Ateneum Art Museum
Uusimaa
Located in the heart of Helsinki near the Central railway station, Ateneum Art Museum is a cornerstone of Finnish cultural heritage and the largest classical art museum in Finland. Founded in a building completed in 1887 and designed by architect Theodor Höijer, it is part of the Finnish National Gallery. The museum's extensive collections span Finnish art from 18th-century rococo portraiture to pioneering 20th-century experimental movements, alongside approximately 650 international works. Notable masterpieces include Vincent van Gogh's 'Street in Auvers-sur-Oise' (1890), the first Van Gogh painting ever acquired by a museum worldwide, Albert Edelfelt’s 'The Luxembourg Garden' (1887), Akseli Gallen-Kallela’s 'Aino Triptych' (1891), and Hugo Simberg’s 'The Wounded Angel' (1903). Architecturally, the building features symbolic sculptures by Carl Eneas Sjöstrand, including busts of Bramante, Raphael, and Phidias, caryatids representing classical art forms, and a pediment crowned by the Goddess of Art, Pallas Athene. The museum also hosts contemporary exhibitions and offers visitors a rich cultural experience in a historic setting.
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Tip: Visit Ateneum during weekdays to avoid weekend crowds; the museum offers extended evening hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Purchase tickets online in advance to benefit from discounted rates and skip queues. Museum Card holders enjoy free entry. Accessibility is provided via an entrance on Ateneuminkuja street. Check the official website for special holiday opening hours and current exhibitions.
Interesting facts
- •Ateneum was the first museum worldwide to acquire a Vincent van Gogh painting in 1903.
- •The facade features 16 medallion-style reliefs by Ville Vallgren depicting notable Finnish creatives of the 19th century.
- •The Latin inscription on the facade, 'Concordia res parvae crescunt', symbolizes the unity of Finnish art circles in establishing the museum.
- •Sculptures on the facade, including the Goddess of Art and caryatids, were created by Carl Eneas Sjöstrand.
- •The lobby houses Walter Runeberg's 1874 sculpture 'Apollo and Marsyas.'
History
The Ateneum building was completed in 1887, designed by Theodor Höijer, and originally housed both the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts and the University of Art and Design Helsinki until 1991.
The museum became part of the Finnish National Gallery and holds the largest classical art collection in Finland.
Its acquisition of Van Gogh's 'Street in Auvers-sur-Oise' in 1903 marked the first time a museum worldwide owned a Van Gogh painting.
Over the decades, the museum has been central to Finnish art culture and preservation.
Place Guide
Main Entrance and Facade1887
The grand facade is adorned with symbolic sculptures representing classical arts, including busts of Bramante, Raphael, and Phidias, four caryatids symbolizing sculpture, painting, geometry, and architecture, and the Goddess of Art, Pallas Athene, blessing the arts.
Permanent Collections
The museum's core collection showcases Finnish art from rococo to modernism, including masterpieces by Edelfelt, Gallen-Kallela, Järnefelt, and Simberg, as well as international works like Van Gogh's 'Street in Auvers-sur-Oise' and Modigliani's 'Portrait of the Artist Léopold Survage.'
Lobby Sculpture: Apollo and Marsyas1874
A notable sculpture by Walter Runeberg from 1874, located in the museum lobby, depicting the mythological figures Apollo and Marsyas.
Contact
Phone: 029 4500401
