The Role of the National Museum
The art gallery of the National Museum in Sofia has existed for almost twenty years. However, it does not always give visitors—especially foreign visitors—a clear and accurate picture of the current state of Bulgarian art. The main purpose of this gallery was to support the aesthetic education of the Bulgarian people. To achieve this goal, the State aimed to collect the best works of Bulgarian artists and make them easily accessible to the public.
From the very beginning, the Government played an important role in building the museum’s collection. It regularly purchased works by Bulgarian artists at national art exhibitions. These purchases helped encourage artists and also helped create a public collection that reflected the artistic life of the country Bulgaria Private Tours.
Early State Purchases and Their Importance
The first official purchases by the State were made between 1892 and 1899. This period began with the first Bulgarian National Exhibition and ended with the last exhibition organised by the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Art in Bulgaria. During these years, the museum gradually formed the foundations of its art gallery.
These early acquisitions were especially important because Bulgarian art was still in its formative stage. Many artists were experimenting with new themes and techniques, and the State’s support gave them confidence and recognition. The gallery began to reflect the growing artistic ambition of the young nation.
A Lost Period for the Museum
After 1899, a long pause followed. For seven years, no new works were added to the art gallery of the National Museum. This pause caused a serious loss to the collection. Ironically, these years were among the most productive and dynamic periods in the development of Bulgarian art.
During this time, the Society of Contemporary Art showed great activity. It organised four general exhibitions and seven exhibitions devoted to individual artists. Many of the works shown during these events were of high artistic value and deserved a place in the National Museum.
Reasons for the Interruption
The State did not make any purchases during this period because the National Museum was undergoing expansion. The building works were still unfinished, and the museum had not yet been officially reopened. As a result, the Government chose to postpone acquisitions, even though important artistic opportunities were missed.
Renewal of State Support
The enlarged National Museum officially opened in 1905. After this reopening, the Government returned to its original policy of regularly purchasing new works of art. Since then, the gallery has continued to grow, slowly correcting the gaps created during the years of inactivity and once again supporting the development of Bulgarian art.