Tomorrow in Lavrushinsky lane will open the exhibition of unique exhibits from the collections of the Greek museums

the State Tretyakov gallery
7 Feb — on April 9 2017
Moscow, Lavrushinsky lane, 10, hall 38

the Exhibition is organized within the framework of the cross year of culture of Russia and Greece. In 2016-м in Athens showed the icon of the Ascension by Andrei Rublev and the whole exhibition of Russian icons and sculpture of XV–XIX centuries from the collection of the state Tretyakov gallery. Response exhibition in Moscow will present 18 exhibits (12 icons, 2 illuminated manuscripts, liturgical objects use — processional cross, the air 2 kazee) from the collections of the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens, the Benaki Museum, the collection Velimezisa E. — H. Margaritis.

the Exhibits date from the end of X — the beginning of the XVI century and give an overview of the various periods of Byzantine art and various art centers. The exhibition allows us to evaluate the perfection of the works of the masters, and also to understand the way the spiritual world in the middle ages, revealing the nuances in a sophisticated color icons, in luxury the miniatures of manuscripts, which the artists of the Byzantine Empire sought to recreate the beauty of heaven.

At the exhibition, each of the works — is a unique monument of its era. The exhibits give the opportunity to present the history of the Byzantine culture and to trace the mutual influence of Eastern and Western traditions-христианского art. The earliest monument in the exhibition — silver processional cross of the X century with engraved images of Christ, Theotokos and saints.

• The Resurrection Of Lazarus. XII Vek
  Wood, tempera
  Byzantine and Christian Museum, Athens
  Source: press-релиз TG

the Art of the XII century is represented by the icon of the "Resurrection of Lazarus" that embodies the sophisticated, refined style of painting this time. In the collection of the Tretyakov gallery is the icon "our lady of Vladimir" of the same era, created in Constantinople in the first third of the XII century and then imported to Russia.

• George, with scenes of the lives. Great Martyr Marina and Irene (?). Double-sided icon. XIII century
  Wood, carving, tempera
  Byzantine and Christian Museum, Athens
  Source: press-релиз TG
• angel. Fragment of the icon "St. George with scenes of the lives. Great Martyr Marina and Irene (?)". Double-sided icon. XIII century
  Wood, carving, tempera
  Byzantine and Christian Museum, Athens
  Source: press-релиз TG

One of the most striking exhibits — relief with the image of the great Martyr George with scenes of the lives. It exemplifies the interaction of Byzantine and Western European artists, spearheaded the phenomenon of the workshops crusaders — interesting page in the history of the thirteenth century. The technique of woodcarving, which made the figure of Saint George, is not characteristic of Byzantine art and were obviously borrowed from the Western tradition, while the gorgeous framing of the scenes was created in accordance with the canons of Byzantine painting.

• the virgin and child. XIII century
  Wood, tempera
  Byzantine and Christian Museum, Athens
  Source: press-релиз TG
• the Crucifixion. Bilateral icon "the virgin Hodegetria. The crucifixion". XIV Vek
  Wood, tempera
  Byzantine and ChristianMuseum, Athens
  Source: press-релиз TG

Icon "virgin and child", written in the early thirteenth century, presumably, the Cypriot master, demonstrates another way the mutual influence of the medieval art of East and West. In the artistic culture of this period, associated with the revival of the Empire and the dynasty of the palaeologi, the movement back to the ancient traditions was seen as the search for its cultural identity.

• the virgin Hodegetria, with the twelve great feasts. The Prepared Throne (Etimasia). Double-sided icon. The second half of the fourteenth century
  Wood, tempera
  Byzantine and Christian Museum, Athens
  Source: press-релиз TG
• the Entry of Christ into Jerusalem. Fragment of the icon "virgin Hodegetria, with the twelve great feasts. The Prepared Throne (Etimasia)". Double-sided icon. The second half of the fourteenth century
  Wood, tempera
  Byzantine and Christian Museum, Athens
  Source: press-релиз TG

Mature art style of the Palaeologus epoch belongs the bilateral image of the "virgin Hodegetria, with the twelve great feasts. The throne awaits" the end of the XIV century. This icon — contemporary works of Theophanes the Greek. Both masters use the same artistic techniques — in particular, fine lines penetrating the faces of the virgin and child, symbolizing the energy of the divine light. This image is obviously a list with Constantinople the miraculous icon of the Hodegetria.

• Stick kacey. About 1300
  Bronze, casting, engraving
  Benaki Museum, Athens
  Source: press-релиз TG
• Air. The end of the XIII — beginning of the fourteenth century
  Silk (base), cotton lining, silk, silver and gold threads; weaving, spool and sewing the front
  Benaki Museum, Athens
  Source: press-релиз TG

the richness Of decorative-прикладного art of Byzantium tell of several items, including Kazaa (censer) with the image of the Holy martyrs Theodore and Demetrius and embroidered air (cover) on the blessed sacrament.

Special virtuosity was different technique artists that decorated manuscripts sophisticated exquisite ornaments, headpieces, initials and miniatures with images of the evangelists. Their level of skill shown by two of the code of the gospel — XIII and beginning of XIV century.

• John The Baptist Angel Of The Desert. The beginning of the XVI century
  Wood, tempera
  E. Collection Velimezisa — H. Margaritis
  Source: press-релиз TG
• Processional cross. The end of the tenth century
  Silver, gilded silver, engraved, niello
  Benaki Museum, Athens
  Source: press-релиз TG

the late Byzantine period is represented by three icons of the Greek masters, who had gone to Crete after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. These works allow us to trace the synthesis of the creativity of European art and traditional Byzantine Canon.

the Byzantine art tradition was one of the originators of the art of many Nations. From the beginning of Christianity in Kievan Rus by Greek artists and architects passed Russian masters the skills of the temple construction, fresco painting, icon painting, design books, jewelryart. This cultural interaction continued for many centuries. From X to XV century Russian art has gone from novice to a high-skill, in preserving the memory of the Byzantine Empire as a fertile source for many years spiritually nourished Russian culture.

the Exhibition "Masterpieces of Byzantium" is located next to the rooms of the permanent exhibition of ancient Russian art of the XI–XVII centuries, allowing the viewer to see the Parallels and to see features works by Russian and Greek artists.

the Curator of the E. M. Saenkova.

Source: press-релиз GTG