Animals in Vilnius sculptures

The monument to Grand Duke Gediminas was erected in Cathedral Square in 1996 and was designed by the Lithuanian-American Vytautas Kašuba and executed by Mindaugas Šnipas. 

Gediminas was one of the most famous early dukes of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; he reigned in the 14th century and was the founder of the Gediminas dynasty. It was in Gediminas’ letters to Western Europe in 1323 that the name of Vilnius was mentioned for the first time, and this year is considered to be the date of the foundation of Vilnius.

Gediminas is depicted next to a horse. This is not the usual form of depicting a ruler and a warrior. Kašuba said that he wanted to portray Gediminas as a democratic, modern duke who ruled not by the sword, but by diplomatic decisions. Therefore, the duke blesses the city with his outstretched arms. 

In addition to the horse, another animal can be seen at the duke’s feet – the howling iron wolf from Gediminas’ dream.

In 2015, a sculpture dedicated to the only Lithuanian dog breed – the Lithuanian Hound – was unveiled at the foot of the hill on which Gediminas Castle stands. The sculpture was created by Rimantas Keturka and Feliksas Volčakas according to the design concept of Romualdas Kvintas. Lithuanian hounds were bred from various groups of local dogs that had been reared for hunting in Lithuania since ancient times. The purpose of the hounds is to find fresh tracks or to raise the prey from its den, following its trail while hunting. According to written sources, hounds were used in Lithuania as early as the 16th century. In the Middle Ages, it was considered an honour to keep a pack of hounds on one’s estate. Although these dogs were bred for hunting for a long time, some people are still happy to keep them as pets today. Hound shows are regularly organised in Lithuania.

In the courtyard of the Shakespeare Hotel, you can find the sculpture ‘The Minotaur’s Performance’ by the painter, photographer, and sculptor Algis Griškevičius. The openwork minotaur pedalling a unicycle was erected in 2001. Another of Griškevičius’ sculptures can be found on Konstitucijos Avenue. A grasshopper six metres in length can be found perching on the building numbered ‘23’. The sculpture has the author’s face, hence its name: ‘Grasshopper – Self-Portrait’.

In 2019, Jonas Geltis’ ‘Užupis Cat’ took pride of place on one of the fences of Užupis. Symbolically, the adjacent Užupis Square was once home to a pet market for cats and dogs. In Užupis, cats are particularly loved and respected. Even Article 13 of the Constitution of Užupis states that “A cat is not obliged to love its owner, but must help out in times of need” If you lack courage in your life, visit this piercing and proud cat. “Scratch my ear, and you won’t be afraid anymore”, he whispers.

The sculpture ‘The Elephants of Alumantas’ stands in a secluded courtyard in the Old Town, with a clear view of the Presidential Courtyard. It is the diploma work of Vytenis Jankūnas, a graduate of the Art Institute (now Vilnius Academy of Arts), created in 1985 under the supervision of the renowned sculptor Professor Gediminas Jokūbonis. The sculpture, made of white cement inlaid with black marble, depicts a chessboard on elephant heads. At the time, a chess club was operating in an adjacent building and commissioned the sculptor to create an outdoor chess table.

Bring a chess set, invite a friend, and play a game.

The Lithuanian goddess of forests and hunting, who decorated the courtyard in 1988, is the diploma work of Marius Grušas. The tree is perched on a bear, the king of the forest, and fits in perfectly with the huge spruce tree next to it. Copies of this work can also be found in China and the USA. 

Many sculptors inscribe their surname or initials and the date the sculpture was made. Marius chose a particularly original place; come closer and take a closer look at the bear. On one of its claws, there is a ring with the artist’s initials and the date of the sculpture.

Only the more observant will notice the sculpture ‘Legendary Giant – Legendary Džiugas Cheese’, which adorns the entrance to the Džiugas cheesemonger’s shop. The sculpture was created by the sculptor Romualdas Inčirauskas following an idea conceived by the architect Algirdas Žebrauskas. The original stands in Telšiai, the birthplace of ‘Džiugas’ cheese, and there is a copy here in Vilnius.

Since ‘Džiugas’ cheese is famous not only in Lithuania but is also recognised and widely known in many countries around the world, the sculpture places it on a pedestal rather than on a table. The mouse that unsuccessfully reaches for it symbolises consumers who do not care what kind of cheese they eat. That is why it cannot reach the legendary ‘Džiugas’ cheese, where the golden mouse is perched. And this foodie mouse is a true gourmet; he can appreciate cheese of exceptional quality. Therefore, all guests of ‘Džiugas House’ must perform a small ritual before entering to taste the cheese: rub the nose of the golden mouse with their little finger to open their olfactory senses and prepare their tastebuds!

Zemach Shabad was born and died in Vilnius. He graduated from Moscow University with a degree in medicine and was involved in Jewish educational, cultural and charitable organisations; he was one of the founders of the YIVO Jewish Research Institute, as well as being a leader of the Jewish community, a member of the city council, and a Polish senator. On the day of his death, not only did Jewish shops and organisations close as a mark of respect, but so did banks, and thousands of people accompanied the doctor on his final journey to his resting place in the cemetery. 

He is believed to be the prototype of Dr. Aiskauda (Doctor Aybolit – Dr ‘Ouch, It Hurts’!), the hero of the fairy tale by the writer Korney Chukovsky – although some literary scholars argue that ‘Aiskauda’ is an almost verbatim copy of Lofting’s ‘Doctor Dolittle’.

The sculpture of a doctor and a girl with a cat, erected in 2007, is the work of Romas Kvintas. The famous sculptor liked to create life-size sculptures of famous people, usually standing on the ground, as if they had just stood still. These include V. Kernagis in Nida, D. Dolskis in Kaunas, M. Luther, and L. Cohen in Vilnius. The scene depicts a sick girl coming to a doctor, who fed her and gave her some milk. The next day the girl brought a cat. After that, a group of children were standing at the doctor’s door.

On 18 October 2022, on the occasion of its fourth birthday, MO Museum opened Vingrių Square just adjacent to the museum and presented the city with an exhibition of water-themed sculptures. One of these sculptures is ‘Ungurai’ (‘Eels’) by Mykolas Saukos.

The water theme was not chosen by chance – since medieval times until the beginning of the 20^th century, the Vingrių springs that flowed from the slope above provided water to city dwellers’ homes. It was the most important water source in Vilnius, supplying drinking water to many homes.

These eels are part of a larger family in Lithuania; their brothers, similar concrete eels by Mykolas Saukos, have decorated the shoreline of Lake Daugai (Didžiulis) since their installation there in 2020.

The writer Jurga Ivanauskaitė lived in the building at Aguonų g. 15 not far from the square, from 1997-2007. In 2008, one year after her death, it was decided to name this unnamed square ‘Jurga Square’ in her honour. A year later, in 2009, the sculptor Ksenija Jaroševaitė erected the sculpture ‘Cat’. Why a cat? A cat appeared in almost every work of the writer, and she herself had a pet named Lūšis. “Cats and angels were Jurga’s great loves”, said Ivanauskaitė’s mother. Jaroševaitė made the cat sculpture out of Lithuanian stone, and it weighs about 10 tonnes. The cat is depicted as cute, softly shaped, maybe even a little comical, which is why it adds a cosy touch to the square.