RIGA, Aug 21 (LETA) - President Edgars Rinkevics presented the Statehood Award to art historian, former Rundale Palace director, painter, and Bearer of the Order of the Three Stars Imants Lancmanis at Riga Castle on Thursday, the President's Chancery informed LETA.

During the award ceremony, the president said that each year the Statehood Award was presented to an individual who had been capable of bringing people together and maintaining their focus on the goal ahead, goal that may seem slightly unreal at first, or even beyond imaginable.

"But this year's winner is quite the contrary. He has managed to find and consolidate people around a slightly wild and, frankly speaking, even seemingly impossible goal for many at the time," said Rinkevics.

Lancmanis has always been able to see big picture, and even beyond, said the president

"He sees the patterns. He has been able to uncover precious heritage that has often been underappreciated here in Latvia. Nuggets of heritage of European and global value. Timeless gems. His life and professional aspirations, and dare I say, destiny have in a way been strongly intertwined with fate of two such gems that are important for Latvia and our state - Rundale Palace and Riga Castle," Rinkevics emphasized.

Lancmanis has worked hard and conscientiously on the Riga Castle, restoring its status as the symbol of Latvian statehood. Each room of the Riga Castle, every painting and interior item there, have been chosen with lots of diligence on the part Lancmanis who arranged them and fitted them with utmost care, said Rinkevics.

Lancmanis was capable of capturing the true essence of the almost ruined Rundale Palace despite the gloom of the Soviet reality of Latvia in early 1960s. He saw the palace for what it is - luscious and cozy European architectural marvel, admired by people near and far, said Rinkevics.

"This year the Statehood Award is actually presented to everyone who was in Rundale Palace at the right time and in the right place. Staying when the going gets tough because quitting is not what they do. Legacy of Imants Lancmanis, however, is not limited to Riga Castle and Rundale Palace. He has also left deep imprint on art history and heraldry. He has this special painter's talent and thinker's wit," said Rinkevics.