New exhibit from the National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the House of European History
The cooperation between the House of European History (HEH) in Bruxelles and the National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina (NUBBiH) began as early as preparations for the first setting up and opening of HEH, as a European Parliament’s project.
The HEH's transnational collection, exhibitions and programs provide unexpected and inspiring experiences. It presents and compiles a history of European integration and its foundations. It is a cult meeting place, and its multidimensional interpretation of the past seeks to answer questions relevant to today's Europe.
The House of European History is a place for learning, reflection and debate. It is intended for everyone, regardless of age and origin, and the basic mission is to better understand European history in its complexity, as well as to foster the exchange of ideas and reconsideration of assumptions.
The first NUBBiH Special Collections Book exhibited at HEH in 2017 was the Salavat Collection, known as DELAIL EL-HAJRAT, collected by Muhammad Sulayman b. Abdurrahman al-Gazuli, (died 870 AH/1465). It is one of the more attractive manuscripts, with unusually beautiful colored and gilded unvanes, embroidered in red leather, decorated with embossed rosettes of floral motifs.
DIE GROßEN FRANZÖSISCHEN IMPRESSIONISTEN, also from Special Collections, rescued from flames in City Hall and visibly damaged by fire, was loaned to HEH for the period November 2017 - November 2019.
It was replaced by the book DASS GROSSE BRUEGEL - WERK by Gustav Glück, published in 1955 (printed in Vienna and Munich and containing 124 pages), which will be exhibited at HEH by November 2021.
This publication is one of the few monographs from the Graphic Collection that was rescued from the burning City Hall, while much of the collections disappeared in flames. The covers of the publication were damaged and the inner leaves turned yellow. Traces of major damage to the book, which occurred during the City Hall fire, are especially visible in the upper right corner of the back cover.
Several exhibitions were organized at the Bruxelles church, where Peter Bruegel the Elder was buried, to mark the 450th anniversary of his death.
The replacement of exhibits from the NUBBiH in the House of European History is a very demanding and precise process, carried out according to strict protocol and with the presence of several experts in various fields (curator, restorer, engineer) and specialized technical support.
NUBBiH is very proud of the cooperation it has achieved in this way with the House of European History, an institution set up by the European Parliament.
