Timeline

In September, Paul was born in Athens, the son of the industrialist Angelos Canellopoulos and Eleni Oikonomou.

Paul Canellopoulos, while studying in Munich, acquired the first two artefacts of his Collection, a Byzantine icon of Virgin Mary, and another of Saint Nicholas, from the early 16th century

Paul obtained a collector’s license for Greek and Byzantine antiquities.

For reasons of public benefit the two properties, owned by the heirs of Ioannis Michaleas, are expropriated. The transfer of the property to the Athens Mortgage Office was completed in 1978.

The repairs and restoration works began in March, in order to transform the Michaleas Mansion into a museum that would host the Canellopoulos Collection.

The first official documentation of the Collection takes place, by the Archaeological Service, under care of A. Andreiomenos, Head of the Ephorate of Antiquities and Private Archaeological Collections. The Collection at that point consisted of 4,595 objects.

The first permanent exhibition of the Canellopoulos Collection is prepared under the supervision of G. Dontas. The work was undertaken almost exclusively by the archaeologist of the Ephorate, M. Bruskari.

In July, the Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum opened its gates to the public, a role model for the museological standards of the time.

The Museum participates in the exhibition “From Byzantium to El Greco: Greek Frescoes and Icons”, Royal Academy, London.

The Museum participates in the exhibition “Eros Grec: Amour des Dieux et des Hommes”, Grand Palais, Paris.

Paul’s and Alexandra’s collecting activity continued unabated all these years, resulting in the enrichment of the Museum's Collection. According to the documentation conducted by the 1st Athens Ephorate of Antiquities, the Collection consists at this point of 6,175 antiquities and works of art.

The Museum participates in the exhibition “The Glory of Byzantium: Art and Culture of the Middle Byzantine Era, A.D. 843–1261”, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.

Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos agree to donate to the Greek state a new wing attached to the Michaleas Mansion, as well as the remaining artefacts from the Canellopoulos Collection, which were still hosted at their home.

The official catalogue of the permanent exhibition, edited by Maria S. Brouscari, entitled “The Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum” was published (Ministry of Culture – Fund of Archaeological Proceeds).

The operation of the Museum is suspended in order to build its extension. With the initiative and funding of Alexandra Canellopoulos, the adjacent plot of land was purchased, where, according to the plans of the architect Paul Kalligas, the new wing was built.

Two catalogues, “Ancient Art” and “Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Art”, were published by the Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Foundation.

Under the law 3600/2007 the Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum, Athens, was established as a Legal Entity of Public Law, supervised by the Minister of Culture.

The Museum participates in the exhibition "Eros: From Hesiod’s Theogony to Late Antiquity", Museum of Cycladic Art, Athens.

The re-exhibition works of the Collection were completed, resulting in the reopening of the CaMu in its current form.

The Museum participates in the exhibition “Beyond”, Museum of Cycladic Art, Athens.

The Canellopoulos Museum begins a new chapter of its history. CAMU designs a new strategy and introduces its renewed visual identity. Remaining partially open, renovations begin to bring the Museum up to contemporary standards.