On March 19 1998 the State Russian Museum, the largest collection of Russian art in the world, celebrated its 100th anniversary. Collection of the museum, that had been established by Nicolas II decree, includes masterpieces of different historical epochs: these are Old Russian works of art, and also works by artists of Baroque, Classicism, Art Nouveau, Avant-garde, Post-Modernism and representatives of latest art trends.
Jubilee celebrating lasted for three days - from the 19th to the 21st of March. It started with the grand meeting in the Musorgsky Opera and Ballet Theatre. Members of Russian government, Minister for Russian Culture, Governor of St. Petersburg, foreign guests and friends of the museum, creative intelligentsia took part in enthralling theatrical performance. Characters of the most well-known paintings from the Russian Museum collection were revived on the stage: "The Major's Marriage Proposal" by Pavel Fedotov, "Portrait of E.Davydov" by Orest Kiprensky, "Bargemen on the Volga" by Ilya Repin, "Two peasant women" by Philip Maliavin, drawings by Leon Bakst.
Interesting exhibitions that are planned to work till the end of the summer 1998 were opened in the context of celebrating program. Two exhibitions are arranged in the Mikhailovsky Palace - "The Gold Chamber" (Old Russian arts and crafts works are presented, Art Nouveau etc.) and "Conquering Time..." (this exhibit demonstrates unique works by the Russian Museum restoration workshops for the last 20 years). In the Marble Palace you can visit "The Museum of Artistic Culture" (including works of Russian Avant-garde, by Malevich, Kandinsky, Rodchenko, Larionov, Goncharova, Tatlin etc.), "Konstantin Romanov: Poet of the Silver Age" (the exhibition is dedicated to the Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich Romanov, the last owner of the Marble Palace) etc.
On the 20th of March there was the concert at the Alexandrinsky Theatre, where famous ballet-dancers, opera singers and actors took part.
All what was going on was reported by mass media including TV.
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