{"id":24902,"date":"2026-03-13T09:14:05","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T07:14:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lndm.devmerit.com\/prano-domsaicio-galerija\/renginiai\/an-exhibition-of-richard-pfeiffer-painter-of-sacred-spaces-goes-on-show-at-the-pranas-domsaitis-gallery-of-the-lnma\/"},"modified":"2026-03-13T09:14:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T07:14:05","slug":"an-exhibition-of-richard-pfeiffer-painter-of-sacred-spaces-goes-on-show-at-the-pranas-domsaitis-gallery-of-the-lnma","status":"publish","type":"renginys","link":"https:\/\/lndm.devmerit.com\/en\/pranas-domsaitis-gallery\/events\/an-exhibition-of-richard-pfeiffer-painter-of-sacred-spaces-goes-on-show-at-the-pranas-domsaitis-gallery-of-the-lnma\/","title":{"rendered":"An exhibition of Richard Pfeiffer, painter of sacred spaces, goes on show at the Pranas Dom\u0161aitis Gallery of the LNMA"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Thursday, 19 March, at 6 pm, the Pranas Dom\u0161aitis Gallery (Liep\u0173 St 33, Klaip\u0117da) of the Lithuanian National Museum of Art (LNMA) opens an exhibition Richard Pfeiffer (1878\u20131962) \u2013 Painter of Sacred Spaces<\/em>. The exhibition presents a rich selection of the artist\u2019s works from the collections of the East Prussian Regional Museum (Ostpreu\u00dfisches Landesmuseum) \u2013 oil paintings of mythological scenes, landscapes and portraits, as well as sketches for mural paintings, cartoons for tapestries, and illustrations.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis exhibition brings to fruition our long-time collaboration with the East Prussian Regional Museum in L\u00fcneburg. We highly treasure this partnership, as it makes it possible for us to present, in Klaip\u0117da, the renowned artists of East Prussia whose creative careers had a significant impact not only on Germany, but on Lithuania too,\u201d Skaist\u0117 Mar\u010dien\u0117, director of the Pranas Dom\u0161aitis Gallery of the LNMA, invites to see the exhibition.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 2023, Jan R\u00fcttinger got in touch with the Pfeiffer family in Berlin. In 2024, in the process of the management of Pfeiffer\u2019s legacy, the artist\u2019s family transferred numerous discovered art pieces to the East Prussian Regional Museum. Though many of them were in a poor condition, we tried to select for the exhibition a collection representative of the artist\u2019s oeuvre\u201d, the exhibition curator, Dr J\u00f6rn Barfod presents the origins of the event.<\/p>\n

The master who graced the towns of East Prussia<\/h6>\n

Richard Pfeiffer, born in 1878 in Breslau (now Wroc\u0142aw, Poland) received his basic training in drawing from his native town\u2019s Art and Crafts School. He continued his art studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. After coming of age, he was appointed professor at the Art Academy in K\u00f6nigsberg, where he taught a number of would-be celebrated artists. On numerous occasions Pfeiffer with his students visited Nida Artists\u2019 Colony, one of the most important centres for the artistic gatherings in the region. The artist lived and worked in K\u00f6nigsberg until 1932, when he moved to Berlin where he stayed for the rest of his life, continuing his practice as a free-lance artist.<\/p>\n

In the towns of East Prussia, the artist made himself a name as a decorator of the public and sacred places. In 1924\u20131926, he designed and painted compositions for the decoration of the interior and the front fa\u00e7ade of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in \u0160ilut\u0117. The main mural of the central altar, of 80 sq. m, features a multitude of figures, where alongside with the Biblical characters, feature historical figures, among them, also of the Reformation movement, the poet Simon Dach and the owner of \u0160ilut\u0117 Estate, Scheu Hugo.\u00a0The composition of the interior d\u00e9cor employs the theme of ecumenism to unite into a whole the Biblical scenes and Catholic saints, figures of the Reformation, the artists and the builders of the church. Pfeiffer\u2019s murals reflect the influence of Italian painting, they can be defined by a fusion of the elements of Realism, Secession and Symbolism. The murals at the Evangelical Church of \u0160ilut\u0117 are recognized as the creative pinnacle of the artist \u2013 it is a unique example of monumental sacred art in the Region of Klaip\u0117da, and the only extant piece by the artist of this scale.<\/p>\n

The ideas of the Reformation and mysticism in the legacy of the artist \u00a0<\/h6>\n

The legacy of Pfeiffer, like that by most of East Prussia\u2019s artist, fell victim to World War II. His studio caught fire in the bombing of Berlin resulting in a loss of numerous works and archives. The artist\u2019s extant artwork is now preserved in the East Prussian Regional Museum in L\u00fcneburg, Germany. Part of the works from the collection have been lent to the exhibition at the Pranas Dom\u0161aitis Gallery, providing an opportunity for Klaip\u0117da citizens and visitors to learn of the art of the painter who was an important part of the cultural landscape in this part of the country.<\/p>\n

Through his mythological and religious compositions, the artist developed reformist and mystical themes, present also in his easel paintings, prints, sketches for murals, cartoons for tapestries and illustrations. The oil paintings preserved by the East Prussian Regional Museum \u2013 portraits, landscapes, mythological scenes allow to discover the multifaceted legacy by the artist and the world of his ideas.<\/p>\n

The exhibition is accompanied by a programme of tours, lectures and other events, information on these is posted on the website of the Pranas Dom\u0161aitis Gallery and social media. The exhibition Richard Pfeiffer (1878\u20131962) \u2013 Painter of Sacred Spaces<\/em> will run until 20 September.<\/p>\n

Organisers: Pranas Dom\u0161aitis Gallery, East Prussian Regional Museum (Germany)<\/p>\n

Partner Scheu Hugo Museum in \u0160ilut\u0117<\/p>\n

Curators: Dr J\u00f6rn Barfod, Jan R\u00fcttinger<\/p>\n

Coordinator Aurelija Malinauskait\u0117<\/p>\n

Designer Edita Namaj\u016bnien\u0117<\/p>\n

Editor Dr Ilona \u010ciu\u017eauskait\u0117<\/p>\n

Translators: Albina Strunga (English), Regina Makauskien\u0117 (German)<\/p>\n

\n