St. Petersburg: Art, Patronage and Politics

        The art within the museums of St. Petersburg reflects its history and turbulent politics.  The main sites are presented, and attention is given to the art in the Hermitage. 
     The collection of Imperial Russia, reflecting the patronage of Catherine the Great (1729-1796), is contrasted with the works of the Russian Avant Garde.  Discussion includes when and how some of these paintings were acquired, including the controversy behind the Amber Room at Catherine’s Palace.  By 1900, the Russian Avant Garde affirmed the Russian spirit; however, creativity was soon considered counter-revolutionary (post 1917) forcing artists into exile.  The works of Larionov, Malevich, and Chagall, are presented emphasizing their profound influence on art and design today.  The lecture ends with a comparison of art styles that represent the role of art in political ideology.

Russia & St. Petersburg: A Cultural History

     A brief history of Russia is presented.  Maps and photographs highlight the main events in its long and complex history.  It is no wonder that Churchill wrote: “Russia is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma!” 
    St. Petersburg, once the capital of this vast, expansive, and diverse nation, suffered oppression from Czars, other European nations, and Communist regimes well into the 1980s.  It was devastated by war, famine, and poverty.  Its past splendor has been resurrected, and the opulence of its palaces dazzles the visitor.  Peter the Great “westernized” Russia, and his grandmother, Catherine the Great, became a legendary patron of the arts.  
     Discussion also includes recent geo-political events that challenge its foreign policy.