Villem Raam facts for kids

Villem Raam (born May 30, 1910 – died May 21, 1996) was an Estonian expert who studied and protected art. He was an art historian, an art critic, and someone who helped fix and save old artworks and buildings (a conservator-restorer). Villem Raam's work was very important for understanding and keeping Estonia's cultural treasures safe, especially during the time when Estonia was controlled by the Soviet Union.

Early Life and Studies

Villem Raam was born in a city called Pärnu in Estonia. He loved art and history, so he went to Tartu University to study art history. This is where he learned all about different art styles and how to understand their meaning.

First Works and Challenges

In 1938, Villem Raam wrote his first important paper. It was about the old buildings from the Middle Ages in Estonia. This showed how much he cared about his country's history.

However, life in Estonia changed a lot when the Soviet Union took control. In July 1940, Villem Raam became the director of the State Art Museum of Soviet Estonia. But just a year later, in June 1941, he faced a very difficult time. He was taken away by the Soviet authorities and sent to a far-off place called Siberia. He had to stay there for fifteen years.

Return to Estonia and Important Work

Villem Raam was finally allowed to come back to Estonia in 1956. Even after such a long and hard time, he was determined to continue his work with art and history.

Protecting Estonia's Heritage

When he returned, he started working at a place that kept records of old buildings and monuments. In 1957, he joined the Estonian SSR Artists' Union and later became a member of its board. From then on, he spent the rest of his life studying art history, helping to save old art, and writing about art.

One of his most famous achievements was helping to restore St. Nicholas' Church in Tallinn. This church is a very old and beautiful building. Villem Raam was able to convince the authorities to turn it into a museum for church art. This was a big win, because they had originally planned to make it a "museum of atheism," which would have been very different.

Recognition and Legacy

Villem Raam's dedication to Estonian culture was recognized in many ways.

Awards and Exhibitions

In 1996, he received a special award called the Order of the National Coat of Arms, 3rd class. This is a high honor in Estonia.

To celebrate 100 years since his birth, the Art Museum of Estonia held an exhibition of his photographs. This exhibition, which ran from June 2010 to May 2011, showed many of the amazing pictures he took of old buildings and art.

Villem Raam was also an honorary member of the Estonian Students' Society. His work helped many people learn about and appreciate Estonia's rich history and art.