Several reasons make the interwar period so important for Lithuanian art history and criticism. First of all, it was the period when famous art researches worked – such as Paulius Galaunė, and Jurgis Baltrušaitis, important in the world of art history for his comparative studies. Another important reason is that during this period the formation of local art history and criticism school has been started. The article raises a question – are there any ties between the art history and criticism school of the interwar period and the present VMU school, and what is the actual connection between these two schools, which are separated by a prolonged interval of Soviet occupation. Does this connection represent the actual tradition of continuity of art history and criticism, or is it just the same name of the institution? The research is backed by rich amount of previously unused archival material and information from rare and antique printed sources. The nature, structure, scope, purpose and periodicity of the lectures of art history and criticism at VMU in the interwar period are presented in fine detail. The details of educational activity of P. Galaunė and J. Baltrušaitis are recovered from oblivion. The study accomplished allows making the following conclusions: During the interwar period, art critics were not being trained at the VMU. However, strong forces of art specialists, concentrated at the University, produced concrete results. These results did not unroll instantaneously, but only after the major reforms, after the Faculty of Humanities of VMU was moved to Vilnius. [...]

Bibliography of art history and criticism texts from interwar Vilnius and Kaunas has been put together for the first time in this publication. The texts on architecture, fine art, art theory and criticism, heritage protection and folk art are included.