The painting ‘Madonna of the Small Trees’ at the Vrubel Museum is a copy from the painting of the 15th-century Venetian artist Giovanni Bellini. The work appeared in the museum’s collection in 1927, and was restored only 90 years later, thanks to the poem about the painting written by Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich of Russia (1858–1915).
Madonna of the Small Trees
Creation period
1883
Dimensions
71x56 cm
Technique
oil on canvas
Collection
3
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Pyotr Sokolov
Madonna of the Small Trees
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The Grand Duke was called “chanter of beauty” for his literary talent. Using the pseudonym “K. R.”, he was a truly multifaceted personality. In addition to military and public service, he was an art critic, musician, poet, and a translator.
In May 1882, Konstantin Konstantinovich visited several European cities, including Venice. In the Gallery of the Academy of Arts, he saw the work of Giovanni Bellini for the first time, and was particularly impressed by the painting “Madonna of the Small Trees”. He recorded it in his diary:
The next place the Grand Duke visited was the German town of Gmunden. On May 20th of 1882, he wrote the afore-mentioned poem dedicated to the painting from his future cycle ‘In a foreign land’.
His next visit to Venice was in the autumn of 1882. After that visit he asked the Russian painter and graphic artist Pyotr Sokolov to create the painting now in the Vrubel Museum collection.
Upon returning to Saint Petersburg, the Grand Duke received all the purchased works of art. A copy of the ‘Madonna of the Small Trees’ was placed in his office in the Marble Palace, being located directly opposite his desk.
In May 1882, Konstantin Konstantinovich visited several European cities, including Venice. In the Gallery of the Academy of Arts, he saw the work of Giovanni Bellini for the first time, and was particularly impressed by the painting “Madonna of the Small Trees”. He recorded it in his diary:
May 14, 1882: “I rode in our gondola to the Academia della bella arti. I managed to visit only three rooms, but spent an hour and a half in them. In the first room, for a long time I admired the perfect picture of Gianbellino, i.e. Giovanni Bellini La Madonna col Bambino. What a wonderful, unearthly expression has the Mother of God… "
The next place the Grand Duke visited was the German town of Gmunden. On May 20th of 1882, he wrote the afore-mentioned poem dedicated to the painting from his future cycle ‘In a foreign land’.
His next visit to Venice was in the autumn of 1882. After that visit he asked the Russian painter and graphic artist Pyotr Sokolov to create the painting now in the Vrubel Museum collection.
Upon returning to Saint Petersburg, the Grand Duke received all the purchased works of art. A copy of the ‘Madonna of the Small Trees’ was placed in his office in the Marble Palace, being located directly opposite his desk.
#7
The M.A. Vrubel Omsk Regional Museum of Fine Arts
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Madonna of the Small Trees
Creation period
1883
Dimensions
71x56 cm
Technique
oil on canvas
Collection
3
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