Take care of those who do good! Open letter to the public art

[Artem]

Take care of those who do good ! Open letter to the public art

11.10.2013

Not a big collector of icons dreamed of turning his collection into a public museum. And today was a public statement to that effect . However, to realize this dream failed a few, among them Mikhail Abramov , entrepreneur and philanthropist. At Pottery Street in Moscow , opposite the Athos monastery , is a beautifully restored mansion , on four floors which expositions of the private Museum of Russian Icons . Entrance to the museum is free , as well as guided tours and lectures for visitors.
They have something to look at : the museum's collection consists of more than eight hundred Russian icons from the XIV century , and along with other monuments of Christian culture - almost four and a half thousand units. This is one of the largest and most high-quality private collections of Russian icons in Russia . Complement to the collection continues. One of its sources - the purchase and the return to Russia of icons , caught one way or another in foreign collections . More than a hundred of these icons were presented at the exhibition " Return domain" , which took place in 2008 in the halls of the Tretyakov Gallery.

This is not the only show that planned and carried out the Museum of Russian Icons. The museum was sponsored and organized a grand exhibition " Masterpieces of Russian icon painting XIV-XVI centuries from private collections " at the Museum of Fine Arts named after AS Pushkin (Spring 2009 ) ) . For the exhibition were produced full catalogs .
The museum does a lot of Europeans to explore the art of Russian Middle Ages. Exhibition of icons from the museum's collection held in Germany, Austria, Italy , Slovakia, Croatia. The authority of the museum show rooms that are available to him to showcase collections of foreign partners : The National Museum of Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome, the Slovak National Gallery , the Museum of the Cathedral of Vienna .
The volume and quality of work done in the last few years working museum can compete with the departments of ancient art museums in the country 's largest state . This is the achievement of a small group in number , headed by the director of the Museum of Nikolai V. ZADOROZHNY and scientific director Irina Shalini . It would seem that these people should enjoy widespread respect for his work . However, it is directed against them repeated appearances on the internet Doctor of Arts Irina L. Buseva - Davydova . The last one came September 12
That put them in the blame ? A lot . Zadorozhny - which deals with the icons without art history education, which in the past worked as a mechanic , and even ( horror of horrors !) Director of the slaughterhouse , which once had a criminal record , and in general people dubious and deeply antipathetic Irina L. . Shalin, according Buseva - Davydova - clueless specialist , and maybe a fraud , which belies an expert opinion to hide the stolen icons. And most importantly , they are both being spouses , produce questionable transactions with stolen icons.
Let's try to separate the wheat from the chaff , without going into details.
About stolen icons. In overseas collections of Russian icons are also those that have been removed illegally , including stolen . Thieves are not interested to notify their customers about it . That's among acquired by the Museum in Switzerland icons were 10 holiday icons stolen in 1984 from the Great Dymkovo church in earlier times. Not knowing this , the staff of the Museum of Icons placed not only in its exposition , but also showed at the exhibition " Masterpieces Recovered ", and published in the catalog. As soon as it became clear the origin of icons , monuments donated were given the original owner Ustiug museum. Thus, the original was restored by the letter festive rite , consisting of 30 icons. In celebration of Ustiuga he Ustyug was first shown at the exhibition , the opening of which has been invited as guest of honor MJ Abrams and all the employees of the private museum . Muscovites can get acquainted with this interesting ensemble on a temporary exhibition, which is being rolled out on a potter by agreement between the two cultural institutions , private and public .
And it's not the only case of the donation of ancient monuments in the state museums . In 2011 , he was returned to the State . museum " Rostov Kremlin" unique remote Rostov cross the XVI century. stolen from there in 1995 monument was discovered, or rather, recognized by the pre-revolutionary photos in a foreign collection in person , IA Shalini and purchased for transfer to Rostov M. Abramov . In 2013, the same Rostov museum were donated to six carved kiottsev , rezchikov1652 city of Yaroslavl , previously stolen from the museum.
A similar thing happened with the icon " Old Testament Trinity " letters of the famous icon painter Kirill Ulanov , stolen from a museum Ustyuzhna Vologda region in 1994 and again M. Abramov allocates funds , and the director of the museum acquires an icon abroad ( as we know , at the request of the region ) to return the rightful owner.
In addition, the museum conducted the whole program donation icons existing temples. All sent 17 iconography of monuments , two of them belong to the XVI century.
Buseva -Davydov tries to discover in these accomplishments Museum , or rather its director, who acted with the consent and at the expense of M. Abramov , the presence of some vested interests . Greed is good : to buy icons for a lot of money - and give them for free! But, perhaps , the Museum was trying to hide the presence of stolen icons and had to return them at risk of exposure ? Fence trying to hide away their purchases , and does not expose them to the public. However, imported from Switzerland 10 icons of the festival rank constantly exposed . Identify their belongings museum curators Great Ustiuga was not difficult , especially since the rank of the icons remain in their possession . The assumption Buseva - Davydova that Shalin deliberately changed the name of one of the icons of the Ustiug and identified them as the works of the masters of Kostroma , in order to conceal their true origin, looks not only extremely offensive , but also untenable : all scholars of ancient art know how hard atribuirovat and date later provincial monuments, many of which are not yet published ( as was the case with the icons of Dymkovo church until recently ) .
Return the same in Russian icon " Old Testament Trinity " was accompanied by scandal , the arrest of the icon and the start of the investigation regarding Zadorozhnogo (soon , however, the investigation the case was dismissed ) . Sounded loudest in rebuking Zadorozhnogo letters Buseva - Davydova laid out on the Internet .
The most annoying thing in all publications - Davydova Buseva relatively Zadorozhnogo and Shalini - their tone . It consists of hints, misunderstandings , designed by all means to discredit a man who does not like the author . Here's a sample : " More than a year ago ... the director of the Private institutions of culture " Museum of Russian Icons " NV Zadorozhnyj was detained at the airport " Domodedovo" when trying to import from abroad icon " St. Trinity " Kirill Ulanov ... stolen in 1994 from Ustyuzhensk museum ." After reading this, you probably think that a man caught with a stolen icon. And go wrong. In fact, this man carries in Russian icon, repurchased abroad and intended to return to the home museum , as was notified the Ministry of Culture . In the quoted phrase is all true , but it changes the meaning of reticence . The author expressly states that Shalin cheat with stolen icons , and only allows for such a possibility. In the right moment the reader is informed that Zadorozhnyj was 30 years ago, convicted of speculation that the icons and Shalin - his wife . Thus, the reader is induced to the idea of ​​a criminal organization . No outright lies and insulting words , but the general sense is deeply offensive to Nicholas and Irene Zadorozhnogo Shalini . That is why the leaders of the Museum of Russian Icons had reason to apply to the court for insulting their honor and dignity.
But apart from the legal side of things , there is also a moral one. Here, the position Buseva - Davydova looks unworthy . This is all the more disappointing that we know how talented Irina L. specialist , author of several excellent works .
However, do not by themselves hit Buseva - Davydova forced us to write this letter. These supposedly revelations and hints you can see a threat to the very existence of the Museum of Russian Icons. They fit into the scheme , already extensively tested in our time : first, compromising on the internet, then this material is the basis for checking the state bodies , with the possible "temporary" closure of the institution. As a result of all these actions is a valuable collection of the museum can both be dissolved , in fact - to go into other hands. And do not we have such status is known to be rolled .
The Company , in our opinion, is to find the strength and capability to protect and preserve those worthy endeavors that are so wealthy life nowadays.

LM Yevseyev
Candidate . Art History ( to Center Museum of Early Russian Art imei Andrei Rublev )

IA Kochetkov,
Candidate . Arts (State Tretyakov Gallery)

TN Samoilov
Candidate . Art History (Museum -Preserve "The Moscow Kremlin ")

LP Tarasenko,
Candidate . Art History (State Historic Site )

VV Baranov,
Candidate . Art, restorer


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