Russian culture abroad: “Russian cultural heritage preserved in France” Exhibition in Moscow

November 20, 2012 at the Solzhenitsyn House of Russian Abroad opens "Russian cultural heritage preserved in France."

Russian emigration in France is a well-known and very special historical phenomenon of the 20th century. "Russian France", "Russian Paris", "Russian Montparnasse" is understood by all. By the will of fate and due to historical and political conflicts it was France which became the center of a rich intellectual and cultural life of Russian emigrants. There were created and functioned Russian schools, churches, publishers, social institutions, public organizations and associations. With France are associated the names of prominent representatives of culture and art, war immigration, religious and political figures.  

At the core of the exhibition are the gifts of the founders of the House - A. I. and N. D. Solzhenitsyn and N. A. Struve. The exhibition features correspondence, manuscripts, maps and photographs.

A special place is occupied by the materials from the collection of the famous historian V. V. Zvegintsov, his drawings to his own fundamental work "Russian Army" (History of the Russian military uniform science) and "Flags and banners of the Russian army."

On display are also unique museum items donated to the House of the Russian Abroad by Maria Ivanovna Lifar: the death mask of F. I. Chaliapin (1938), his sketch of the scenery to Massenet's opera "Don Quixote" (1910), a bust of Serge Lifar by sculptor F. Cogniet (1944), posters for "Russian Ballets of Diaghilev" and performances of Serge Lifar.

In addition, the exhibition is featuring posters from the collection of theatrical figures of the Russian emigrants, Vera M. Grech and Polycarp A. Pavlov (Prague group of MAT), a portrait of G. P. Fedotov by N. Reitlinger (1930-s), the icon of Christ the Savior by S. F. Kolesnikov owned by A. I. Denikin (1920), a portrait of Fr. Nicholas Obolensky by A. Lazareva (1950), memorial flags in honor of the exchange of visits by Russian and French fleets in 1891 and in 1893, the banner of Young Russians (1930-s), and other exhibits.