The Sinebrychoff Art Museum is a branch of the tripartite Finnish National Gallery, along with Ateneum and Kiasma. It is the only museum in Finland which specializes in the artworks from the 14th century to the 1850s. It holds some of the most important paintings from the old European masters that can be found in Finland.
House Museum and History
Situated in an Empire-style mansion, the museum was once the home and office of the influential Sinebrychoff family, who were generous patrons towards both the arts and society.
The Sinebrychoffs first arrived in Finland from Russia in the late 18th century. By 1819, Nikolai Sinebrychoff had established a brewery, which was the first in the Nordic countries and today operates under the ownership of the Carlsberg Group.
Nikolai’s nephew Paul, who was an avid art collector, managed the business in the early 1900s. Together with his wife Fanny, they amassed an impressive collection of artworks, which they gave to the Finnish government in 1921. To date, it is the largest art donation ever made in Finland and can be seen on the second floor of the museum.
They also collected a substantial number of artifacts – antique furniture, silverware and porcelain – that can be seen today as part of the house museum exhibition. The furnishings and other details of their former residence on the second floor of the museum have been preserved in their original condition, as far as possible.
(Image: Sinebrychoff Art Museum)
The Collection
There are approximately 6000 pieces in the collection, which strongly reflect the varying tastes of the original collectors and donors whose contributions comprise much of the museums acquisitions.
A major highlight of the collection is the painting “Monk Reading” by the Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn. The painting was donated to the museum in 1920 by Hjalmar Linder.
The permanent collection also includes many works by the Old European Masters, including Frans Hals and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, as well as a much-loved painting from the early 1560s by Jacopo Bassano that once belonged to the French royal dynasty the House of Bourbon.
Exhibitions to See Now
Lucas Cranach – Renaissance Beauties
For the first time in Finland, the works of German Renaissance master Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472 – 1553) will be shown at the exhibition entitled Renaissance Beauties, which begins on September 26th, 2019.
Two works by Cranach – Portrait of a Young Woman (1525) and Lucretia (1530) – belong to Sinebrychoff’s permanent collection. They form the starting point for the exhibition, which focuses on themes that were favoured by the artist – female portraits and mythological subjects.
The exhibition will feature a number of other works by Cranach that have been lent to the Sinebrychoff Museum by several major European art museums.
Family Portraits
Currently ongoing is the Sinebrychoff Brewing Family exhibition which will be on display until January 12, 2020. At the exhibition you can see several portraits of the family that have been donated by the Sinebrychoff Co. Ltd.
TICKETS:
Normal and discounted admission 15/13 €. Free entry for under 18s.
Combined ticket to the Finnish National Gallery’s museums
Ateneum, Kiasma & Sinebrychoff Art Museum 34/32 €
Free admission on the first Wednesday of the month
from 5 pm to 8 pm.
Admission to the House Museum (2nd floor) is always free.
ADDRESS & OPENING HOURS
Bulevardi 40, 00120 Helsinki
Open: Tue 11–18; Wed 11–20; Thur & Fri 11–18; Sat & Sun 10–17.
Closed on Mondays.