The Tretyakov Gallery will open an exhibition of works from the Vatican Museums. Treasures of the Eternal City: an exhibition of masterpieces from the Vatican opened in the Tretyakov Gallery Where is the exhibition of the Vatican Pinakothek

Vasily Perov. "Troika" ("Apprentice artisans carry water"). 1866. Photo: State Tretyakov Gallery

Exhibition “Russian way. From Dionysius to Malevich is the second part of a joint project between the Vatican Museums and the State Tretyakov Gallery. The first part was an exhibition held in Moscow two years ago. Russian art will be shown from November 20 to February 16 in the Charlemagne Wing of the Bernini Colonnade of St. Peter's Basilica, where exhibitions of the Vatican Museums are held regularly. A special architectural solution has been created for the Russian exposition, which will allow the public to calmly (and, by the way, free of charge) view everything that will be brought from Moscow.

Natalia Goncharova. "Trinity". 1910. Photo: State Tretyakov Gallery

The Tretyakov Gallery presents The Russian Way as an exhibition that is unprecedented and bold in concept. For the first time for a foreign show, works of exceptional importance for our art have been collected in such a quantity. Most of them - 47 paintings and icons - from the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery, another 7 exhibits were provided by other domestic museums. The curators (the author of the concept and exposition - Arkady Ippolitov, the section of ancient Russian art was formed by Tatyana Samoilova, painting of the 19th-20th centuries - by Tatyana Yudenkova) abandoned the traditional chronological principle. At the exhibition, icons and paintings will be shown in such a way that the continuity, deep internal, rather than formal connection between ancient Russian and realistic and modernist art is clear, which is really unusual, since according to tradition it is rather customary to oppose them as religious and humanistic art, pre-Petrine and post-Petrine . That is, the exhibition should, in essence, outline the spiritual quest of Russian artists over the centuries. Or, as Arkady Ippolitov says, to show "the originality of the Russian artistic mentality."

Mikhail Vrubel. "Seated Demon" 1890. Photo: State Tretyakov Gallery

The juxtapositions built in the exposition may seem unexpected: “Christ in the Desert” by Ivan Kramskoy and the Permian wooden sculpture “Christ in the Dungeon”; "Black Square" by Kazimir Malevich and the Novgorod icon "The Last Judgment" of the 16th century; the textbook "Troika" by Vasily Perov and the iconic "Trinity". Other parallels are perceived as long known. Thus, the origins of "Bathing the Red Horse" and "Petrograd Madonna" by Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin are obvious.

Savior Not Made by Hands. 16th century Novgorod. Photo: State Tretyakov Gallery

“Our exposition is called The Russian Way. Probably the first thing that the viewer will immediately notice is the unusually sharp breaks in this path. This path passes through points of self-negation," poet and philologist Olga Sedakova begins her article in the exhibition catalogue. The anti-clerical Procession in the Kursk Province by Ilya Repin, as well as his Confession, and Mikhail Vrubel's beautiful Demon in his peace will also be brought to the Vatican. Naturally, the topic, as they say, could not be disclosed without the "Appearance of Christ to the People" by Alexander Ivanov. The painting that hangs in the Tretyakov Gallery is not subject to export - it is too large, its smaller version from the State Russian Museum will go on its way.

Ilya Repin. Religious procession in the Kursk province. 1881-1883. Photo: State Tretyakov Gallery

It is impossible to predict whether the originality of the idea of ​​the Russian Way will be clear to a foreign viewer, whether he will be interested in Russian fine art in close proximity to Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and Raphael's School of Athens. When Zelfira Tregulova was asked by TANR about what would be an indicator of success, the director of the Tretyakov Gallery replied that attendance, of course, is always the main criterion, but it is also very important for her how much European art historians and the press will be interested in the Russian Way, as they will understand and will appreciate it.

As for the Russian public, which will certainly be able to understand and appreciate the non-banality of the exhibition concept, a Russian-language version of the catalog has been published for it, it will be sold at the Tretyakov Gallery. This was not the case before. And this seems to be a very important and correct decision, since the articles in the catalog do not repeat what has long been known, but describe the history of the spiritual search for Russian art as it is seen today.

Moscow continues to hold the palm in terms of the number of unique exhibitions, with masterpieces of Italian painting in particular. The baton is taken over by the Tretyakov Gallery, where the exposition “Roma Aeterna. Masterpieces of the Vatican Pinakothek. Bellini, Raphael, Caravaggio. Many works left the Vatican for the first time. The first to see the priceless canvases were journalists, including our correspondent Anton Nikolaev.

Before entering the exhibition, at the request of the Vatican Museums, all television journalists and photographers had to sign an agreement. It says that it is forbidden to shoot close-ups of any paintings, shooting is allowed only for short reports, all footage must be sent to the Vatican Museums, and after that, apparently, destroyed, since it is also forbidden to store and use it.

In the halls where the exposition was located, they once again reminded of the strict rules: keep tripods, hands, elbows away and be extremely careful.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pope Francis agreed to hold the exhibition. For those who have not been to the Vatican, this is a unique opportunity to see the most important masterpieces of the Vatican Pinacoteca: paintings by Bellini, Raphael, Caravaggio, Fra Angelico.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Vatican Museums for the fact that all the paintings that you see around came to Moscow,” said Zelfira Tregulova, director of the Tretyakov Gallery.

By the way, the exposition is decorated symbolically - in the form of a circle, reminiscent of St. Peter's Square in Rome.

“We are convinced that in a world that is becoming increasingly polarized and increasingly torn apart by conflicts, art, especially religious art, offers hope,” said Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State.

The exhibition opens with an exceptional and very reminiscent of Russian icon painting - the image of Christ Blessing, XII century. Another close plot is scenes from the life of Nicholas the Wonderworker, revered both in Russia and in the West. The popes who run the Pinacoteca treasure their collection of paintings, many of which once adorned the Vatican cathedrals.

“Many of these paintings were once requisitioned by Napoleon, sent to Paris, then returned from Paris and ended up in the Vatican Museums in various ways,” said Deputy Director of the Vatican Museum Barbara Yatta.

This exhibition may or may not have happened. At the very last moment, the Vatican decided to transfer the money that was intended to pay for an expensive exhibition project to help the children of Syria. The situation was saved by businessman Alisher Usmanov, who financed the exhibition. In about a year, a response exhibition will go to the Vatican - which will include works of Russian painting on gospel scenes from the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery, which, we hope, Italian colleagues will be able to shoot close-up.

Read more about the history of the Vatican Pinakothek, about the works of great artists, which are stored in one of the greatest treasuries in the world, tells. Watch it on our channel

"Roma Aeterna" or "Eternal Rome" - these are forty-two works of the first series, most of which rarely left the Pinacoteca (and some works never left at all), connecting seven centuries of the history of the Vatican - from the 12th to the 18th. The curator of the project is an art historian, curator of the engraving department and an author who rethinks the images of Italy in his books (“Especially Lombardy. Images of Italy XXI”, “Only Venice. Images of Italy XXI”),

- selected undeniable masterpieces for an exhibition in Moscow: there really is not a single work that has been gathering dust in the storerooms for years.

Caravaggio. Position in the coffin. OK. 1602-1603

The exhibition opens with "Christ Blessing" - a Roman icon of the 12th century, as well as one of the earliest images of Francis of Assisi performed by Margaritone d "Arezzo. Both clearly show traces of both Byzantine aesthetics and the emerging Gothic. Completes - a series of works by Donato Creti" Astronomical observations "of the XVIII century, which absorbed eight small paintings depicting the planets of the solar system. The series was commissioned by the artist Count Luigi Marsili, who presented it as a gift to Pope Clement XI in order to convince him of the need to sponsor the opening of the first astronomical laboratory in Bologna.

Nicholas Poussin. Torment of Saint Erasmus. 1628

Between them are the works that make up the color of the papal collection: the textbook “Lamentation of Christ”, “The Dream of St. Helena” by Veronese and “The Entombment” by Caravaggio, small grisailles by Raphael - “Faith” and “Mercy”, a huge canvas by Nicolas Poussin “The Torment of St. Erasmus from St. Peter's Basilica, as well as the musical angels of Melozzo da Forli, who adorn all the "papal" souvenirs - from entrance tickets to the Vatican Museums to souvenir cases for iPhone.

Melozzo da Forli. Angel with a lute

In addition to its obvious content appeal, the exhibition also became a diplomatic gesture on a grand scale, which is now presented as

a natural result of the centuries-old "spiritual connection between Moscow and Rome."

The fact that the main masterpieces of the Vatican would come to the main Russian museum was first discussed three years ago - after a meeting between the President of Russia and.

Paolo Veronese. "Saint Helena's Dream". 1580

In 2017, a response exhibition of Russian religious painting from the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery will go to the Vatican.

Unlike past blockbuster exhibitions, Roma Aeterna will work in the Engineering Building of the gallery in Lavrushinsky Lane, and not on Krymsky Val. The choice of a less spacious exhibition space is due to the need to maintain the necessary humidity and climate conditions necessary for the maintenance of exhibits - they are better in the historical building than in the modern one. The Tretyakov Gallery does not set itself the goal of breaking Aivazovsky's record, said the head of the State Tretyakov Gallery. However, to avoid queues, the Tretyakov Gallery organizes half-hour sessions at the exhibition. 90 people will be allowed into the halls. It will last until February 19, 2017. Now the electronic tickets for the exhibition, which appeared a month before its opening, have already ended before the end of the year, the resumption of sales is expected any day.

The Tretyakov Gallery invites you to visit a new exhibition - “Roma Aeterna. Masterpieces of the Vatican Pinakothek. Bellini, Raphael, Caravaggio. It will be held from November 25, 2016 to February 19, 2017 in the Engineering Building (Lavrushinsky pereulok, 12). This largest in recent years and unprecedented international project will be an event for Russia and Europe, as well as for the whole world. And in 2017, the Tretyakov Gallery will show works of Russian painting on gospel scenes from its collection in the Vatican.

For the first time, the Vatican Museums, which are among the ten largest world collections, brought to Russia the best part of their collection - masterpieces of the 12th-18th centuries. Among the 42 canvases are the works of Giovanni Bellini, Melozzo da Forli, Perugino, Raphael, Caravaggio, Guido Reni, Guercino, Nicolas Poussin.

The name of the exhibition includes the Latin expression Roma Aeterna - "Eternal Rome". It reflects the perception of this city in the history of mankind - ancient and young at the same time, uniting such different eras as Antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The Eternal City became the center of empire, religion and art, and the concept of Roma Aeterna became one of the most important ideas of world culture. And the collection itself is as diverse as the culture of Rome.

Each work that visitors will see is exceptional. The exposition opens with a rare work of the Roman school of the 12th century - the image of "Christ Blessing", which had never left the Vatican before. It is close to Byzantine painting and demonstrates the common roots of Italian and Russian art.

The 13th-century work Saint Francis of Assisi by Margaritone d'Arezzo has been featured in all art history textbooks and is one of the earliest depictions of the saint who played an important role in Western church history. His name was chosen for himself by the current pope, the first Francis in the history of the Vatican.

There are also works by Gothic masters rare in Russian collections. Among these is "Jesus before Pilate" by Pietro Lorenzetti, echoing the famous painting by Nikolai Ge.

Two predellas tell stories from the life of Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra of Lycia, revered by the Orthodox and Catholic churches. The heyday of the Renaissance includes one of the most interesting works of the largest master of the Ferrara school, Ercole de Roberti, “The Miracles of St. Vincenzo Ferrer” and “Lamentation” by the Venetian Giovanni Bellini. There are no canvases of these artists in Russia either.

On the frescoes of one of the largest painters Quattrocento Melozzo da Forli, angels are depicted, which are reproduced in large numbers on souvenirs and have become the hallmark of Rome. His paintings were removed from the dome of the apse during the rebuilding of the Church of the Holy Apostles in Rome and decorate a special hall of the Pinakothek.

The exposition ends with a series of paintings from the 18th century. The paintings of the Bolognese Donato Creti are dedicated to astronomical observations and complete the history of Lo Stato Pontificio - the Papal States, which soon ceased to exist and turned into the Vatican - Lo Stato della Città del Vaticano.