Centre TARTLE (Užupio St. 40, Vilnius). Curator Laima Laučkaitė.

Jan Kazimierz Wilczyński, ‘Album of Vilnius’, series I, fascicle III.

Several versions of prints of the interior of the Chapel of the Gates of Dawn were made based on a picture by Vasily Sadovnikov (1800–1879), an artist from St Petersburg. Th ere are a few versions of the miracle-working picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Wilczyński's book: within a Neo-Gothic frame, surrounded by a wreath of fl owers, with sculptures of St Casimir and St Stanislaus, the patron saints of Vilnius, and with a view of Aušros Vartų St.

Text author Laima Laučkaitė

Wilczyński’s publishing activities in the mid-19th century coincided with the rise of the cult of the miracle-working picture at the Gates of Dawn and its popularity in the second half of the century. The many graphic images of the picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary that circulated contributed to its popularity. Among the prints included in the Album de Wilna, graphic images of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Gates of Dawn colourfully decorated with flowers, Neogothic architectural features, and insignia of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were in particular demand. During the 1863 uprising, the Gates of Dawn were not only a place for religious ceremonies, but also became a venue for patriotic manifestations, and the picture of the Virgin acquired a status as patron of the enslaved country.

Text author Dalia Vasiliūnienė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album VILNIUS. TOPOPHILIA II (2015). Compiler and author Laima Laučkaitė, HEAVEN AND BEYOND (2016). Compiler Dalia Vasiliūnienė. Text authors Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė
Expositions: “Heaven and Beyond. Works of religious art from the collection of Rolandas Valiūnas and the law firm Valiunas Ellex“, 31 May–24 September 2016, Church Heritage Museum, Vilnius (curators Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė); “Vilnius. Topophilia. Views of Vilnius from the collection of the law firm Ellex Valiunas”, 5 October – 26 November 2017, National Gallery of Art, Vilnius (curator Laima Laučkaitė). ‘Vilnius Forever. A Dialogue of Artworks and Guides to the City’, 25 May 2022 – 30 April 2023 Lithuanian Art Centre TARTLE (Užupio St. 40, Vilnius). Curator Laima Laučkaitė.