Four centuries of world art - from Rembrandt to Hirst - will be presented in the halls of one of the few mansions in Moscow, after surviving a fire in 1812

Museum Muravyev-Apostol, 12-13 April 2012
st. Old Basmannaya, 23/9

exhibition open to the public (free admission):
at Thursday, April 12 from 10 to 18 hours
on Friday, April 13, from 10 to 18 hours

15th anniversary of its exhibition activities Christie's in Russia will celebrate displaying masterpieces of world art in a newly renovated house museum Muravyev-Apostle in Moscow from 12 to 13 April 2012. Beginning in 1997, when the Kremlin was the first exhibition of selected works of art impressionists, Christie's held in Russia for 15 special events and shows on the fairgrounds such as the Museum. Pushkin and the Tretyakov Gallery, Pashkov House, Mansion Spiridonov, Moscow GUM and others. In this anniversary year, Christie's will open a newly renovated house-museum exhibition of the Apostle Muravyev-eminent works of art.

Major exhibits include works spanning more than four centuries of the history of world art from the masterpiece Rembrandt, dating back to the beginning of the XVII century, to the works of such iconic artists of our time, as Roy Lichtenstein, Gerhard Richter and Damien Hirst. Russian art is represented by paintings , as well as the symbolic landscape of Petr Konchalovsky . Special mention should be an impressive collection of works of art of the Impressionist and Modern, including paintings by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Salvador Dali.

unique value of the anniversary exhibition emphasized the unique historical atmosphere: this year marks the 200 - anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic War of 1812. It should be noted that the main manor house Muravyovs-apostles, the monument of culture and history of the late XVIII - early XIX century, is one of the few wooden buildings in Moscow, surviving in a fire in 1812. In 1815 the house passed into the possession Vinogradov Muravyev-Apostle, whose sons would later among the founders of secret societies and members of the Decembrist uprising of 1825. The estate, which at the beginning of the XIX century the family lived Vinogradov, often arranged concerts, literary readings, holiday receptions. More than 200 years inside the house never rebuilt - remained intact reliefs, marble, stoves, doors. House survived the threat of demolition in the early twentieth century and the destruction in the 1990s. Currently restoration works are substantially completed, and the walls of the grand suite of rooms adorned the works of great masters.

Matt Stevenson , managing director of Christie's Russia: « to Christie's is a great honor to present to the Russian public a selection of outstanding works of art in the unique atmosphere of the mansion, located in the heart of Moscow. Door of the house-museum-Muraveva Apostle first time since the restoration will be open to all comers.

distinctive feature of Russian exhibitions Christie's, as was the case with the house and Pashkov Spiridonov's mansion, is the opening of new exhibition grounds on which the work was first shown, have never been exhibited in Russia. In mid-April Exhibition will open a new page in the history of the house-museum Muravyev-Apostol, and we are honored to stand for the first time in the halls of his works of Russian, German, French, Dutch and Japanese art. We also hope that the future activities of the museum exhibition is rich in interesting projects ».

Art Old Masters

list of exhibits is headed by a masterpiece of hand Harmenszona Rembrandt van Rijn (1606 Leiden - 1669, Amsterdam) called « half-length portrait of the military in a gorget and hat », dating back to 1626 /27 years, originating from the collections of Dutch Old Master Peter and Olga Dreesmann. Rembrandt is one of the greatest artists throughout history, and the chief representative of the golden age of Dutch painting. The creator of the famous « Night Watch » from a young age was a real innovator in the field of image rights. To date, these portraits of this work are included in all major museum collections around the world. This amazing work demonstrates mastery of technique displaying contrasting light and shadow, which allows the artist to recreate the atmosphere of drama in the style of the forerunner of future generations of artists - Caravaggio, whose influence is clearly felt in this work. Perfect preservation is not only a board, but the paint layer of work - a combination that is a rarity for most of the works of Old Masters, but when it comes to works of such importance - it is truly manna from heaven. In 2006 « half-length portrait in gorget and military hat » became part of the exhibition « Rembrandt - Caravaggio », held at the State Museum in Amsterdam.

Rembrandt half-length portrait of the military in the gorget and hat. 1626/27 Source: Press Release Christie's

Russian Art

in fascination Ivan Aivazovsky (1817-1900) important role the sea played his childhood years spent in Feodosia. The artist traveled extensively throughout his life. From his attention is not slipping, no detail of the reality surrounding him, on the contrary, they all found their way into his work. The painting, entitled « In search of survivors » Aivazovsky succeeded in capturing both the storm and calm. Despite the warm glow of the sun located away some parts of the sea are colored ominously dark tones.

painting was painted by the artist during one of the most productive phases of his work, when they also created a number of outstanding paintings. Painting « Oxen cart, crossing the flooded plain » Aivazovsky was performed at age 80 when he observed the 60th anniversary of his artistic career. This canvas represents the development of themes, which became a key Aivazovsky from the moment he became a Marine and the creation of alternate landscapes. He often traveled around the Ukrainian steppes, whose inhabitants were the heroes of some of his works, including paintings of ox carts and Chumakov. The film « Oxen cart, crossing the flooded plain » typical of Aivazovsky's romanticism is combined organically with characteristic of his later works of realism.

Ivan Aivazovsky In search of survivors Source: Press Release Christie's

Early « Spanish landscape » Petr Konchalovsky (1876-1956) is a rare example of work of one of the most successful Russian artists beginning of the twentieth century. Being a leading representative of the Russian avant-garde, in 1909, along with Pyotr Konchalovsky Natalia Goncharova , Mikhail Larionov and Mashkov has become one of the founders of the creative association « Jack of Diamonds ». In 1910 he undertook a trip to Spain, has had a significant influence on his work. Inspired by the beauty and creativity of Spain Velázquez, Konchalovsky significantly alter the color palette of his work, a vivid example of which is « Spanish landscape ».

Pyotr Konchalovsky Spanish landscape Source: Press Release Christie's

Impressionist and Modern Art

Written by Henri Matisse (1869-1954) in the Oil on canvas in the late spring of 1907 the picture « Peony » seamlessly combines fovistskuyu technique with near-abstract style composite solution, characteristic of the most daring work of Matisse. This year has been an artist for a time when his reputation as a leading representative of the Parisian avant-garde was unwavering (even wrote his « Avignon girls » in the same 1907 Pablo Picasso advancing almost on his heels). This work is a vivid example of the creative aspirations of Matisse, who occupied his imagination at the time. The painting depicts a colorful bouquet of spring flowers - peonies and irises, which are at a low vase in blue and white cells. Cut flowers have begun to appear in a still life by Matisse during the year before. They allowed him to find the contrast between the exuberance of vivid colors and strict geometric shapes of vases, tables and other inanimate objects. In this painting peonies seem to be bulging, they seemed to breathe life, while the speakers of the bunch stalks fade into the background, resembling the pattern on the wallpaper.

Henri Matisse Peonies Source: Press Release Christie's

Picture « Recreation » Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) wrote May 17, 1932. This spring he spent in the Chateau de Buazhelu in the company of Marie-Therese Walter, devoted himself entirely to the creation of a series of portraits of his beloved. His future muse artist met near the Galeries Lafayette in 1927, immediately taken aback by her words: « I'm Picasso! You and I together commit great things ». On this picture of Marie-Therese is depicted asleep, tucked his hand under his head. Subsequently, this position will be an integral feature of many of her portraits. This is a deeply personal work, the composition of which is simple and bright colors, designed to give peace a dream character. This portrait shows the viewer a special provision that Maria Theresa held in the heart of the artist: her features are not limited to any of the styles - neither Cubism nor Surrealism, and represent their unique combination. Marble skin tones highlighted with dark blue and black lines outline. Red lips and the bottom of the canvas contrasts with the green hair. It was during this period of Picasso's palette is enriched with rich, vivid colors.

Pablo Picasso Recreation Source: Press Release Christie's

work « Untitled: New Beauty (Illusion equilibrium in the long run) » Salvador Dali (1904-1989) wrote in 1943 while living in the United States. On this picture, he expressed his attitude to the world of fashion and modern consumer society, making this a unique manner of surrealism. The background for this painting served as the typical art of Dali desert landscape, which are guessed motifs characteristic of his early works, as well as a range of fashion accessories: gloves, shoes, belt, brooch, handbag, scarf. The work belongs to a series of paintings created by an artist commissioned by such popular titles as Vogue and Harper's Bazaar . She is a shining example of how Dali erase the fine line between high and low art. It should be noted that some of the items depicted in the painting in the 1920s and 30s had important symbolic value in the imagery of surrealism. In the paintings of those times often met gloves, a bright example of which is the famous « Love Song » George de Chirico in 1914. In the novel, André Breton « Nadia » a glove as a symbol of overt eroticism and carnal desires. As for footwear, in his autobiography, Dali said about it the following: « All my life I was worried about shoes. I walked in his surrealist aesthetic and looking up to the fact that some of them made a god of ».

Salvador Dali «Untitled: new accessories (the illusion of balance in the future)» Source: Press Release Christie's

Post-War and Contemporary Art

work by Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997) under the title « Excited Girl » is a rare sketch of one of the most famous paintings. This is an outstanding design that allows the viewer to see to it how the artist worked on the creation of the finished product. Executed in pencil and graphite sketch, a female image for which the artist has borrowed from the comics, is a vivid demonstration of how to Liechtenstein, through its unique technology can make a sample of mass culture into a work of high art. Earlier this image to one of the most famous works of pop art, belonged to a well-known painter and poet Uolassu Ting.

Works by Gerhard Richter (b. 1932) presented at the Show «abstract paintings (646-4)» . Richter has decided to challenge the image in his art by creating works that clearly expose their own artificiality and inadequacy of the image. In his abstract paintings, he « found the best way to achieve nevizualiziruemaya and incomprehensible, since abstract painting has a visual immediacy - precisely the characteristics of art, which are required to display" nothing "». (G. Richter, quoted in the text directory of the 7th exhibition "Document" in Kassel, 1982).

Gerhard Richter An abstract painting (646-4) Source: Press Release Christie's

deserves special attention work by Damien Hirst (b. 1965) under the title « Beautiful Spring on the background fabric of the Arctic (with butterflies ) ». Hirst's work clearly affect the fundamental problems of human existence. Through all his works are subject refrain fragility of life, the inevitability of death, the nature of love and desire. In this paper, we are faced with two characteristic of many other works by Hirst's imagery: the helix and the butterfly. In this case, the bright colors and fabric composition solution designed to cause the feeling of movement, the illusion of an explosion. This also contributed to a butterfly - an image which appears regularly in the work of Hearst since 1991. It should also be noted that Gallery Tate Modern is now open a retrospective exhibition of works by Hirst .

Source : Press Release Christie's