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.