Embassy of the Russian Federation in France
Embassy of the Russian Federation in France
21 May 2026, 15:53
A Unique Collection of Russian Paintings from the 19th–20th Centuries Presented in Paris
On 20 May 2026, the Russian Orthodox Spiritual and Cultural Center in Paris hosted the ceremonial opening of the exhibition “The Splendor of Russian Painting of the 19th–20th Centuries. Masterpieces from the Collection of Vladimir Pesic.”
This project, organized to mark the 10th anniversary of the Center, brought together eighteen previously unexhibited paintings from the collection of the renowned Serbian collector Vladimir Pesic.
The works represent the most important movements in Russian fine art, ranging from the realist explorations of the nineteenth century to the bold artistic experiments of the Russian avant-garde of the twentieth century.
During the opening ceremony, the Minister-Counsellor of the Embassy read out a welcoming message from the Ambassador of Russia to France, Aleksey Meshkov, in which he particularly emphasized the significance of this cultural initiative at a time when international exhibitions of works from Russian museum collections continue to face various restrictions.
“The realization of this project became possible thanks to Vladimir Pesic, a distinguished connoisseur of painting who has spent several decades carefully building a unique collection of Russian art that can rightfully be described as museum-quality. Acquaintance with his collection will not only provide an opportunity to appreciate Russia’s artistic heritage, but also to gain a deeper understanding of the character and destiny of Russia. This will undoubtedly make an important contribution to strengthening the cultural and humanitarian ties between the peoples of Russia and France.”
