The Latvian Presidential Chancery has announced that while the Rīga Castle is being renovated, nine paintings which were in the office of the President and in the Heraldry Hall will be exhibited publicly. These paintings will be on display for the first time since the restoration of Latvia’s presidency. The artworks were in rooms that were not publicly accessible and were rescued during the tragic fire at the castle in June this year. The paintings were not damaged by the fire.

Vilhelms Purvītis’ “Winter Landscape” and “Springtime Landscape” (oil on cardboard, 1930s) will be exhibited at the Daugava Gallery beginning on November 13. Also on display will be the portraits of all of Latvia’s former Presidents – Jānis Čakste (Roberts Muzis, oil on canvas, 1995), Gustavs Zemgals (Roberts Muzis, oil on canvas, 1995), Alberts Kviesis (Roberts Muzis, oil on canvas, 1995), Kārlis Ulmanis (Roberts Muzis, oil on canvas, 1995), Guntis Ulmanis (Miervaldis Polis, oil on canvas, 1996), Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga (Miervaldis Polis, oil on canvas, 2003), and Valdis Zatlers (Ritums Ivanovs, oil on canvas, 2012).