MOSCOW.- The State Tretyakov Gallery is presenting a large-scale monographic exhibition of Ivan Aivazovsky (1817-1900), one of the best-known and most popular painters in Russia. His art includes the themes that touched many generations of artists: the attempts to depict infinite, limitless spaces, the desire to capture the ever-changing nature in a given moment of time.

From the large number of works created by Aivazovsky (based on his own estimate, approximately 6000), the exhibition presents about 100 paintings and 50 graphic works. The curators’ selection allows the viewers to see the best examples of Aivazovsky paintings: seascapes, battle scenes, graphics works.

The exhibition displays simultaneously four most significant paintings of the artist: “The Rainbow” (1873), “The Black Sea” (1881, both from the State Tretyakov Gallery), “The Ninth Wave” (1850), “The Wave” (1889, both from State Russian Museum). For the first time, the art lovers can see the large format painting “On the shores of the Caucasus” (1885, Tretyakov Gallery) that has never been on show before. The documentary section introduces Aivazovsky as a patron of arts, the first honorary citizen of Theodosia. The exhibition also includes models of ships, compasses, globes, telescopes.

"His paintings are full of serious, deep meaning that people, as time passes, have failed to notice. They don’t see the meaning; they just see the artistic work after the loss of the cultural expectations. We tried to do our best to decode his messages, to force people to open their eyes and look at Aivazovsky without any preconceptions - then, the philosopher emerges" Zelfira Tregulova, the head of the Tretyakov Gallery, told the press at the opening.

Participants: the State Tretyakov Gallery, the Russian Museum, the National Art Gallery named after Ivan Aivazovsky (Theodosia), regional Russian museums, private collections.