Fyodor Chaliapin’s portrait from private collection in Austria was transferred to the Abramtsevo memorial estate with the assistance of the Russian Center of Science and Culture

June 19, 2019 the Russian Center of Science and Culture  in Vienna  hosted the ceremony of handing over the portrait of the great Russian bass Fyodor Chaliapin to the Abramtsevo memorial estate in Vienna. The painting, where Chaliapin is depicted in the image of Boris Godunov, was painted in 1927 during his performances in the Vienna Opera. The portrait is autographed by Chaliapin and signed by the famous Austrian graphic artist Arthur Stadler (1892–1937).

Citizen of the city of Baden, Ursula Herzog, turned to the RCSC in Vienna with the initiative to transfer the painting from the family collection to the Russian museum. During the ceremony, Ursula Herzog and the director of the Abramtsevo Museum Elena Voronina signed an agreement on the transfer of the portrait to the institution’s collections.

Mrs. Herzog said that the portrait was kept in the family of her late husband Joseph Herzog and was probably acquired by his parents not later than the 1930s. Since the portrait has the inscription “The Vienna State Opera”, she intended to transfer it there, but she saw on the Internet information about the Russian Center of Science and Culture in Vienna and the exhibition of the Abramtsevo memorial estate “Fyodor Chaliapin. A letter from Vienna” held there. Ms. Herzog considered the reason for the transfer of the portrait to the RCSC more weighty.

In her reply, the director of the Abramtsevo museum, Elena Voronina, noted that the gift was invaluable for the institution and this painting would take its rightful place in its permanent exhibition.

At the end of the ceremony, a recording of the monologue of Boris Godunov from the opera of the same name by Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky performed by Chaliapin was presented to the public.

The Presidential Library’s portal features the collection “Russia - Austria: the History of Relations”. It includes official documents, archive materials and studies covering diplomatic, military, cultural and economic relations between Austria and Russia in different historical periods starting from the 17th century. 

Based on materials of http://rs.gov.ru/ru portal.