Russian Culture Abroad: Exhibition "Ilya Repin" presented in Helsinki

From March 19 to August 29, 2021, the Ateneum Art Museum in Helsinki hosts an exhibition of works by the outstanding artist Ilya Repin (1844-1930). For the first time in 25-years, the Ateneum's visitors will have an opportunity to look at the master's masterpieces from the collections of Russian museums.

The exhibition features more than 100 works from the collections of the State Russian Museum, the State Tretyakov Gallery, the A. A. Bakhrushin Theatre Museum and other museums and private collections.

The exhibition presents the most famous historical paintings and portraits of prominent cultural figures of the past, as well as the artist's works from the Athenaeum's collections. For example, the A. A. Bakhrushin Theatre Museum provided the Finnish exhibition with Repin's portrait of Sergei Mamontov, created in 1880.

The great Russian artist is closely connected with Finland. In 1917-1930, he lived in his estate "Penates" in Kuokkala (now - Repino) near Terijoki (now - Zelenogorsk). In those days, it was the territory of the Grand Duchy of Finland within the Russian Empire (1809-1917) and the Russian Republic (1917).

Repin is one of the Russian artists beloved by the Finns. The Athenaeum's collection comprises more than 116 works of the master, mostly drawings. Remaining to live in Finland after 1917, Repin donated some of his paintings and numerous works by other Russian artists like Vasily Polenov, Ivan Shishkin, Valentin Serov to the Finnish Art Society (now the Athenaeum).

After Finland, Repin's exhibition will be showcased in France. It will run at the Petit Palais Museum in Paris from October 5, 2021, to January 23, 2022.