Moscow. Bernini's "Head of Medusa

[Dogel]

/Corr. ITAR-TASS March Ageeva.

A masterpiece by the famous Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, "Head of Medusa" first introduced to the public today in Moscow. First saw him, journalists and guests of the Italian Embassy in Moscow. It was here in the beautiful mansion Berg in cash lane sculpture will remain until June 1, and from 3 to 30 June it will be able to see the general public at the State Museum of Fine Arts named after AS Pushkin.

Among the distinguished guests at the presentation of the masterpiece was the Minister of Culture of Italy, Giancarlo Galan, who called the current exhibition, "one of the main events of the Italian language and culture in Russia."

"Selection of sculptures by Bernini for Russia was not surprising, as in the Russian collections, many works of masters of the Italian school, but with the work of Bernini Russian public is familiar is not so good" - the minister said. He is convinced that the Russian audience, "passionately in love with the art will appreciate the opportunity to see this masterpiece of Baroque sculpture from the collection of the Capitoline Museums."

"Medusa" has found its place in one of the main halls of the Italian Embassy in Moscow, where traditionally pass receptions and presentations. And anyone looking at this masterpiece, could come up with its own history. There is several of them, and in mythology. One of the most famous written Ovid. Medusa - a mythical creature that is directly connected with the constellation of archaic doolimpiyskih deities. Exceedingly proud of her beauty and gorgeous hair Medusa was punished by a chaste goddess Minerva, which turned her hair into snakes, which in ancient times symbolized lust. Anger as Minerva came down at the girl after the battle is an incredible beauty of the Medusa Neptune made over her abuse in a temple of the goddess.

Bernini carved in the full sense of the word "bust-portrait of the beautiful Gorgon sisters, embodied in the transition time of its transformation. Flesh turned to stone, her hair - a snake, happiness - in horror. To master despair Medusa primarily spiritual, not physical, and he wanted to depict only the outward expression of plaguing her hidden and deep suffering.

"Why we chose Bernini - because I could not bring a palace of this great architect and sculpture and decided to choose one of his major works," - said the Italian Ambassador in Moscow, Antonio Zanardi Landi. And recalled that since the Middle Ages to the present day, Russian culture has repeatedly appealed to the myth of the Gorgon Medusa. "For example, I only recently learned that one of the most popular Soviet writers Roots Chukovskij retold the myth of the Gorgon in the book of their stories, - the ambassador said. - I am sure that this beautiful statue can become an inspiration for a new generation of Russian artists and writers."

Gian Lorenzo Bernini - one of the greatest sculptors of Italy and no doubt, the main protagonist in the culture of the Roman Baroque. He was the founder of urban ensembles, stage designer and architect. None of the artists are not influenced to such an extent on the shape of Rome, as was done by Bernini: the colonnade of St. Peter's Cathedral and numerous works that adorn the interior of the basilica, Palazzo Barberini, Fountain of Four Rivers and Fontant Triton - these are just some of the most famous of his creations. Glory to the master was so loud that in 1665 Louis XVI invited him to Paris for the restructuring of the Louvre.

At the conclusion of today's meeting, Director of the Pushkin Museum Pushkin, Irina Antonova, thanked everyone who helped this show happen. "Carry artistic values, create catalogs, informational material - a lot of work, without which the meeting of the general public with a masterpiece just does not happen," - she added. And invited the general public to meet with "Medusa" in the museum, which will be held within 10 days.