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Drawings and Watercolours of the 18th century

Drawings and Watercolours of the 18th century
23 December 2022—27 March 2023

The Russian Museum boasts the world’s largest collection of 18th-century Russian drawings and watercolours. Alongside the works of native Russian artists, there are also those created by Western European masters who lived and worked in Russia.

Despite their differences in genre and typology, the plein air studies, the sketches and studies for the paintings of Anton Losenko and Pyotr Sokolov, Mikhail Kozlovsky’s designs for his bas-reliefs, the enigmatic series of blind beggar images by Ivan Ermenyov, and veduta watercolour series by Semyon Shchedrin and Mikhail Ivanov all apply the drawing structure prevalent at the time, while their artful use of a range of techniques testifies to the high level of professional excellence Russian artists had attained during the fast-paced development of Russia’s school of painting in the 18th century.

The drawings and watercolours of foreign masters such as Jean-Baptiste Le Prince, Francesco Fontebasso, Pietro Gonzaga, Giacomo Quarenghi, Thomas de Thomon and Johann Friedrich Anthing -- ranging from sketches for ceiling and stage artwork to quick caricature portraits and silhouettes -- introduce viewers to the European painting tradition, which inspired Russian artists and audiences to discover new subjects and new ways of drawing.

This exhibition offers visitors the rare opportunity to appreciate the more interesting and notable specimens of 18th century drawing and watercolour from the museum’s extensive collection. Because of their fragility, these works are seldom presented for public viewing.

This exhibition is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Russian Museum staff member Ludmila Pavlovna Rybakova.

Age restrictions: 18+

Exhibitions
Drawings and Watercolours by the Wanderers

Drawings and Watercolours by the Wanderers

21 March—8 July 2024

The exhibition presents graphic works created by the founders of the Society of Travelling Art Exhibitions, as well as by artists of the younger generation. Graphic works by the Wanderers supplement the idea of the work of artists whose paintings became significant events in social life.

The Coronation Album of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. 1744

The Coronation Album of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. 1744

3 January—1 April 2024

The tradition of creating coronation albums – publications with detailed illustrated descriptions of the coronation ceremony and other ceremonial events accompanying it – appeared in Russia in the 18th century. The current exhibition features three albums from the collection of the Russian Museum.

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Collection highlights

The collection of masterpieces, chosen by the Russian Museum will allow you to make a first impression of the collection of the Russian Museum.

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Virtual tours

Russian Museum - one of the world's largest museums and is perhaps the only country where such a full treasure of national culture are presented.
Virtual tour of the museum complex. 2009 (Rus., Eng., Ger., Fin.)

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In the online shop of the Russian Museum presented a huge range of souvenirs, illustrated editions and multimedia disks.

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