National Museum of History and Art
Encyclopedia
The National Museum of History and Art , abbreviated to MNHA, is a museum
located in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg
. It is dedicated to displaying artwork
s and artefact
s from all epochs of Luxembourgian history
. The museum is situated in Fishmarket
, the historic heart of the city, in the Ville Haute
quarter
.
occupation of the Revolutionary Wars
, when Luxembourg was annexed into the département
of Forêts
. However, the museum was never opened, despite the expropriation
of a number of artefacts from the church.
With the affirmation of Luxembourg's independence under the 1839 First Treaty of London
came a greater interest by native Luxembourgers in promoting the history of their country. In 1845, historians and archaeologists formed the 'Society for the Study and Preservation of Historic Monuments in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg' , regularly known as the 'Archaeological Society' . The society took over the responsibility of maintaining a collection of historic antiquities from Luxembourg City's Athenaeum.
In 1868, the Society received a boost from the establishment of the Royal-Grand Ducal Institute , amongst the responsibilities of which was the conservation of archaeological collections.
The museum has been expanded with a new building designed by Christian Bauer et Associés, opened in 2002.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
located in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. It is dedicated to displaying artwork
Work of art
A work of art, artwork, art piece, or art object is an aesthetic item or artistic creation.The term "a work of art" can apply to:*an example of fine art, such as a painting or sculpture*a fine work of architecture or landscape design...
s and artefact
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
s from all epochs of Luxembourgian history
History of Luxembourg
The history of Luxembourg is inherently entwined with the histories of surrounding countries, peoples, and ruling dynasties. Over time, the territory of Luxembourg has been eroded, whilst its ownership has changed repeatedly, and its political independence has grown gradually.'Although recorded...
. The museum is situated in Fishmarket
Fishmarket
Fishmarket , also spelt Fish Market, is a street in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg, that shares its name with the neighbourhood directly surrounding it. It lies in the eastern part of the Ville Haute quarter....
, the historic heart of the city, in the Ville Haute
Ville Haute
Ville Haute is a quarter in central Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg.In 2001, the quarter had a population of 2,686 people.It is the historical center of Luxembourg City and is involved in its UNESCO World Heritage Site status....
quarter
Quarters of Luxembourg City
The Quarters of Luxembourg City are the smallest administrative division for local government in Luxembourg City, the capital and largest city in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg....
.
History
The first proposal for such a museum was made during the FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
occupation of the Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
, when Luxembourg was annexed into the département
Départements of France
The departments of France are French administrative divisions. The 101 departments form one of the three levels of local government, together with the 22 metropolitan and 5 overseas regions above them and more than 36 000 communes beneath them...
of Forêts
Forêts
Forêts was a département of the French First Republic, and later the First French Empire, in present Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. Its name, meaning 'forests', comes from the Ardennes forests. It was formed on 24 October 1795, after the Southern Netherlands had been annexed by France on 1...
. However, the museum was never opened, despite the expropriation
Confiscation
Confiscation, from the Latin confiscatio 'joining to the fiscus, i.e. transfer to the treasury' is a legal seizure without compensation by a government or other public authority...
of a number of artefacts from the church.
With the affirmation of Luxembourg's independence under the 1839 First Treaty of London
Treaty of London, 1839
The Treaty of London, also called the First Treaty of London or the Convention of 1839, was a treaty signed on 19 April 1839 between the European great powers, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Kingdom of Belgium. It was the direct follow-up of the 1831 'Treaty of the XXIV Articles'...
came a greater interest by native Luxembourgers in promoting the history of their country. In 1845, historians and archaeologists formed the 'Society for the Study and Preservation of Historic Monuments in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg' , regularly known as the 'Archaeological Society' . The society took over the responsibility of maintaining a collection of historic antiquities from Luxembourg City's Athenaeum.
In 1868, the Society received a boost from the establishment of the Royal-Grand Ducal Institute , amongst the responsibilities of which was the conservation of archaeological collections.
The museum has been expanded with a new building designed by Christian Bauer et Associés, opened in 2002.
External links
National Museum of History and Art official website- Christian Bauer et Associés - architect's website