In the Turin Museum of Palazzo Madama, an exhibition of the collection of diplomat Basilewski from the Hermitage, which are enamel, ceramic, majolica, bronze and ivory, and more

Turin, Museum of Palazzo Madama
June 6 - December 2013

In Turin, the Museum of Palazzo Madama, an exhibition from the Hermitage "A wonderful collector. Hermitage Basilewski. " The masterpieces of medieval art in Europe from the famous collection of AP Basilewski acquired for the Hermitage Alexander III. Among enamels, ceramics, majolica, bronzes and ivory belonging to a unique collection, you can see such works of art as a Sicilian horn Oliphant, Limoges casket with scenes from the history of the martyrdom of St Valery, a reliquary in the form of a figure of a deacon XII century more - a total of about 80 exhibits.

Russian diplomat Alexander Bazilevskii for 40 years, was meeting that in 1878, made a splash at the World's Fair. It was beautifully presented monuments of early Christian and Byzantine art, church utensils Romanesque and Gothic era, carved bone XIII - XIV centuries, the Rhine and Limoges enamels XII - XVI centuries, Venetian glass and the German, Italian majolica, French and Spanish-Moorish Faiences . In 1884, the collector decided to part with his collection. Paris was looking forward to the auction, which was to be the biggest event of the season. The sudden acquisition of this collection for the Hermitage for six million francs, prompted by the Secretary of State Alexander III AA Polovtsov, created a sensation. The purchase of the collection Basilewski can be considered one of the most successful acquisitions of entire assembly, made the Hermitage for the duration of his stories.

reliquary in the form of a figure of a deacon - St. Etienne France. XII century silver, wood, precious stones, glass Source: hermitagemuseum.org

Oliphant (hunting horn ) Italy. XI - XII century ivory carving Source: hermitagemuseum.org

Source: hermitagemuseum.org