Estonian Maritime Museum’s Art Collection in Tammsaare Park

Text Susanna Poikela
Photos Estonian Maritime Museum

On 27 June, an open-air exhibition called “The Call of the Sea on Canvas—90 Years of the Estonian Maritime Museum’s Art Collection” opened in Tammsaare Park. The works in the exhibition tell fascinating stories about the sea and seafaring.

The art collection of the Estonian Maritime Museum covers over 200 years of maritime history. “This collection now comprises 914 works acquired by the museum between 1935 and 2025. The oldest works date back to the early 19th century. The collection includes oil paintings, watercolours, graphics, drawings, bookplates, and sculptures,” says exhibition curator Laura Jamsja.

Each work on display tells its own story. For example, an oil painting by Swedish captain Olof Olsson in 1873 depicts a sailing ship called Georg stuck in ice near Pärnu. Under Olsson’s command, the ship also crossed the Atlantic. According to the story, its bow featured Saint George in armour, carved to resemble its owner, Jüri Veide.

The open-air exhibition is part of the Estonian Maritime Museum’s 90th anniversary celebrations, and serves as a preview of the exhibition presenting the collection more extensively, which will open at the Seaplane Harbour in February 2026. The exhibition in Tammsaare Park will be open until 24 July.

Read more about the Estonian Maritime Museum here.

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