Art Museum Riga Bourse, Riga

The Art Museum Riga Bourse in Riga is a remarkable cultural institution with a storied history and a diverse collection of global art. Established in 1920, it holds the most extensive collection of world art in Latvia, featuring items that range from Ancient Egyptian and Middle Eastern art dating back to 5000 BC to contemporary pieces.

The museum traces its roots to the growth of trade in 19th-century Riga. Local merchants, forming the Stock Exchange Committee, initially met at the City Hall. In 1847, as trade expanded, the Great Guild vacated City Hall for court institutions, necessitating a new building to accommodate the Guild, the Committee, and a planned city theatre, though the theatre idea was later scrapped due to fire hazards.

The new building, designed by Baltic German architect Harald Julius von Bosse, was started in 1852 and completed in 1856 in the Venetian Renaissance palazzo style. Notable for its terracotta décor and sculptures by Danish artist David Jensen, it originally served as the Riga Stock Exchange and was inaugurated by Tsar Alexander II.

The museum’s collection, now numbering over 22,000 works, began with significant contributions from art collectors in the 19th and 20th centuries. The earliest collection was donated by Nikolaus von Himsel, a Baltic German doctor who assembled a diverse array of oriental objects. This was followed by donations from Domenico de' Robbiani, Reinhold Schilling, and Friedrich Wilhelm Brederlo, among others, significantly enhancing the museum's holdings with notable European art, including a substantial number of works by Dutch masters.

Today, the Art Museum Riga Bourse stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and historical depth of Riga, offering an invaluable resource for both locals and visitors interested in the arts and history.