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(1900, Tbilisi – 1942, Tbilisi) 

Historian and Archaeologist. In 1918-1923 he went to University in Germany. In 1927 he graduated from the Tbilisi State University, Faculty of History. In 1930-1931 he took part in the archaeological expedition in Nokalakevi. From 1931 he worked at the State Museum of Georgia, in the Department of Archaeology as a Researcher, and from 1936 as an Academic Secretary of the Museum of Shota Rustaveli and His Epoch. From 1940 he was the Acting Director of the same Museum. From 1941 he worked in the Institute of Georgian Art History as a Head of the Department of  History of Material Culture. 

L. Muskhelishvili’s  name is linked with the beginning of planned archaeological excavations of Georgian medieval monuments and their further development. He headed and participated in the excavations on the territory of Bolnisi Sioni church (1936), under his supervision excavations of the Dmanisi city-site (1936-1937), Geguti castle (1937), Gudarekhi settlement-site (1938), Mashavera gorge (1937) were begun. Muskhelishvili published works on the ancient Georgian inscriptions of Samshvilde, Sioni and Svetitskhoveli in Mtskheta, précised their dates and identified historical persones. 

L. Muskhelishvili made an important contribution to the study of the history of Georgian architecture. Apart from purely historical works, he published articles on the monuments that had been unknown before, besides, he published old texts containing significant terminology and  information on the construction activities.

(1902, Telavi – 1984, Tbilisi) 

Art Historian, Prof. Dr. (1972), Honoured Scientist of Georgia (1978). In 1925 she graduated from the Tbilisi State University, Faculty of History. Since 1941, all her life, she worked at the Institute of History of Georgian Art; in 1972-1984 she was Head of the Minor Arts Department. 

For decades S. Barnaveli studied sygelions and literary sources, especially the so called trousseau books, as sources bearing evidence of the material culture. Major sphere of her research was minor plastics, namely glyptics. In her works she examined unique samples of the Georgian glyptics, based on the stylistic analysis and vast historical context, she presented an interesting overall picture of development of this important branch of the Georgian art. She had studied and published old Georgian historic documentation linked with the history of construction in Georgia. 

(1908, Leipzig – 1993, Tbilisi) 

Art Historian, Prof. Dr., studied medieval Georgian architecture and wood carving, modern architecture and sculpture, team-member and consultant of monuments restoration projects. He studied at the Construction Institute of Georgia. In 1941 he finished his post graduate studies at the Tbilisi State University, specialty: art history. For several years he worked at the Design-Construction agencies as an architect and later, as a researcher at the Vardzia Museum-Reserve.  

From 1945 he was staff member of the G. Chubinashvili Institute of History of Georgian Art. He had published number of noteworthy monographs, participated in the expeditions for graphical recording of monuments throughout Georgia; he has measured numerous significant Georgian churches (Svetitskhoveli, Ruisi, Gudarekhi, Bedia, Samtavisi, Samshvilde and many others). Great is his contribution to the protection and restoration of the Georgian architectural monuments. 

(1912, Tbilisi – 1971, Tbilisi) 

Ceramic designer, Honoured Artist of Georgia (1967). One of the prominent representatives of the Georgian ceramic art; subject-matter of his works is linked with the Georgian folklore – fairy tales. Z. Maisuradze received his education at the Tbilisi Academy of Arts (1932-1938), where he later on lectured (1939-1959). His keen interest towards old Georgian ceramics resulted in his close affiliation with the Institute of History of Georgian Art, where he worked in 1944-1971 and headed Minor Arts Department. 

Works: series “Stags”, 1952-1960 (Museum of Fine Arts, Georgian National Gallery); compositions of the Georgian fairy tales theme (minor plastics, 1952-1955), decorative panel “Harvest”, 1953 (Museum of Fine Arts); “Berikaoba”, decorative composition on ceramic tiles, 1957-1959, Georgian National Gallery. 

(1915, Tbilisi – 1993, Tbilisi) 

Architect, Honoured Artist of Georgia (1967), Laureate of the Shota Rustaveli State Prize of Georgia (1987) and other state awards, scholar of the Georgian architecture. In 1936 he graduated from the Industrial Institute of Georgia, Civil Engineering Department, specialty – architecture. Since 1941 he was closely connected with the activities of the Institute of History of Georgian Art and since 1945, was its staff member. V. Tsintsadze took active part in the expeditions organised by the Institute, since 1974 he was the Head of the Scholarly Documentation and Publication Department. Since 1972 he lectured at the Tbilisi Academy of Arts. 

W. Tsintsadze worked on the heritage protection problems. He is the author of the scholarly-analytical measured drawings and restoration projects of numerous Georgian architectural monuments (Nekresi, “Bagrati church” in Kutaisi, church of the Holy Cross in Telovani, Geguti fortress, Kvatakhevi church, etc.). W. Tsintsadze was a Honorary Member of the International Academy of Architecture. He is buried in Mtskheta, in the courtyard of Samtavro church. 

(1913, Esentuki – 2002, Tbilisi) 

Art Historian, Prof. Dr. (1971), Honoured Artist of Georgia (1982). Having graduated from the Transcaucasian Industrial Institute, specialty – architecture (1936), she started to work at the Institute of History of Georgian Art (1941); her entire scholarly activity was connected with this research centre.  

R. Mepisashvili’s studies are mainly dedicated to the medieval Georgian architecture. She is the author of significant monographs on the architecture of diverse historic regions of Georgia and Georgian art in general. She has greatly contributed to the recording of Georgian architectural sites and was actively involved in the heritage protection activities.  

(1909, vill. Khovle – 1986, Tbilisi) 

Art Historian, prominent scholar of the Georgian architecture, pedagogue, public figure, Honoured Artist of Georgia (1954). Having graduated from the Civil Engineering Institute of Georgia (1932) he started to work at the Art Museum “Metekhi” (1936) and in 1941-1986 was senior researcher at the Institute of History of Georgian Art; in 1954-1986 he was Head of the Department of Art History and Theory at the Tbilisi Academy of Arts, Professor of the same Academy.  

L. Rcheulishvili studied medieval ecclesiastical and secular architecture, creative activity of the 20th c. Georgian artists. He was actively involved in the heritage protection activities. Great is his contribution to the measuring and graphical recording of the monuments of architecture. L. Rcheulishvili was one of those who had established and strengthened scholarly and ethical traditions of the Institute of History of Georgian Art.