The phenomenon of Konstantinas Prošinskis: mushroom drawings

Mushroom drawings have never been numerous; being mysterious and little-known for a long time, they often remained in the shadow of animal and plant research. However, a significant mark in the history of mushroom depiction was left by the educator, botanist, and researcher of the Vilnius region's nature, Konstantinas Prošinskis (1859–1936). His drawings were kept in archives for a long time, and now they are revealed as a unique testimony to the history of science and art.

The exhibition presents reproductions of Konstantinas Prošinskis' mushroom watercolors. They meticulously convey the shapes, colors, and structural details of the mushrooms, and scientific accuracy often merges with a subtle, somewhat romanticized artistic expression.

The exhibited works reveal not only the author's exceptional attention to the diversity of mushroom forms and colors but also the traditions of nature cognition, scientific illustration, and artistic expression of the early 20th century. This exhibition is a rare opportunity to get acquainted with a little-known page of Lithuania's natural heritage and the history of mycology.

The exhibition will be open at the museum until September 1st*, and it can be visited during museum opening hours with a purchased ticket:

Tue–Fri 3 PM – 8 PM

Sat–Sun 11 AM – 8 PM

Exhibition author, scientific consultant: Dr. Jonas Kasparavičius

Exhibition curators: Inga Berulienė, Aida V. Dobkevičiūtė

Graphic design: Eglė Pundzevičiūtė

Exhibition organizers: Rūta Kazlauskienė, Mindaugas Rasimavičius, Inga Raubaitė, Audronė Stasiukaitytė

Exhibition organizers: Vilnius City Museum's Markučiai Manor and the Wroblewski Library of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences

*From August 20-26, a performance by the Old Theatre of Vilnius will be shown at Markučiai Manor, so the museum will be closed.