Russian culture abroad: Exhibition of Ivan Aivazovsky’s works opened in Stockholm

Exhibition of Russian marine painter Ivan Aivazovsky opened in the Historic Maritime Museum in Stockholm. Exposition "Aivazovsky - Master" runs until November 15, 2011. It represents 16 paintings from the collections of the Central Naval Museum in St. Petersburg.

On a ship's mast in front of the museum is flying the Russian tricolor. To house the exposition from St. Petersburg, the museum restored its southern wing, creating there a special microclimate, optimal for the priceless paintings.

Russian experts note the high professionalism of the Swedish specialists of light, which allowed the pictures to reveal all the richness of their colors. Visitors are provided audio guides in Swedish, English and Russian.

"Aivazovsky is the pearl of our collections. At the exhibition we have tried to present all facets of his talent: from miniatures to the traditional battle-paintings,"- said Deputy Director of the Central Naval Museum in St. Petersburg, Sergei Kurnosov.

The uniqueness of the collection of one of the oldest Russian museums is that the origin of all the works by Aivazovsky is strictly documented: six paintings were donated by the artist himself, the others came directly from the General Naval Staff, where he served.

Specially for the opening of the exhibition was timed the release of the album on Aivazovsky in Swedish and English. According to the chief curator of the museum in St. Petersburg Natalia Shishkova, for the first time the editions includes a separate chapter featuring the artist's life in St. Petersburg.