(16 September 2016) The exhibition “Raphael. Poetry Image-Art from the Uffizi Galleries and other Italian collections” will be on display at the Pushkin Museum in Moscow until December 11. The exhibition was promoted by the Italian Embassy in Moscow as well as the inaugural event celebrating the collaboration agreement signed on 12 July between the Pushkin Museum and the Uffizi Galleries. The exhibition, the first Raphael exhibition in Russia, will present some of his most significant art works to the Russian public. Raphael and his work have an important significance to Russian culture. He is mentioned among the most important Russian authors such as Pushkin, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy including more recent authors. The Italian portion of the exhibition was curated by Marzia Faietti, curator of Drawings and Prints Department of the Uffizi Galleries and the Russian portion was curated by Victoria Markova, curator of Italian painting at the Pushkin Museum. The curation of the exhibition was under the scientific directorship of the Uffizi Gallery director, Eike Schmidt. The exhibition benefits from the High Patronage of the Italian President and the High Patronage of the President of the Russian Federation: the latter is an honour normally reserved for very exceptional occasions. The exhibition focuses on the poetry of one’s image through a selection of portrait masterpieces from Italian collections. The aim is to illustrate the ideals of artistic perfection developed by Raphael. Characteristic to this exhibition is the interdisciplinarity visible through the direct dialogue between Raphael and influential poets, writers of prose (both Italian and Russian). Among these are Vasari, Castiglione, Aretino, Bembo, Dostoevsky and Pushkin who accompany the works of the Urbino artist throughout the exhibition with descriptions, testimonials and references.
