The Russian Academy Of Arts

At the Research Museum of the Russian Academy of Arts (St. Petersburg, 17 University Embankment) on February 14, 2013 there was a presentation of the album “Italy Through the Eyes of Russian Artists” attended by the Consul General of the Italian Republic in St. Petersburg Mr. Luigi Estero. The album was published by the Images of Russia publishing house under the financial support of the Embassy of the Italian Republic in Russia.

The album includes paintings, drawings, water colors and architectural blueprints executed by Russian artists during their post graduate trips to Italy as the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts’ grant holders or independent travelers in the 18th-early 20th century. The highlights are two copies of monumental paintings by Masaccio and Vittore Carpaccio produced by Prince G.G. Gagarin in Italy almost in the original size.

As no other European country, Italy has been a Mecca for Russian artists and it is Italy, where the Academy sent its best graduates to perfect their skills. They copied masterpieces of Old Masters, made sketches and paintings sending the results of their work to St. Petersburg. The Album includes pieces from the Research Museum permanent collection and its affiliates.

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