In the Tretyakov gallery, the heart of Russian painting, will be brought the pearls of Western culture. “More than 40 works that represent the best of the masterpieces of the collection of the Vatican… It is a sign of friendship between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. After all, friendship consists of events such like this” – describes the upcoming exhibition, which starts in Moscow on 24 November 2016, Director of the Vatican Museums, Antonio Paolucci.
In the opinion of exhibition’s curator Arkady Ippolitov, “the main idea of the Vatican museums is the idea of Rome.” Roma Aeterna (Eternal Rome) is “not just a city, not just the capital but the whole of European history and quitessence European spirit”.
It is believed that for the first time the epithet “Eternal” was giben by Rome the poet Alibi Tibell (approx. 50-19 years BC). Meaning of eternity was born in the conditions of prosperity of the city and the country, growth of trade relations, greater cultural growth in the period of the Civil wars and the emergence of the Empire. If the writers of antiquity, speaking of the eternity of the city, referred to his political influence, later Rome was realized as a large cultural complex, which includes Antiquity, Christianity and the Renaissance.
The exhibition aims to show the development of European thought and art from the middle Ages to the Enlightenment, to recall the spiritual connection of Moscow and Rome through the masterpieces of the Vatican picture gallery .
Pinakotheka (gr. Πινακοθήκη – store pictures) is a room in which the ancient Greeks kept and picturesque images brought as a gift to the gods. The Romans was the name of the room where the landlord kept his most valuable artwork. But since the Renaissance is an art gallery, open to the public.
As explained the head of the Tretyakov gallery Zelfira Tregulova, “for the First time about this project became to speak 3 years ago at the meeting of Vladimir Putin and Pope Francis, where he discussed the possibility of organizing two exchange exhibitions from collections of Russian museums of the Vatican exhibition from the collection of the Vatican in Russia.”
Charitable Foundation of A. Usmanov – “Art, science and sport,” says Zelfira Tregulova, “actually saved” the project this spring, when ready-made exhibition have difficulties with financing. For which many thanks to him from the organizers and from future visitors.
The main hall of the exhibition is planned on the model of St. Peter’s square. The exposition begins with icons of the 12th century “The Blessing Christ”, which is close to the Russian samples and recalls the common source of Orthodoxy and Catholicism.
The painting “St. Francis”, written Margaritone d Arezzo in 1250, it is assumed that it is a portrait image of Francis of Assisi.
“Miracles of Saint Vincenzo Ferreri”, Ercole de Roberti, 1473 – considered one of the most esoteric paintings of the Renaissance.
Two “Lamentations” by Carlo Crivelli and Giovanni Bellini are very important in the work of these Venetian artists of the Renaissance.
No less famous and significant are the names of the other authors, melozzo da Forli, Perugino, Raphael, Caravaggio, Guido Reni, Guercino, Nicolas Poussin.
The exposition ends with a picture of “Astronomical observations” Donato Creti is 8 pictures in one frame on the known at the time the planets of the Solar system. It was written to convince Pope Clement XI to fnance the construction of the Observatory. And a few years later it was built in Bologna.
The exhibition “Roma Aeterna. Masterpieces of the Vatican picture gallery. Bellini, Raphael, Caravaggio” will be open from November 25, 2016 February 19, 2017. The online sale of tickets has already begun.
Besides showcasing the wonderful paintings the curators have planned a retrospective of Italian films, lectures and musical programs.
Response exhibition project consisting of works of Russian art from the Gospels, will be held in the Vatican in the fall of 2017.
