Monument to Johann Köler

This monument was erected to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of the founder of Estonian nationalist painting.
Johann Köler was born in the parish of Suure-Jaani in Viljandi County. Did you know…? *Having studied painting at the Academy of Art, Köler went on to further studies in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Italy. *He was employed in the court of the Russian emperor as the drawing teacher of the tsar’s daughter. *He corresponded with forward-thinking Estonian intellectuals and took part in events as part of the nationalist movement. The monument was sculpted by Edgar Viies, having been designed by Rein Luup.