#Exhibit of the Month

This remarkable portrait of Mihai Eminescu, created by artist Alexandru Gușanov, is based on one of the four known photographs of the poet. The photograph that inspired this portrait was taken in 1869 in Wenceslas Square, Prague, when Eminescu was only 19 years old. The oval composition and harmonious color palette highlight the prominent personality and charisma of the young poet, capturing an expression that conveys both melancholy and intellectual depth.
Alexandru Gușanov (1929-2005), a Moldovan painter of Ukrainian origin, distinguished himself through his extensive work, comprising approximately 5,000 pieces - portraits, landscapes, and still life paintings. Settled in Moldova since 1945, Gușanov graduated from the Republican Art School "I.E. Repin" in Chișinău in 1952. His works were showcased in numerous national and international exhibitions and were highly appreciated in countries such as France, Hungary, Russia, and Yugoslavia. The artist dedicated a significant part of his career to creating portraits of historical and cultural figures, including Dimitrie Cantemir, Mihail Kogălniceanu, and Alexei Mateevici, which are part of the National Museum of History of Moldova's collection.

The subject of the portrait, Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889), is the most significant poet in Romanian literature, whose works reflect profound thought, sensitivity toward nature, and national identity. At the age of 19, when the photograph that inspired this portrait was taken, Eminescu was in the midst of his intellectual formation, preparing to become the iconic voice of Romanian culture. Among his most famous works is the poem Luceafărul (The Morning Star), a masterpiece of universal literature.

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Exhibitions

“Weapons and Military Equipment – an Evolution throughout Centuries”

May 18, 2013 - August 18, 2024

The National Museum of the History of Moldova possesses 4,000 pieces of weapons and military equipment of historical, technical and artistic value. The collection, created in the second half of the 20th century on the basis of archaeological finds, donations and acquisitions, covers a wide range of types of weapons from ancient times to the present day.

The exhibition "Weapons and Military Equipment - Evolution throughout Centuries" brings to the public the most representative exhibits from this collection - more than 800 items from England, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire, Italy , Japan, Prussia, Romania, Spain, USA, Hungary, USSR.

All types of weapons from the museum collection are presented: Western and Eastern, cold steel and firearms, offensive and of individual defense. The course of the exhibition is organized in the order of typological and chronological evolution, from the Paleolithic to the early 60s of the 20th century.

“Weapons and Military Equipment – an Evolution throughout Centuries”

From a typological point of view, the following are exhibited:

a) cold weapons (blunt, hand-thrown, edged and pointed) - spearheads and arrowheads, maces, axes, knives, halberds, swords, crossbows, sabers, fascine knives, daggers, stilettos, etc.;
b) firearms (military, hunting and civilian) - a matchlock musket; flintlock, percussion and cartridge rifles and pistols; hunting weapons, submachine guns, machine guns, etc.;
c) protective gear - helmets, shields, poleyns, chain mails, breast plates, back plates.

The oldest edged weapon at the exhibition is a Stone Age flint ax (100,000-35,000 years ago), and the oldest firearm is a 15th-century Persian matchlock musket.

Along with weapons, there are also pieces of military equipment and uniforms that come to complete the military spectrum presented in the exhibition: uniforms, headgear (helmets, shakos, peaked caps, caps, fezzes, hats, etc.), elements of uniforms (epaulettes, shoulder straps, cartridge belts, powder flasks, mess-tins, pistol holsters, map-cases, gas masks, etc.); all dating to the 18th-20th centuries.

The message of the exhibition is complemented with paintings, graphic works and photographs depicting battle scenes, types of weapons and soldiers from different historical periods (in specific clothing).

The exhibition "Weapons and Military Equipment - Evolution throughout Centuries" illustrates, on the one hand, technological progress, creative power, inventiveness and love for beauty, and on the other hand, the innate propensity for violence and the destructive power of man.

#Exhibit of the Month

Portrait of Mihai Eminescu by Alexandru Gușanov

“Weapons and Military Equipment – an Evolution throughout Centuries”

May 18, 2013 - August 18, 2024

#Exhibit of the Month