Fine Arts

In brief: The contribution of Marija Rudzinskaitė-Arcimavičienė (1885 – 1941) into the forming Egyptology of Lithuania is rather marked. This scientist is often called “the pioneer of Egyptology” as she introduced the Eastern culture to Lithuanians in the 20^th century. After her death no one appeared who could have continued the started work consistently. On the one hand this was determined by political circumstances, on another hand – by the lack of interest of the public.

Even now only single works of scientists on the theme of Ancient Egypt are published. Looking from the perspective of today, we may ask how important the contribution of this woman is today. The works and acquaintances of M. Rudzinskaitė-Arcimavičienė show that we had wonderfully prepared specialists at the times of the young and yet unformed Lithuania who could equal to researchers of West Europe or America. The works (slightly corrected) of the Lithuanian Egyptologist may be studied at universities today.

Therefore, in the article the author looks at the scientist from a different, untypical angle and compares her with two famous English Egyptologists of the end of the 19^th century. Also, in one part of the article Egyptology is analysed from the fine arts perspective with references to ancient paintings and their relations with art in Lithuania and the world in the 19^th-20^th century.