state association in the Novgorod Museum opened exhibition «Masterpieces of European enamel XII - early XX centuries» funds from the State Hermitage Museum. It includes about a hundred works, which illustrate the various techniques and methods of decoration, distinguished creative and artistic tasks.

E-mail (glassy alloy), causing the surface of metal, most often using as a basis for copper, gold or less silver, and burnt several times at a temperature of 600 to 900 degrees. Oxides of different metals within the alloy, given different colors. Polychrome never burn out and not tuskneyuschaya colors of enamels has resulted in strong interest in this type of art. For several centuries, techniques and methods for the manufacture of enamel changed and improved: from a simple coating of one color pattern to the polychrome, decorative boxes, painted multi-figure compositions, landscapes and portraits. Technique of production has given names of different types of enamels - peregorodchataya, vyemchataya, painted.

The earliest represented in the exhibition are works by XII century - the column with enamel and gilding, as well as ornamental plates beginning of XIII century. The achievements of famous masters of the Middle Ages Limoges include two piksidy, naprestolny cross, reliquary casket, and the plate of the binding with scenes «Christ in glory». Remarkable group of works created in Limoges in the XVI century, in an era of flourishing painted enamel - dish «Apollo with the muses» and plate «The Prophet Elisha» work by Pierre Reymond, plate «Allegory of May», executed by Pierre Kurteysom. These and other Renaissance artists used in their paintings image sources.

The development of enamel art jewelry case relates to the activities of two prominent European artists, Jean I Tutena and Jean-Louis Petit, who enriched the colorful palette and improved method of roasting.

In the XVII century the leading position of the German enamel. An example of a new artistic solutions is tea service Augsburg master Tobias Baura. His compositions are painted on a background of white enamel flowers and gold leaf. At the end of XVII and XVIII century, especially in a large number of smaller sizes: the miniature caskets, gotovalni, dressing, housewife. Fashion on snuffing tobacco contributed to the spread of the special boxes - snuff-boxes, for storage. On display English snuffboxes in the figures of animals and birds, St. Petersburg - with portraits of noble persons, the French - with a polychrome floral designs, the Swiss - with storylines compositions.

Masters of the XIX century is largely focused on the artistic accomplishments enamel past, but has not reached the heights of old. Now email has become increasingly used to decorate all sorts of boxes, larchikov, frames, exquisite fancy products. At the turn of XIX and XX centuries, the art of enamel re-entered a short period of flourishing: watches, medallions, writing instruments decorated with enamel in accordance with the new artistic challenges.

Collection of the Hermitage, which has many European works of enamel, including the undoubted masterpieces of art to show art of enamel in its development.

The exhibition is open until September 27, 2009.

Source: hermitagemuseum.org