The first information portal of Vrsac www.evrsac.rs
The first information portal of Vrsac www.evrsac.rs
January 24th 2022
Culture.
„The Brilliance of Russian Painters“, part of Vladimir Peshich’s Collection in the City museum of Vrsac
The exhibition „The Brilliance of Russian Painters“, with art works from Vladimir Peshich’s Collection, was opened In the City museum Vrsac.
„The Brilliance of Russian Painters“ exhibition presents works of Russian artists who, in the period between the two wars, mostly worked on the territory of Serbia, from the private collection of Vladimir Pesic. This collection is presented to the Serbian audience for the first time.
Vladimir Peshich has been collecting paintings carefully and for a long time. His collections is constantly growing and part of it, which is exhibited in Vrsac, presents, among others, works by Stepan Fedorovich Kolesnikov and his enigmatic portrait of Princess Mafalda of Savoy; then 4 paintings by Nikolai Dmitrievich Kuznetsov, an artist who lived and worked in Vrsac and about whom the famous artist Ily Repin said the most beautiful words; then the work “Bogatir Dobrinya Nikitich” by Konstantin Konstatinovich Kuznetsov with a thank-you letter to Olga, Nikola and Beba Tabakovich, signed by the Russian cavalry general Nikolai Nikolayevich Baratov. Serbian art lovers can enjoy the painting “Miners” by Kharitonov Nikolai Vasilyevich, then the works of Maikovsky Ippolit Danilovich, “Russian Troika” by Petr Petrovich Sokolov, landscapes by Alexander Ivanovich Lazhechnikov, Vladimir Pavlovich Zelinsky and Nikolai Krivoshein.
“The Brilliance of Russian painters” exhibition presents also icons painted by Russian icon painters in the late ХIХ and early ХХ century.
Part of the exposition is dedicated to Branislav Maksimovich, grandfather of Vladimir Peshich, who was born in Vrsac. Together with his brothers, in the thirties of the last century, he founded the university quartet „Brothers Maksimovich“. This quartet achieved significant success outside the borders of the former Yugoslavia, especially in the United States, where in 1936 they recorded a dozen records. The portrait of Branislav Maksimovich, which is also part of the exhibition, was done by Igor Vasiliev, the son of Russian emigrants, a great artist of unfortunate destiny.
Numerous visitors and guests at the opening of the exhibition were first addressed by Ivana Ranimirov, acting director of the City Museum Vrsac, who pointed out that the exhibition “The Brilliance of Russian Painters”, in addition to the great artistic value, arouses deep feelings and reminds us of the deep historical relations between Serbian and Russian people: „World War I, turbulent events in Tsarist Russia, the October Revolution – these are the events that forced more than two million people to leave Russia. A river of representatives of Russian high society and the intelligentsia flowed into Serbia. This immeasurable human potential will have a great influence in the kingdom and will contribute to the development of Serbia in the fields of science, culture and certainly art. The Society of Russian Engineers and the Society of Russian Architects are founded in Serbia, Aleksandar Ignjatovski is one of the founders of the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade, one of such representatives is Georgiye Ostrogorski, who founded the Department of Byzantology at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade.“ Ms. Ranimirov paid special attention to Nikolai Dmitrievich Kuznetsov, who settled in Vrsac in 1920, where he dedicated himself to his artistic and educational work: „He was also involved in humanitarian work, helping Russian emigrants by organizing sales exhibitions. In 1923, he exhibited in Vrsac and in 1928 in Belgrade. On the back cover of the catalog you will see the painting „Vrsac market“ from 1926, the work of Kuznetsov from the collection of Mr. Peshich, which announces a joint exhibition of Mr. Vladimir Peshich and the City Museum Vrsac, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the exhibition which Kuznetsov held in this city. The exhibition we are opening today and the exhibition we will open is a way to proudly look back at our ancestors and our deep-rooted, unbreakable relations between Serbia and Russia”, concluded Ivana Ranimirov, announcing future cooperation with collector Vladimir Peshich.
Art historian and retired museum adviser Nikola Kusovac, spoke about the artistic value of the exhibition, emphasizing that Vladimir Peshich, is a man who loves art, and he is doing what the state should be doing for the sake of good relations between Serbs and Russians: „Between the two wars, the Russians helped Serbia so much, since they have suffered a lot in the First World. The Russians took over everything that was important to us, from medicine, theater, culture and architecture. In this exhibition, among other things, we talk about the closeness and intertwining of two nations in history and culture“. Nikola Kusovac also drew attention to the works of Nikolai Dmitrievich Kuznetsov, who lived and worked in Vrsac, he especially emphasized the value of the work „Spring. Princess Mafalda of Savoy“ by Stepan Fedorovich Kolesnikov – an enigmatic portrait of great artistic value that occupies a central place in the exhibition „The Brilliance of Russian Painters“: „Our museums should deal with these important artists and the collection of Vladimir Peshich should be a matter of interest for them“, emphasized Nikola Kusovac and shared with the visitors a personal, emotional note: „This exhibition means a lot to me, because I survived thanks to the Russian emigrant doctor Vladimir Petrovich Gerasimov, a philanthropist who treated children for free“.
The exhibition was officially opened by Miroslav Lepir, a member of the City Council in charge of education, who pointed out the importance of the City Museum for Vrsac, talked about the city government’s efforts in developing culture, art and education, emphasizing that such projects will always be supported.
In the packed hall of the City Museum Vrsac, among the guests were representatives of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Serbia: Alexander Konanykhin, First Counselor and Attaché for Culture, Igor Kiselev, First Secretary at the Embassy, as well as Evgeny Baranov, Director of The Russian House — Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Belgrade.
„I must say that for the last 4 years, this is the most professionally prepared exhibition of all that I have seen in Serbia. An incredible level! In principle, this exhibition can be organized in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Nis as well. If we had a chance to see these paintings in Moscow, I believe that the audience there would be satisfied just as well“, points out Alexander Konanyhin, First Counselor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation and Attaché for Culture.
„I see here great paintings, which I have never seen before. This is an opportunity for me to see Russian painters that I have never seen before, even in Moscow“, stated the director of The Russian House — Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Belgrade, Evgeny Baranov and emphasized the desire to achieve significant cooperation with Vladimir Peshich in the near future, including an exhibition of paintings from his collection at The Russian House.
The author of the exhibition, collector Vladimir Peshich, emphasized that he had prepared the exhibition carefully and for a long time and that he did not choose Vrsac by chance as the place where he would present a part of his collection. His family roots connect him to this city, because his mother Ivana was born in the Maksimovich family from Vrsac. His grandfather Branislav Maksimovich set out with his brothers from this city to conquer Europe and the United States with a Serbian song. „Art feeds the soul. And just as many have created large personal libraries, collections of films or musical works, so have I – for decades I was forming a collection of paintings and art objects that inspire and ennoble me. I wanted to share with others the joy I feel every day when I see the works of art in my collection, and that led to this exhibition in Vrsac“.
Vladimir Peshich’s Collection consist of paintings and works of applied art, primarily by Russian and Serbian artists, as well as works by foreign artists, icons, and unique ivory antiques.
Vladimir developed a fondness for art in his family. He came to Moscow as a child, where he got to know Soviet artists and got to visit famous museums together with his father Dusan Peshich, a top journalist and famous correspondent of the newspaper “Politika”. He lived in Moscow from 1983 to 1997, where he finished not only high school, but also the Faculty of Foreign Languages.
During the past years, Vladimir Peshich became an internationally acclaimed collector. He is a member of The International Confederation of Collectors, Antique & Art Dealers of Russia and the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), CINOA (The International Confederation of Art & Antique Dealer Associations engaged in the conservation, protection and promotion of antiques and art works) and DAS (Society of Antique Dealers of Serbia).
In the artistic part of the program, we saw the church choir of the St. Nicholas Church, led by conductor Olga Shinkovich, small ballerinas from the studio for contemporary dance and professor doctor Uros Doychinovich, who showed his virtuosity on guitar by performing a mix of Russian songs.
The exhibition “The Brilliance of Russian Painters” in the City Museum Vrsac will be opened until February 27,2022.
https://evrsac.rs/sjaj-ruskih-slikara-iz-zbirke-vladimira-pesica-u-gradskom-muzeju-vrsca/
