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The Return of Pompeii and the Detective Christ in the Tomb: The Russian Museum to Open an Exhibition of Sensational Paintings for Bryullov's 225th Anniversary
On October 18, the Russian Museum will open an exhibition that has already been called a blockbuster in the art world. This exhibition is dedicated to the 225th anniversary of Karl Bryullov's birth. The most striking event was the restoration of "The Last Days of Pompeii", which restorers have been working on for the past six months. And "Christ in the Tomb" is a painting that tells a detective story. SPB.KP.RU was the first to visit the exhibition.
"This is a real diamond in the crown of Bryullov's work." The museum's director, Alla Manilova, leads us in, not afraid of big words. - Most of the paintings presented here are from our collection, the largest in the country. There are also paintings from small museums and private collections that are rarely exhibited. Bryullov is the Pushkin of art. The pinnacle of Russian painting, the most recognized and most famous work. Russian classics of all time. His entire legacy cannot fit into any palace. Therefore, we focused on sensational paintings that will capture the imagination of viewers.
Of course, Bryullov's main masterpiece is the painting "The Last Day of Pompeii". This year, for the first time in almost 200 years, restorers touched it. Specialists worked on the painting for several months. The varnish was removed, yellowed with age and greatly affecting the color. The paintings were scanned for defects and late additions made after the artist's death. All this can be removed, cleaned and covered with new varnish on top, preserving the canvas for another 200 years. This procedure added richness and brightness to Pompeii.
"For the first time, we will be able to see photographs as Karl Bryullov intended them to be," says Alla Manilova. "These are the exact colors and tones used by the genius.
The author of the exhibition made viewing the paintings entertainment. Viewers enter the hall with "Pompeii" through a narrow sloping corridor. A person goes from the bottom up, and the epic canvas hangs above the viewer, gradually revealing its scale. It is more exciting than riding a roller coaster.
Another work that stands out for its size is a fragment of the ceiling of St. Isaac's Cathedral. The area of the huge round painting is 800 square meters. This is more than the standard 600 square meters. The lampshade itself is now in its place in the famous cathedral. However, Bryullov's sketches can be seen in Russian museums. It includes a 15-meter piece that barely fits in the Mikhailovsky Palace.
Another sensation of the exhibition is the painting "Christ in the Tomb", connected with a detective story. Karl Bryullov painted it at the request of Count Vladimir Adlerberg. It is an altar, exhibited in a church and lit from behind. After leaving public life, Adlerberg lived in Sweden, where his descendants bequeathed the painting to the Orthodox diocese of Brussels. Today, due to poverty, the church has sold it to the German collector Alexander Pevzner. He paid about 10 million rubles for the world masterpiece. In 2003, the collector decided to confirm that this was Bryullov's painting and brought it to Russia for examination. But he could not organize everything as he wanted. When I brought it, I was told that it was an unknown artist and the price of the painting... only 900 dollars.
After the ruling, the painting's value soared to $400,000. The delighted collector thought he had hit the jackpot and tried to withdraw it through Vyborg. That's where Mr. Pevzner's problems began. A criminal case was opened on the fact of smuggling cultural property. The painting was confiscated. Ten years later, the statute of limitations expired and the case was closed, but the fight for "Christ in the Tomb" began in earnest. The collector demanded the return of the painting and won the case in the Supreme Court. However, this decision was overturned. The result of 20 years of litigation was a victory for Russian culture. Now it is part of the museum fund of the Russian Federation and will never fall into private hands. The cost of the canvas is already estimated at $1 million.
"This painting has been in Russia for over 100 years, and no one here has ever seen it." The Russian Museum says: "A few months ago, the previous owner called us and said that he had given up on the whole boat situation and did not object to the painting being exhibited. After the exhibition, restorers will work on it. The painting is still between two thick panes of glass sealed by Bryullov.
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Bryullov's 'The Last Days of Pompeii' undergoes major restoration for the first time in 200 years (Cebu)