The Slovak National Gallery (in Slovak, Slovenská Národná Galéria or SNG) is a network of galleries in Slovakia. Its main collection is housed in the adjacent Esterházy Palace and the Water Barracks (in Slovak, Esterházyho Palác and Vodné Kasárne), in the capital city of Bratislava.

The Slovak National Gallery was established by the Slovak National Council (in Slovak, Slovenská Národná Rada or SNR) on July 29th, 1948. With around 70,000 works of national and international origin, its collection showcases dozens of artists from the Baroque to the Modern period!

So, do you want to know more about the Slovak National Gallery: Best Tips For Visiting This Year? Keep reading!

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Brief History of the Slovak National Gallery

As I mentioned in the introduction, the Slovak National Gallery was founded by the Slovak National Council, through an act called “Act No. 24 of 29 July 1948”. Its establishment was primarily promoted by Ladislav “Laco” Novomeský, a Slovak poet, writer, and communist politician.

Originally, the Slovak National Gallery was created as a traditional museum of Fine Arts of European provenance. Nevertheless, its collection has expanded to other types of art since, including Applied Art, Design, Photography, and Stage Design.

How to Get to the Slovak National Gallery

The Slovak National Gallery is situated on Rázusovo nábrežie, a quay on the left bank of the Danube River, in the Old Town district of Bratislava. This waterfront area that starts at the so-called UFO Bridge (in Slovak, UFO Most) is a wonderful place to take a stroll, especially at sunset!

From here, you’re close to other points of interest, such as the Natural History Museum (350 meters), Hviezdoslav Square (350 meters), Slovak National Theater (350 meters), Čumil (450 meters), Saint Martin’s Cathedral (500 meters), Old Town Hall (550 meters), and Main Square (600 meters).

Due to its excellent location in the Old Town district, the Slovak National Gallery is served by two types of public transport: bus (lines 29, 50, or 70, Námestie Ľudovíta Štúra stop; lines 29, 30, 37, 50, 70, 88, 91, or 191, Most SNP stop) and tram (lines 1 or 4, Námestie Ľudovíta Štúra stop; line 4, Most SNP stop).

Opening Hours & Ticket Prices

The Slovak National Gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm, and on Thursdays from 12 pm to 8 pm, with the last entrance happening 30 minutes before the closing time. Apart from Mondays, the museum is closed on some national holidays, which are announced every year.

Tickets cost 9€ (standard rate) or 5€ (discounted rate). This price includes access to all exhibitions and displays available at the time of visit. If you wish to visit only one exhibition, tickets cost 6€ (standard rate) or 3€ (discounted rate).

TIP: Bratislava Card holders have 50% off on their entrance tickets to the Slovak National Gallery!

What to See at the Slovak National Gallery

“Tróniaca Madona so sv. Katarínou a sv. Alžbetou (Madona z Jánoviec)”, by Majster Martin

“Enthroned Madonna with Saint Catherine and Saint Elizabeth (Madonna of Jánovce)” (in Slovak, “Tróniaca Madona so sv. Katarínou a sv. Alžbetou (Madona z Jánoviec)”) is a panel painting by Majster Martin (or Master Martin, in English), who signed and dated on the rear of the frame “Martinus 1497”,

Master Martin became one of the first known representatives of Gothic art in Spiš, a region in north-eastern Slovakia. Created in the village of Jánovce, this portrait of the Virgin Mary, Saint Catherine of Alexandria, and Saint Elizabeth of Hungary is believed to be the middle panel of a wood triptych.

“Nesenie Kríža”

“Carrying the Cross” (in Slovak, “Nesenie Kríža”) is a panel painting by an unknown author, likely a South German painter from the first third of the 16th century. The characteristics are consistent with the so-called Danube School, a circle of painters moving from Gothic to Renaissance style.

“Carrying the Cross” reveals Jesus Christ bending under the weight of the cross, a popular theme from the Passion of Christ frequently represented in sacred art. While the figure of Jesus Christ occupies the center of the frame, the scene includes other intervenients: horsemen, soldiers, other prisoners, etc.

“Oltár Piety”, by Vít Stadler

“Altar of the Pietà” (in Slovak, “Oltár Piety”) is a wood sculpture by Vít Stadler, a sculptor from Trnava who was supported by Nikolaus I, Prince Esterházy. Carved around 1650, this altarpiece was used to decorate the chapel of the Zvolen Castle in central Slovakia.

“Altar of the Pietà” highlights the dead body of Jesus Christ in the arms of his mother, the Virgin Mary, in the manner typical of the Baroque period. The two main figures are accompanied by Saint Catherine, Saint Barbara, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Saint Francis Xavier, and Saint Francis of Assisi.

“Reliéf s Narodením Krista (tzv. Narodenie z Hlohovca)”, by Hans Kamensetzer

“Relief with the Birth of Christ (“Nativity from Hlohovec)” (in Slovak, “Reliéf s Narodením Krista (tzv. Narodenie z Hlohovca)”) is a relief sculpture made by an unknown Viennese carver, probably by Hans Kamensetzer. Dating from around 1485–1490, it depicts a vision of Saint Bridget of Sweden.

“Relief with the Birth of Christ (“Nativity from Hlohovec)” came from a chapel in the Hlohovec Castle, even though it originally belonged to the central sculpture group in the Gothic high altar of Saint Martin’s Cathedral, in Bratislava.

“Procesiový obraz Svätej rodiny a sv. Tekly” by Imrich Jagušič and Johann Georg Feeg

“Processional Painting of the Holy Family and Saint Thecla” (in Slovak, “Procesiový obraz Svätej rodiny a sv. Tekly”) is a painting by Imrich Jagušič, with a frame by Johann Georg Feeg. Although not confirmed as the authors, both of these artists were leading figures of the Late Baroque and Rococo in Spiš.

What’s most interesting about “Processional Painting of the Holy Family and Saint Thecla” is that it’s a double-sided painting. On one side, there’s an image of the Holy Family, accompanied by Joachim and Anna, while the other side presents the early Christian Church martyr Saint Thecla.

“Čistenie lampy”, by Július Jakoby

“Lamp Cleaning” (in Slovak, “Čistenie lampy”) is a painting signed by Július Jakoby in 1935. A prominent name in Slovakia’s modernist art, Július Jakoby has works exhibited in the East Slovak Gallery in Košice, the Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest, and the Trade Fair Palace in Prague.

Painted on oil on canvas, “Lamp Cleaning” shows a social scene of the modern city environment with such expressiveness that it almost becomes a twisted parody. At the time, the streets were filled with beggars, loafers, and other unemployed people, making the social differences quite evident.

“Odsúdená”, by Konštantín Bauer

“Orgie” or “Orgy” (in Slovak, “Odsúdená”), also known by the name of “Condemned (Debauchery)” (in Slovak, “Odsúdený” (Zhýralosť)”), is a painting signed by Konštantín Bauer in 1927. A significant figure in Slovakia’s modernist art, this self-taught painter depicted social events cruelly and grotesquely.

Painted on oil on canvas, “Orgie” or “Condemned (Debauchery)” exposes the life of the proletarian inhabitants of Košice, where Konštantín Bauer used to live. Here, we can see the raw misery of a reality that was in all likelihood happening: the sexual enslavement of women.

“V rannom slnku (Dedinský dvor)”, by Konštantín Kövári-Kačmarik

“In the Morning Sun (Village Courtyard)” (in Slovak, “V rannom slnku (Dedinský dvor)”) is a painting signed by Konštantín Kövári-Kačmarik in 1910. Recognized as an artist ahead of his time only after his early death, he tried to introduce the Art Nouveau movement into the Košice environment.

Painted on oil on canvas, “In the Morning Sun (Village Courtyard)” follows a village motif, a popular Impressionist theme. Konštantín Kövári-Kačmarik’s work represents a crucial bridge between Art Nouveau symbolism and expressionism, which impacted the direction of Slovak modernism.

“Muž s prerazeným nosom. Štúdia”, by Auguste Rodin

“Man with the Broken Nose. Study” (in Slovak, “Muž s prerazeným nosom. Štúdia”) is a sculpture signed by Auguste Rodin in 1864. Worldwide viewed as the founder of modern sculpture, the French sculptor Auguste Rodin is one of the most important artists featured in the Slovak National Gallery!

Cast in bronze, “Man with the Broken Nose. Study” is one of two of Auguste Rodin’s sculptures displayed at the Slovak National Gallery. The other one is called “Three Faunesses (Three Graces)” (in Slovak, “Tri faunky (Tri grácie)”) and was made around 1896.

“Mladá žena s dieťaťom”, by Édouard Manet

“Young Woman with Child” (in Slovak, “Mladá žena s dieťaťom”) is a graphic signed by Édouard Manet in 1862. Considered a key figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism, the French painter Édouard Manet is another one of the most important artists shown in the Slovak National Gallery!

Etched on yellow handmade paper, “Young Woman with Child” is one of two of Édouard Manet’s figurative compositions housed in the Slovak National Gallery. The other one named “Jeanne” was produced in 1882 and is a faithful copy of his painting “Spring” from the year before.

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