World Culture: Tsaritsyno Museum and Nature Reserve to open "Under the Mask of Venice" exhibition

The Tsaritsyno Museum and Nature Reserve proposes to feel the everyday life of Venice in the XVIII century at the "Under the Mask of Venice" exhibition, which will open on April 27, 2021.

The exhibition is arranged in cooperation and with the curatorship of the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia (FMCV), which has unique artefacts related to Venetian history and culture. Thanks to this partnership, Russia, for the first time, will showcase about a hundred items from the collections of the Doge's Palace, the Correr and Ca Rezzonico Museum (Venician Museum of the XVIII century), the Glass Museum on Murano Island and the Palazzo Mocenigo (Museum of Fabrics and Costumes), which are part of the Foundation.

The "Under the Mask of Venice" exposition will occupy eight halls of the Bread House. Space will be arranged in such a way to allow visitors to choose one of two ways, two prospects for relations with carnival Venice in the XVIII century. Among the items that will arrive from Italy to Russia will be carnival masks; paintings by Pietro Longhi (1702–1785), the representative of the Venetian school of painting, depicting scenes of everyday life; clothes of noble citizens; Murano glass vases, decanters and bottles; portraits of the Doges and Dogaressas; the iron gondola's figure-head of the XVII century; a series of engravings devoted to the visit of the Count and Countess of the North (future Paul I and his wife) to Venice. Visitors will imagine the life of the wealthy palazzo residents by looking into the study of educated Venetian and the boudoir of a society woman. They will also see the other side of all this luxury and carnival that breakers of the public peace had to face. A separate hall will be devoted to gambling, as Venice was the only city in Europe with licensed casinos.

The exhibition highlights the Venetian Settecento (the XVIII century) - the last century of the independent city-state. After the defeat in the war with Turkey in 1718, the Venetian Republic lost control over the Mediterranean. The once-powerful state lost its influence and was forced to avoid any conflicts in relations with stronger countries. This saving policy allowed it to remain independent for more than 80 years. It was a wonderful time full of life, luxury and entertainment.

The holiday made Venice the centre of cultural tourism in the XVIII century. People came here not only to enjoy architectural monuments, art, music and theatres but to experience something that no other European city could give: luxury and freedom. The carnival mask, which could be worn for half a year without fear of being revealed, changed the mores and behaviour of people. The holiday was easily mixed with reality. This impression will be recreated in detail by the authors of the exhibition in Tsaritsyno.