Ateneum Art Museum, Helsinki

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Ateneum is the home of Finnish National Art Gallery housing a collection of Finnish art from the Gustavian period of the mid-18th century to the modernist movements of the 1950s. Its most notable works include those by Finnish artists such as Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Albert Edelfelt and Hugo Simberg. For a Finn, seeing these painting is a rather sentimental experience as we grow up seeing these pictures everywhere.. or at least I have!

There is also a small collection of paintings by artists such as van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne, Léger, Chagall and Munch. One of the latest acquisitions of museum is an early self-portrait by Helene Schjerfbeck. Other notable pieces include several sculptures by Rodin from a collection of a private collector.

Opening times
Mon Closed
Tue 10am–6pm
Wed & Thu 10am–8pm
Fri 10am–6pm
Sat & Sun 11am–5pm

There is also a cafe and a shop.

No photography is allowed which is a bit of shame.


Admission:

April - August 2013 and 11 October 2013 - 9 February 2014
Adults 12 €
Concessions 10 € (students, pensioners, conscripts, non-military servicemen, teachers, artists and the unemployed as well as groups of ten or more)

3 September - 10 October 2013
Adults 10 €
Concessions 8 € (students, pensioners, conscripts, non-military servicemen, teachers, artists and the unemployed as well as groups of ten or more)

Free admission for anyone under 18, war veterans, ICOM card holders, therapy groups as well as assistants accompanying disabled visitors.

Ticket sale at the museum ends 30 minutes before the closing time. Tickets are also available from Lippupalvelu's ticket outlets and online shop. http://www.lippupalvelu.fi/search.php?tm_link=tm_header_search&language=fi&keyword=ateneum

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Here we have Helsinki's number one adress for classic art and the largest art collection in Finland. The permanent exhibition includes mainly Finnish paintings from the late 19th and early 20th century. The expressionist section includes a decent number of works from well-known artists such as Munch, Chagall, van Gogh or Gaugin. Their café is good as well and can be visited without having to buy an entry for the museum, the same goes for the souvenir shop which has a good selection on art books. The museum building itself is worth some attention as well. It was built in neo-renaissance style and finished in 1887.
The museum has temporary exhibitions which occupy far more than the permanent exhibition. We spent around 2 and a half hours in a Karl Larsson exhibition and I was even able to get into one of the pictures :) Check their website for the schedule on further exhibitions in there.

Ateneum was built by architect Theoder Höijer and in is located in the edge of Rautatientori (Railway station square) year 1887.

In the collections of Ateneum there are the most loved Finnish painters, like
- Werdinand von Wright
- Albert Edenfelt
- Pekka Halonen
- Hugo Simberg
- Akseli Gallen-Kallela
- Werner Holmberg

and most loved paitings like
- Taistelevat metsot
- Kullervon kirous
- Haavoittunut Enkele
- Aino-Taru
- Maantie Hämeessä
- Lapsen ruumissaatto
- Toipilas

This year is Helene Schjerfbeck's birth 150 year anniversary and her paintings are now present in Exhibition (1.6.2012 - 14.10.2012). The surprise came in the beginning of September. A Conservator was researching a painting (Raaseporin maisemia) and she found a new painting behind the canvas. I saw this new born painting (I call it Woman and a child) today and it is one of the best she painted.

Unfortunately photographing was forbidden so you have to look the paintings from other part of the web.

The text in the triagle says: "Concordia res parvae crescunt" and free translation "In harmony small things grows"

Ateneum is Finland's National Gallery housing the oldest, most significant and extensive works of art and dates range from 1750-1960. There are approximately 17,500 works of art including some international art.

I thoroughly enjoyed looking around the gallery and the highlight was the paintings by Gallen-Kallela, my favourite Finnish artist and he was associated with continuing the Romantic movement into the early 20th Century.

Very often the exhibitions are changed. It gives good input into Finish art.
Opening hours: Tue, Fri 10–18 | Wed, Thu 10–20 | Sat, Sun 11–17
For more info on current exhibitions and authors present in the permanent collection, check the web site.
The price of entrance ticket should be 9 euro.

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Ateneum is the national gallery of Finland. It was designed by architect Theodor Höijer and inaugurated in 1887, and is something of a national monument. It is located opposite the central railway station on Rautatientori. It hosts exhibitions of the visual art and the cultural heritage of the country.

On the central facade you can see busts of three famous classical artists: architect Bramante, painter Raphael and sculptor Phidias. Together with the csultures above who support the pediment, these sculptures were by Carl Sjöstrand.

Inside there is a cafeteria Tablo Ateneum, where lunch and coffee is offered. Ateneum is a good option, where you can spend your free time in Helsinki.

The Ateneum Art Museum is an excellent art museum that should not be missed. It’s one of the three museums that belongs to the Finnish National Galley and it is completely dedicated to Finnish art. The other two museums are the Sinebrychoff Art Museum (classical art) and the Kiasma Art Museum (contemporary art).
In the Ateneum there is a permanent collection of works by Finnish artists such Albert Edelfelt, Akseli Gallen-Kallela and Pekka Halonen. Moreover there are temporary exhibitions – when I visited there was the very interesting “ONERVA - Women of the City” exhibit, illustrating the life of women in 1910s Helsinki through the eyes of writer and critic Onerva. Outstanding!

Opening hours: Tue, Fri 10–18, Wed, Thu 10–20, Sat, Sun 11–17 .
Photography is not allowed in the exhibition rooms

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A moderately interesting museum, well worth a visit for anyone more than averagely interested in art. It is housed in a handsome 19th century building. You can visit also late afternoon, because it is open till 8,00 pm.
Its collection of paintings and sculptures consists of more than 4000 works by finnish artists, including the best-known finnish painter, Gallen-Kallela and over 650 foreign works of art.
The international collection features works by such artists as Cézanne, Chagall, van Gogh, Gauguin, Munch, Rodin.

On the museum's third floor, there is an interesting collection named "Artist as an observer of nature".
Here is one of my favourites on display, Kaukola Ridge at Sunset by Edelfelt, the master of plein air. It depicts a lake, only one from the ten thousand and if Nokia factory would stand on the coast of this lake today, it would change nothing on the essence of the sight.

Opening hours: Tue and Fri: 10–18, Wed and Thu: 10–20, Sat and Sun: 11–17, Mondays closed
Admission fee: 8/6.50 €, under 18 free

In this museum you will find the older Finnish and Western art up to around the 1950s. You find this prominent building on the big square by the railway station.

The museum is closed on Mondays. There is an entry fee, except on Wednesdays from 5 pm - 8 pm but not during major exhibitions.

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The Ateneum art museum has the largest collections of art in Finland.

It´s open tue and fri 09.00-18.00
wed and thu 09.00-20.00
sat and sun 11.00-17.00
The museum is closed on mondays. The admission fees: 4,50 / 3 euros, if you are under the age of 18 you get in free.