The Red and the Black
Europe at the 1821 Congress of Ljubljana
In 2021, during the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the exhibition associates Ljubljana and Slovenia with their historical and current roles in the European international relations.
The Congress placed Ljubljana in the centre of the most crucial European political developments.
Apart from Emperor Francis I of Austria, Emperor Alexander I of Russia, and King Ferdinand I of Naples, many diplomats and other high-ranking guests gathered in Ljubljana for the Congress. They arrived in the capital of Carniola because of the events in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, where King Ferdinand I of Naples had been forced to adopt a constitution after the revolutionary overthrow in 1820. The representatives of the coalition that had been victorious against revolutionary France could not put a stop to the ideas and spirit of the French Revolution, but they were convinced they could control them. In the opinion of Austria, Russia, and Prussia, the Naples Revolution threatened the continent’s peace and stability, established at the Congress of Vienna in 1815 after two decades of wars with France. Therefore, they believed they had the right to intervene.
Chroniclers reported that no tension was felt in Ljubljana in light of the current political events. Theatre performances and concerts were well attended throughout the Congress. Because of the many wealthy guests, the business of Ljubljana’s merchants, artisans, innkeepers, and others boomed. Those who participated in the Congress were so charmed by the city that Friedrich von Gentz, the advisor of the Austrian Minister Metternich and Secretary to the Congress, ultimately wrote that he would not mind if the proceedings dragged on for as long as until the next winter.
Apart from portraying Ljubljana’s moments in the spotlight, the exhibition will also present the Congress in light of the antagonism between the principles of legitimism and constitutionalism, characteristic of the European political restoration after the Congress of Vienna. The system successfully stifled (even with weapons) the national and liberal turmoil and thus ensured the continent’s geopolitical stability.
Exhibition catalogue
Colophon
The Red and the Black, Europe at the 1821 Congress of Ljubljana, City Museum of Ljubljana, 17. 6. 2021–2. 1. 2022
Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana
Represented by: Blaž Peršin, director
Author of the exhibition: Janez Polajnar, M.A.
Texts by: Janez Polajnar, M.A. Ana Pokrajac Iskra, Bojana Rogelj Škafar, Ph.D
Production: Tamara Bregar, M.A.
Coordination: Eva Bolha
Exhibition and graphic design: Kabinet01
Title of the exhibition and conceptual design of the portrait of Prince Metternich: Jasmina Žgank
Conservation and restoration of materials: Katarina Toman Kracina, Liza Lampič, Bojana Zavodnik
Programmes for children: Nika Damjanovič
Programmes for adults: Janja Rebolj
Promotion: Urša Karer, Nejc Kovačič, Ana Modic
Technical preparation: Danilo Ončevski, Mitja Marc, Tomaž Žnidaršič, Nejc Vovk, Zvone Sečnik
Production of exhibition equipment: RPS d.o.o., O.K.vir d. o. o., FABRIKAID d. o. o., Zlatarna Zlato runo
Documentation: Matej Satler, Gorazd Knific, Karmen Brecelj
Photo: Andrej Peunik, Tomaž Lauko
Language editing (SLO): Katja Paladin
Translation (ENG): Borut Praper, Marjana Karer
Translation (FRA, ITA): Jasmina Žgank
Language editing (ENG): Monika Fritz, Paula Kirby
App, video display: Specto informacijske tehnologije d.o.o.
Audio stories: Knjižnica slepih in slabovidnih, Primož Kolenc, Dereck Snyder, Nataša Gerželj Hribovšek, Radio Študent, Ličer solutions d. o. o., Lambda
Interactive content: Nika Damjanovič, Ema Marinčič, David Mohorič, Jaka Vukotič, Urška Dolenc, dr. Pavel Car, RSN media
Author of music at the exhibition: Urban Koder
Opera interpretations: Petra Vrh Vrezec, Tea Plesničar
Film material at the exhibition: Surf Film S.r.l., Rim, 1982 Gaumont / France 3 Cinema, Neuilly-sur-Seine
Objects and materials in the exhibition were lent by: Museé national des château de Malmaison et Bois-Préau, Paris, Musei Provinciali di Gorizia, Gorizia, Reggia di Caserta, Caserta, Museo civico del Risorgimento di Bologna, Anhaltische Gemäldegalerie, Dessau, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna, Galerie Belvedere, Vienna, Neue Galerie Graz / Universalmuseum Joanneum, Graz, Österreichische Bundeskanzleramt / Administrative Bibliothek des Bundes, Vienna, Pokrajinski muzej Koper, Narodni muzej Slovenije, Narodna galerija, Slovenski etnografski muzej, Pokrajinski muzej Celje, Pokrajinski muzej Ptuj-Ormož, Arhiv Republike Slovenije, Belokranjski muzej Metlika, Narodna in univerzitetna knjižnica, Zgodovinski arhiv Ljubljana, Javni zavod Ljubljanski grad, Uršulinski samostan Ljubljana, Mestno gledališče ljubljansko, Christoph Steidl Porenta
Digitalised materials for reproductions in the exhibitions were provided by: Státní zámek Kynžvart / Národní památkový ústav, Prague, Musée Carnavalet / Musées de la ville de Paris, Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris, British Museum, London, Zgodovinski arhiv Ljubljana, Graphic Cabinet / Narodni muzej Slovenije, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna, Albertina, Vienna, Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien, Oberösterreichische Landesmuseen, Linz, Herzog August Bibliothek, Wolfenbüttel, National Historical Museum, Athens
Special thanks to:
Institut français de Slovénie
Istituto Italiano di Cultura
Location
Gosposka 15
1000 Ljubljana
Information and reservations:
T: +386 1 2412 500
T: +386 1 2412 506
E- mail: info@mgml.si, prijava@mgml.si
Opening hours
Tuesday–Sunday: 10.00–18.00
Mondays, 1 January, 1 November and 25 December: Closed
Tickets
Adults: 6 € / Reduced: 4 €
Family ticket: 14 €
ICOM, PRESS, SMD, turist guides with licence, turist card URBANA: Free entry
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