Strossmayer's Old Masters Gallery, Zagreb

Strossmayer’s Old Masters Gallery is one of Zagreb’s key cultural institutions, located on the second floor of the historic building of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts. The gallery was founded in 1884 through the vision of Josip Juraj Strossmayer, who donated a significant number of paintings to the city with the aim of bringing European artistic heritage closer to the public. It remains one of the earliest public art galleries in Croatia.

The collection features European paintings from the 14th to the 19th centuries and includes around 4,000 works in total, of which approximately 250 are on display at any given time. The holdings are organized into three main groups: Italian, French, and Northern European schools, including German, Flemish, and Dutch works, alongside a smaller selection by Croatian artists. This focused presentation allows visitors to follow key developments in European art through carefully chosen examples.

The gallery is housed in a building dating back to 1867, designed in an Italian Renaissance style that reflects the cultural ambitions of the period. Inside, high ceilings, balanced proportions, and controlled natural light create a calm, structured environment suited to viewing art. Modern updates have been introduced to support the display and preservation of the collection.

On the ground floor of the same building, visitors can also find the Baška Tablet, a 12th-century stone monument that is one of the most important landmarks of the Croatian language and Glagolitic script.