|
.
.
Biljarda,
the former residence of Petar II Petrović Njegoš, built
according to the design of Jakov Ozereckovski in 1838, is a place
for the visitor to truly sense the time, circumstances and
conditions in which the great Montenegrin Prince-Bishop, poet and
philosopher created his most important works.
Over
a whole century, the Montenegrins carefully preserved the legacy of
Njegoš, to open a Memorial Museum in the bishop’s renewed
residence in 1951.
.
The plan of the exhibition:
1. The
Armoury
2. The
Senate Hall
3. The
library
4. The
bedroom
5. The
room of Njegoš’s secretary
6. The
Statehood Room
7. Njegoš's
works
8. Map of Montenegro
..
.
The
building used to have a ground floor and an upper floor with 25 rooms.
The upper floor contained: “The Armoury”, Bishop’s bedroom,
Bishop’s study, the Billiard Room, “People’s Office”, Njegoš’s
secretary bedroom, a room intended for the senators and foreign
visitors. The ground floor contained: Bishop’s kitchen, dining room
with a fireplace, servant’s room and storage, dining room and
“popular kitchen”. Our studies still do not provide us with a
detailed and complete description of the interior of Biljarda.
There exist such descriptions, though fragmentary and providing only a
hint as to what the interior looked like. Weapons hung on the walls, as
well as portraits of notable figures that Njegoš appreciated: Russian
Emperors Peter the Great and Nikolay I, Napoleon, Friedrich of Saxonia,
Karadjordje and Byron.
.
.
Metropolitan
Petar II Petrović Njegoš (portrait done by Johan Boss) and
the" Armory"
The
billiard-table, after which the residence obtained its name, was placed
in the main room, that was in time going to become the place where
important decisions would be made.
The
Armoury or “The Chamberlain’s Room”, alongside the
characteristic samples of weapons, canons krnjo and zelenko,
portraits of Kenjo Janković, a contemporary of Njegoš who won
Žabljak, and sirdar Djuko Sredanović, Njegoš’s attendant,
displays the gift collection of weapons that marked the opening of
the Memorial Museum in Biljarda and a century from the death
of Peter II Petrović Njegoš (1851 – 1951).
.
The
Senate Hall and Njegoš's library
The
Senate Hall, that is the Billiard Room, is one of the most important
rooms in the residence. This is where the social and state life of
the free part
of Montenegro took place. Next to the billiard-table, the cabinet
displays the Bishop’s armchair bought in Venice - its legs were
subsequently modified and extended by 16 centimetres for the size of
the chair to fit Njegoš’s stature. A portrait of Njegoš in
national costume, done by the Viennese painter Johannes Bes in
1847,
is displayed on the central wall.
Portraits
of Prince Danilo, who succeeded Njegoš on the Montenegrin throne,
as well as those of King Nikola and Grand Duke Mirko, Njegoš’s will,
flags, long daggers (jatagan), rifles, and pistols (ledenica)
are also displayed.
The
study, with a library of more than a thousand books is even today
fascinating for visitors. Bishop Petar II frequently consulted a large
number of books in nine classical and living languages. It is
precisely this wide range of fields and personal interests that places
Njegoš among the most educated persons of the time.
.
Njegoš's
notebook and the original manuscript of
the epic poem Gorski vijenac (The Mountain Wreath)
.
This
is particularly heightened by his works
- the original manuscripts of Gorski vijenac (The Mountain Wreath) and
Noć skuplja vijeka (The Night More Precious Than the
Century), one of the best love poems ever written in this
part of the world. Translation of Lamartin’s
Hymn of Night, Njegoš’s notebook, gold pen and inkpot
are also displayed. A portrait of Pushkin, Njegoš’s personal arms and
personal objects complete this historical picture.
The
bedroom displays representative samples of handmade weapons,
bishop’s robes, the chair Njegoš used for rest, part of the
original furniture,
portrait of the Bishop in his youth done by the Slovenian painter
Josip Tominc (1833).
A
special place on the sidewall belongs to the originals of Njegoš’s
bishop’s diplomas.
The
bedroom, bishop’s
diploma and Njegoš's portrait done by Jozef Tominc
.
next
page >>> 1/2
|
