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Historical exhibition:25 November 2011 -24 February 2013

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Novo mesto today is a reflection of all the past centuries, as well as all the people that live here, whose intellectual and physical effort day in, day out, has marked their persevering and creative life. The city has always been involved in wider political, economic, cultural and other connections, which have constantly changed through periods in history.

The period covered in the exhibition marks the official end of feudalism and the beginning of capitalism, a time of emerging national con-sciousness, of modern nations and of indus-trial revolution.

In those years Novo mesto was the location for the first staging of the play Ta veseli dan ali Matiček se ženi [The Happy Day, or Matiček Gets Married], the first reprints of Valvasor’s Glory of the Duchy of Carniola, the first Slo-venian national centre was built here and the first history of Novo mesto was written.

On a walk through time we encounter 150 objects plus pictorial material in six thematic sets, as well as a bedroom and drawing room in two interior installations. The exhibition also features a small, darkened room, intended to offer a tactile experiencing of the exhibits.

1We begin with a presentation of the Austrian Empire, after 1867 the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, which was marked by the long rule of Emperor Franz Joseph I (Emperor from 1848 to 1916). At that time Vienna was Slovenia’s capital. The end of the First World War was also the end of that large multinational monarchy.

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The imperial city of Vienna.

Cup with the Emperor’s image.

Emperor FranzJoseph I.

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2The River Krka and Novo mesto have been inse-parably linked ever since the founding of the city in 1365. The river influenced the choice of location for the newly emerging city, enabling the development of economic activities by the river and offering pleasant social and spor ting pursuits for city residents.

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Statue of John of Nepomuk, which stood by a bridge over the Krka.

Novo mestobathing area.

Cadastral plan of Novo mesto.

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3The city and its symbols reflect the centuries of Habsburg rule. The image of Novo mesto’s founder, Rudolph IV von Habsburg, became and remained the symbol of this city up to the present day.

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Iron crest of Novo mesto.

Crest of Novomesto on the flag.

Seals of Novo mesto.

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4Images of the city and people took on mass di-mensions with the development of photography in the second half of the 19th century. The enthusiasm was quite obvious even then, judging by the amount of preserved photographs and postcards.

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Novo mesto family.

Innkeepers.

Pogled na Novo mesto

(Jožef Wagner).

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MY 5Novo mesto was the centre of government and the

economy in the Dolenjska region. It was the location for urban, state and Church offices, a grammar school and agricultural school were attended by pupils from all the Slovenian regions, and craftsmen and merchants provided for the needs of city residents. This was the period when the first public buildings were erected: the national centre, railway, new city hall, governor’s office, hospital and so for th.

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School accessories.

Butcher shop.

Music cupboard – orchestrion.

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6The formation of the Slovenian national con-sciousness and the par tial easing of moral standards spurred the founding of numerous societies and the development of public social life. Societies and social life shifted from behind the closed doors of homes to become public events in the main square, the national centre and along and on the River Krka.

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The first national centre in Slovenia.

Event inGlavni trg.

First Slovenian anthem and flag on a postcard.

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Dolenjski muzej Novo mesto

Muzejska ulica 7Novo mesto, Slovenija

phone: +386 (0)7 373 11 30dolenjski.muzej@guest.arnes.si

www.dolmuzej.com

Opening hours:Tuesday – Saturday: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm

Sunday:

The exhibition is adapted to a large extent for visitors with visu-al impairment, while conversely offering fully sighted visitors the chance to experience the world of the blind in the darkened space.

Published byDolenjski muzej Novo mesto

Represented byZdenko Picelj,

coordinator of the project

TextMajda Pungerčar,

author of the exhibitionDesign

Vesna Pungerčar Photography

Dolenjski muzej Novo mestoBranko Babič

Borut KrižTranslation

Amidas Ljubljana d.o.o.Printed by

Utrip, BrežiceImpression

2.000 copiesMay 2011

general sponsor

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