The exhibition "Two of the Emperor" at the Museum of Decorative and Applied Art from February 14

[Art-Galera]

All-Russian Museum of Decorative-Applied and Folk Arts (Moscow, ul. Delegatskaya, 3) from February 15 until March 15, will host the exhibition "Two of the Emperor", dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. Welcome to the opening of the project February 14 (Tuesday) from 17.00.
        The exhibition "Two of the Emperor" is one of the first in our country in a series of anniversaries of historic events in 2012 declared the Year of Russian history. For this "overture" taken an unusual perspective: the relationship between the two Emperors - Alexander I and Napoleon I. Thematically, the exhibition is sustained by historical periods and presented exhibits from major private collections in Alexander Vihrova that it generates more than 30 years, supplemented by a number of things from the museum VMDPiNI and other gatherings.
         And the friendship and enmity of Alexander and Napoleon were woven and of paradoxes: a peace-loving Russian emperor was the initiator of all its wars with France, and the warlike Emperor of the French constantly sought alliance with Russia. "Alexander! - Broke down once on the lips of the prisoner of St. Helena - we loved each other ... ".
         Two great emperors associated epochal events of war and peace. Austerlitz, Tilsit, Borodino, the entry of the French in Moscow, Battle of Nations near Leipzig, finally, the capture of Paris, and each of the events has been widely reflected in European art.
         The viewer sees a mosaic of numerous articles and works of art, French, Italian, German and Russian origin, which were created between the end of the XVIII century. to this day. Paintings and drawings, medals and coins, statues made of ivory, bronze, porcelain bisque and the classic, decorative plates with images of the brightest moments of the life of the emperors, snuff boxes, cigarette cases, decorated with portraits in miniature, porcelain and glass, rare folios, finally, things that are memorativny character, including an autograph Bonaparte.

[Art-Galera]

From mnogih announcement event, we would like to publish two small, but very much for the organizers of the exhibition is significant:

Kommersant Weekend № 4, 10/2/2012
Tatiana Markina
http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1864189? themeID = 1317
"Two of the Emperor" at the Russian museum of arts and crafts
Exhibition dedicated to the Emperor Napoleon and Alexander - two hundred objects from the private collection of Alexander Vihrova, supplemented by things from the museum and other collections. Jubilee 2012 is sure to be replete with projects dedicated to World War II in 1812. But "Two of the Emperor," the first in their turn, may remain the most unusual - the exhibition is devoted to the relations between the two emperors, which linked the enmity and friendship, war and peace ......
More: http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1864189?themeID=1317

Proceedings of the February 7, 2012
Dmitry Smolev
http://www.izvestia.ru/news/514517
Alexander and Napoleon - sworn friends
This season, we still do not have to think again about "the day of Borodino" and other significant events of World War II in 1812. Coming of the bicentennial, and various museums certainly not fail to note - each in its own way. At the start ahead of the Museum of Decorative-Applied and Folk Art: Project "Two of the Emperor" is referred to as "the overture to the anniversary."
However, the exhibition is not intended to be a panoramic coverage of the event, so that "fighting the fight" are a few behind the scenes. And at the forefront of the very relationship of the two Emperors - Alexander and Napoleon.
***
In the current exhibition (rather chamber on the format, but the compound) are exhibits from the collection of art collector Alexander Vihrova, supplemented by some museum artifacts. Paintings and drawings, porcelain, glass and bronzes, books, coins, medals, even statuettes of ivory - all this set is intended to recall the vicissitudes of two centuries ago.
Of course, here are the main figures of the two referred to the royal family (even the promised signature of Bonaparte), but is not limited to images flattering and heroic. The exhibition included caricatures of both emperors wrought in swatch mutual counter-propaganda. Which of the parties differed a great malevolence and wit, to judge the audience ...
...

[Art-Galera]

I will add some text (of release) and a few illustrations of the exhibits.

The central idea of ​​the exposition is the story of a personal acquaintance of the two emperors, their friendship and enmity, history of untapped opportunities for the dispensation of the future of Europe. Most clearly reveals that the idea of ​​objects related to Tilsit: here and the first meeting of the two emperors in June 1807, first in a tent on a raft in the middle of the Neman River, and then - moving to Tilsit and 15-day close contact, finally, the conclusion of peace, as it seemed Then both of them, "eternal" world.
It was at this time is one of the oldest exhibits - the first edition of a book on Napoleon in Russian ("Napoleon - French Emperor," 1806). And immediately after Tilsit was created artifact, which can be called a symbol of the exhibition - a unique bronze medallion with enamel image of two rulers, tightly hugging each other. The reverse of the medallion depicts the same Neman tent, which held its first meeting of the sovereigns ...
The War of 1812 is not for nothing that a turning point in the development of European decorative arts. Empire Style - French-Russian generation - has been felt perhaps most clearly is in the works of decorative art. Echoes in the form of military themes were manifested in the art of France and Russia, even a hundred years after the events themselves. That pot plant Gardner, in medallions on the sides with one side depicts a scene of Napoleon and Alexander the handshake at the conclusion of the Peace of Tilsit, on the other hand, as evidence of malice French - a reproduction of painting by Vasily Vereshchagin, "Fire in Moscow. The Return of the Petrovsky Palace. " Or the pearl collection A.Vihrova, one more thing, dated the beginning of the XX century., - Vase Imperial Porcelain Factory featuring pictures of the same Vereshchagin, "Napoleon at Borodino."