Tonight offers a large-scale exhibition devoted to the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812

Museum of Decorative-Applied and Folk Art,
February 15 - March 15, 2012
st. Delegatskaya 3

tonight at the Russian Museum of Decorative-Applied and Folk Art presents "Two of the Emperor", dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 - one of the first in a series of commemorative events in 2012 declared the Year of Russian history.

exhibition covers the events of 200 years ago with an unusual point of view: in the light of relations between the two Emperors - Alexander I and Napoleon I in different historical periods.

The exhibition features over 200 exhibits. Most of them come from the private collection of Alexander Vihrova formed more than 30 years exhibit complementary items from the museum VMDPiNI and other gatherings.

glass in memory of the war in 1812. Western Europe beginning of XX century. Porcelain, overglaze polychrome and gilding height 9,5 The medallions - the portraits of Alexander I and Napoleon Source: Press Release VMDPiNI

mug depicting scenes of Napoleon's battles France. 1810s Silver Source: Press Release VMDPiNI

And the friendship and enmity of Alexander and Napoleon were woven and of paradoxes: a peace-loving Russian emperor was the initiator of all its wars with France, and the warlike Emperor of the French constantly sought alliance with Russia. "Alexander, - broke down once on the lips of the prisoner of St. Helena. - We love each other ...»

two great emperors associated epochal events of war and peace. Austerlitz, Tilsit, Borodino, the entry of the French in Moscow, Battle of Nations near Leipzig, finally, the capture of Paris, and each of the events has been widely reflected in European art.

viewer sees numerous objects and works of Art of French, Italian, German and Russian origin, which were created between the end of the XVIII century to the present day. Paintings and drawings, medals and coins, statues made of ivory, bronze, porcelain bisque and the classic, decorative plates with images of the brightest moments of the life of the emperors, snuff boxes, cigarette cases, decorated with portraits in miniature, porcelain and glass, rare folios, finally, things that are memorativny character, including an autograph Bonaparte.

plaque with a bas-relief of Alexander I. Russia end of the nineteenth century. Bronze Source: Press Release VMDPiNI

plaque with a bas-relief of Napoleon I. Russia end of the nineteenth century. Bronze Source: Press Release VMDPiNI

a significant part of the exhibition are works of art . We must realize that in those days it was the bearer of the schedule of visual information: whether the information is official, celebrates, as it is now said, agitation, or, conversely, directed against the selected object (the art of caricature, widespread across Europe is in the first quarter of the XIX century). It is interesting to observe how different approaches to the Russian and the French "official" propaganda: Napoleon's aggressive enough stories designed to approve the validity of the reign of this "man of the people" - and restrained Russian graphics, made in a narrative manner, having no need to assert and prove .

By the way, Napoleon was perhaps the first to use the applied arts as a propaganda tool: when it was issued what later became known as "propaganda porcelain." The display of this exhibition is a remarkable examples of Sevres. It should be noted that the Russian courtiers quickly picked up this style, as evidenced by the works of Russian artists and painters.

Jug depicting Russian cartoons on" The Return of the Cossack from the war against Napoleon » England. 1810s. Porcelain Source: Press Release VMDPiNI

« Russian fun, or Corsican Football. " London, UK. Caricature. 1807 colored engraving. 27 x 36 Unknown engraver. At the bottom of the signature: Russian Amusement or the Corsican footBall Source: Press Release VMDPiNI

It is very important to the history and art of this period subject Austerlitz. It is not too comfortable for the Russian consciousness (recall that our country has suffered a defeat in this battle, which was equal in its history for a hundred years, and it was from gun allies, including the Russian, was cast the famous Paris Vendome Column) . For the organizers of the exhibition is very important historic open-minded approach, because these stories were very popular in china products, both Russian and Western European.

central idea of ​​the exposition is the story of a personal acquaintance of the two emperors, their Friendship and enmity, history of untapped opportunities for organizing the future of Europe. Most clearly reveals that the idea of ​​objects related to Tilsit: here and the first meeting of the two emperors in June 1807, first in a tent on a raft in the middle of the Neman River, and then - moving to Tilsit and 15-day close contact, finally, the conclusion of peace, as it seemed Then both of them, "eternal" world.

It was at this time is one of the oldest exhibits - the first edition of a book on Napoleon in Russian ("Napoleon - French Emperor," 1806) . And immediately after Tilsit was created artifact, which can be called a symbol of the exhibition - a unique bronze medallion with enamel image of two rulers, tightly hugging each other. The reverse of the medallion depicts the same Neman tent, which held its first meeting of the sovereigns.

Medallion" miniature on the Peace of Tilsit » France. 1810s. Bronze, enamel, painting On one side depicts Napoleon and Alexander I, on the other - a tent in the middle of the Neman River, where the negotiations took place Source: Press Release VMDPiNI

plate. France. The end of XIX - early XX century. Limoges porcelain factory Porcelain, painted underglaze cobalt and overglaze polychrome and gilding. The diameter of 24,5 on the mirror plate depicts a scene representation by Napoleon I of his wife Marie-Louise negotiators at Tilsit - Alexander I and Frederick III Source: Press Release VMDPiNI

Europe is closely watching the unexpected rapprochement between Russia and France reacted with numerous graphics and cartoons (English piece, in which Bonaparte presents the Legion of Honor is not Russian grenadier, as it was in fact a brown bear) and what might be called "cartoons in china».

represented at a special exhibition events of the war in 1812. It is interesting to compare what they found an artistic display of the Russian and Western European art. The War of 1812 is not for nothing that a turning point in the development of European decorative arts. Empire Style - French-Russian generation - has been felt perhaps most clearly is in the works of decorative art. Echoes in the form of military themes were manifested in the art of France and Russia, even a hundred years after the events themselves. That kettle Gardner Factory: in medallions on the sides with one side depicts a scene of Napoleon and Alexander the handshake at the conclusion of the Peace of Tilsit, on the other hand, as evidence of malice French - Reproduction Vasily Vereshchagin «The Return of the Petrovsky Palace." Or jewel collection of A. Vihrova, one more thing, dated the beginning of the XX century - a vase of Imperial Porcelain Factory featuring pictures of the same Vereshchagin "Napoleon on the Borodino field».

vase. Beginning of XX century. Imperial Porcelain Factory The medallion vases - the image with a picture Vereshchagin," Napoleon at Borodino » Source: Press Release VMDPiNI

Kettle. The beginning of the XX century. Porcelain, overglaze polychrome and gilding height of the kettle with the lid 5 plant Gardner. Village Verbilki. Moscow Province The medallions on the sides of the kettle on one side depicts a scene handshake Napoleon and Alexander I at the conclusion of the Peace of Tilsit, On the other hand - a reproduction of a picture Vereshchagin, "The Return of the Petrovsky Palace" from the Series "in 1812» Source: Press Release VMDPiNI

triumphal entrance of the Union Troops under the command of Alexander I in Paris, too, is reflected in works of art, folk artists, inspired by the glory of Russian soldiers. Theme of World War II and related events will not go over the years, as well as the interest of contemporary artists to significant figures in world history - Napoleon I and Alexander I.

Medal" in honor of the 100th anniversary of the War of 1812. "Russia. 1912 Bronze. Diameter 2,8 Source: Press Release VMDPiNI

Snuff-box. In the style of the early Empire, with a portrait of Alexander I. France. 1814 Silver Source: Press Release VMDPiNI

Museum Director Alexander Sysoenko: "For our museum, the Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts, a 200-year anniversary of the War of 1812 opens the exhibition" Two of the Emperor. " The museum stands in the project strictly in his role: the theme of relations between the two rulers is revealed primarily by means of crafts and folk art. Conciseness of the project and its positive mood perform some opposition to the scale and dramatic events of two centuries ago, but are consistent with the level of friendly relations between modern Russia and France. Besides the exhibition, the museum this year holds all-Russian contest of professional skills of artists in all genres of DPI on the impact on the lives of the people, and folk art events 200 years ago, as well as the exhibition "Russian Empire victory" ».

The organizers of the exhibition project "Two of the Emperor" are confident that this overture to the anniversary of the War of 1812 and the Year of Russian history, just like the history of relations between the two great leaders, deserves special attention of spectators.

For the public exhibition opens tomorrow, February 15.

Source : Press Release VMDPiNI