Foundation, based in St. Petersburg, and is reportedly closely linked to the Kremlin, bought the 810 watercolors, drawings and gouaches at Europactole Properties Inc. (Panama). According to Nikita Lobanov-Rostovsky, the amount of the purchase was «less than $ 20 million». Agreement on the transaction was concluded in February, but officials chose to disclose information about it just now.

Nikita Lobanov-Rostovsky said that over the years have always been willing to buy the collection, but he and his wife had always wanted the entire collection was in one place, preferably in Russia. «We are very happy that she left in Russia», - said the collector.

collection will be permanently exhibited in the Konstantinovsky Palace in Strelna. The palace was the official residence of the President of Russia. In 2001-2003, according to the decree of Vladimir Putin's Palace was restored. Funding for this project (which cost 200 million dollars) has made a fund «Konstantinovsky».

In May 2008, at the palace exhibited works from the collection of Mstislav Rostropovich and Galina Vishnevskaya, bought in September last year, the Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov.

Now the collection Lobanov-Rostovsky awaiting shipment to Russia in a warehouse in Germany.

The best-known works in this collection are considered to be «Abduction of Europe» Valentina Serova, «Sketch of scenery for the ballet« Sheherazada »Lev Bakst, as well as theatrical sketches, performed by Mikhail Larionov and Natalia Goncharova.

John Boult, a specialist on the history of Russian art from the University of Southern California, said: «Collection Lobanov-Rostovsky - unique proof of the fact that Russia," backward "country on the periphery of Europe, caught up with and overtake the West in the field of art, and created a course, even more radical than cubism and futurism - for example, constructivism ».

In February, Nikita and Nina Lobanov-Rostovsky gave them the Pushkin Museum. Alexander Pushkin, two works of famous masters of the twentieth century: picture «Melancholy poet» (1916) Metaphysics of Italian Giorgio De Chirico and watercolor «Black zigzag» Dutch abstraktsionista, ideologue of the movement De Stijl, Theo van Dusburga. Works estimated at 255 thousand euro.

Rhode princes Lobanov-Rostovsky - one of the branches Ryurikovichey. After the 1917 revolution, Lobanov-Rostovsky fled Russia. Prince Nikita Dmitrievich was born in Sofia in 1935.

In January 1954, Lobanov-Rostovsky, visited the exhibition «Seasons" Russian Ballet "Serge Diaghilev» in London. The exhibition is so impressed him that he had decided to collect Russian theater.

Nikita Lobanov-Rostovsky - a geologist and a businessman, a lifetime member of the Metropolitan Museum of philanthropists in New York. Nina Lobanov-Rostovsky - an expert on Russian decorative and applied arts and theater. It was a consultant for the auction houses Christie's International and Sotheby's.

Source: http://www.theartnewspaper.com