Research project on Russian avant-garde provides for the digitization of the archive of Goncharova in the Tretyakov gallery and the inventories of the museums of the avant-garde, a careful study of the characteristics of the pigments and painting techniques of the avant-garde — and all in order to prevent the spread of counterfeits

In London starts a new research project aimed at protecting the heritage of Russian avant-garde fakes from — in particular, heritage Natalia Goncharova.

research Project on Russian avant-garde (Russian Avant-Garde Research Project — RARP) is created including those who in 2011 fought with the publication of a vast number of dubious works Goncharova in the monographs by Anthony Parton and Denise directory Anonymous. It was one of the most notorious art-скандалов: held conferences, written letters, reports, , article @all mdas in order to prove that at least 150 out of 600 published in the book of Parton works — forgery, and the book Anonymous, the proportion of counterfeiting reaches 60-70 % (from 1,500 published works). With the chronology of these publications can be found here.

Task RARP — scientific way to combat the proliferation of fakes of Russian avant-garde, in which art-рынке, according to James Batteruik and other respected experts, ten times more than the original. And although the large auction houses carefully avoid questionable activities, in the small auction houses and galleries selling counterfeits on-прежнему thriving.

RARP will not issue on the work of the expert opinions. Instead "he will investigate a fairy-tale provenance of the work, wandering on the market", — said one of the founders of the project, Konstantin Akinsha. For this, we examine the archives of museums, including the now-defunct.

the First and foremost thing that will do RARP, — fully to digitize the archive of Natalia Goncharova, stored in the Tretyakov gallery. It's more than 2 000 documents, including diaries, notebooks and letters. RARP will make all these sources available on the Internet and will accompany their annotation, the curator of the state Tretyakov gallery Eugenia Illinoi. "Publication of this material will clarify the provenance of many works attributed to Goncharova", — said, Akinsha.

Next, we examine the Soviet archives of the museums of the avant-garde that existed in 1920-е years. Among them the Museum of painterly culture, and about 30 regional museums. Publication on the Internet inventory lists these museums, as well as documentation of the exhibitions, which were held by the Soviet Union abroad, will expose a fictitious provenance. "I've seen fake expertise, which said that the work comes from the Museum of painting culture. The published inventory list will help to prevent it", — says James Butterwick.

the Second main area of activity of RARP is associated with the study of materials and techniques characteristic of painting of Russian avant-garde. All of these studies will be conducted using the latest technology and methods. "To date these studies have been fragmented and focused more on the issues of authentication than making a General knowledge base about the original technique", — explains Akinesia. Will be studied the original works of the avant-garde in the major museums and created a reliable database with examples of materials and techniques of the major artists that will help to achieve a new level of technical analysis.

RARP support sponsors from Western countries and Russia, including Peter Aven. The managing Board includes: American expert on Kandinsky Vivian Endicott Barnett (Vivian Endicott Barnett), Natalia Murray (Natalia Murray) from the Courtauld Institute of art, Oxford University Professor Pollar mark (Mark Pollard) and the independent expert Konstantin Akinsha.

the Material was prepared by Maria Onuchina, AI

Sources: artnews.com, artinvestment.ru