Gallery of Matica Srpska | Museums of Serbia

Gallery of Matica srpska is the most significant and richest museum of Serbian art in recent times. It is located in Novi Sad, where it has preserved the spirit of the past and showcased different eras in the development of Serbian art for nearly two centuries.

This unique cultural institution and repository of national art originated in Pest in 1826 and was relocated to Novi Sad in 1864. A key role in its establishment was played by the great Serbian benefactor and the first lifelong president of Matica srpska, Sava Tekelija. In 1842, Sava Tekelija bequeathed a collection of family portraits to the Gallery, which remains the core of its artistic collection to this day.

Part of the archaeological and ethnographic collection, as well as the visual artworks, were first presented to the public in 1933. A quarter of a century later, Gallery of Matica srpska was inaugurated, marking the beginning of its independent institutional life.

Treasury of Artworks

The present-day museum collection contains around 5,000 artworks of significance to the culture of the Serbian people in Vojvodina from the late 17th to the late 20th century. The artworks are categorized into several collections, including Serbian painting, sculpture, graphics, oleographs, drawings, and replicas.

The collections of Serbian painting, drawings, and graphics from the 18th and 19th centuries indicate the Europeanization of Serbian art. They stand out not only for their importance but also for their integrity. The 20th-century collection was mainly formed through donations or acquisitions and comprises works by sculptors and painters from Vojvodina, as well as artists from the wider Yugoslav region.

Uroš Predić, Paja Jovanović, Sava Šumanović...

The permanent exhibition features selected artworks from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, presented chronologically, tracing the development and emergence of modern art.

The national visual art treasury houses works by icon painters from the early 18th century, baroque artists Teodor Kračun and Stefan Tenecki, as well as Dimitrije Avramović, Konstantin Danilo, Arsa Todorović, Novak Radonić, the great artists of the 19th century, Uroš Predić and Paja Jovanović, as well as artists from the first half of the 20th century, Sava Šumanović, Milan Konjović, Ivan Radović, Bogdan Šuput, Ivan Tabaković, and other artists who contributed to the development of that era.

The second half of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century were marked by historical and political turmoil, social and economic changes throughout Europe. Nevertheless, Galerija Matice srpske adapted to the circumstances and continued to develop. Thanks to donations and bequests, the art collection grew over the decades. One-third of the artworks were donated to the museum, and it now houses 32 gift collections.

Galerija Matice srpske is open to art enthusiasts and admirers from Tuesday to Thursday, from 10 am to 8 pm, on Fridays from 10 am to 10 pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm.

The ticket price is 200 dinars, while students and citizens over 65 years old can purchase a discounted ticket for 100 dinars. For school groups accompanied by a curator, the entrance fee per person is 100 dinars, and a family ticket for three or more members costs 300 dinars. On Fridays, individual visits are free of charge.