Peter Paul Rubens
Penitent Mary Magdalene with her sister Martha
Irbit Museum of Fine Arts, Irbit, Sverdlovsk region
Source: e1.ru

Yesterday Irbit Museum of Fine Arts (city Irbit, Sverdlovsk region) in the framework of the exhibition "The Gifts of the Hermitage" the first show of rediscovered painting by Peter Paul Rubens "The Penitent Mary Magdalene with her sister Martha" (1615-1620) . Authorship of the great Flemish painter was confirmed only in the restoration of this year.

«This is an important event not only for Irbit, but for the whole Sverdlovsk region - said the Chairman of the Sverdlovsk region Denis Pasler. - I am proud that our region is working this wonderful museum, which employs indifferent, of passionate people. Undoubtedly, such a find - this is a huge success, but it is a sign of high professionalism of museum staff who were able to save the world and restore the canvas a masterpiece. It is important that the revival of the picture to keep our Ural restorer. I am glad that the work of a great artist is a brush on the Ural earth and all the inhabitants of the Sverdlovsk region will be able to meet him ».

Irbitskogo Museum of Fine Arts Director Valery Karpov said that the painting was brought to the ground from the Urals State Hermitage Museum in 1976 as a replica of the original Rubens and all the while kept in the museum's store. Its authenticity has been found during the restoration, which was launched this year in preparation for the exhibition "Gifts of the State Hermitage IRBIT Pushkin Museum in 1975-2012 gg. Paintings, engravings, books ».

« When our restorer Antonina Nasedkina cleared picture of the layer of darkened varnish, dirt and dust, opened the original painting ... We're just amazed, "- said Valery enthusiastically Karpov, noting that a detailed chemical analysis in the State Research Institute of Restoration in Moscow, confirmed that the painting was created in the early XVII century. Art analysis showed the product belonging to the art studio of Rubens.

Laboratory Head of the State Hermitage restoration Viktor Korobov, after carefully studying the fabric concluded: "The picture is, of course, a high-level technique gives her a school of Rubens - is indisputable. Of course, there is still a lot of work and its final restoration, and for the passage of various examinations and tests to establish its history ».

Source: e1.ru