Selling Russia’s Treasures | M.T.A Publishing
While reviewing the subjects to be covered in the coming revised edition of "Selling Russia's Treasures," two issues caught my attention: the first was a chapter considering The Hermitage State Museum, the second title dealt with Germany’s Leading Role in the Soviet Art Exports in the years 1919–1936. It has become common knowledge that despite its poor economic situation, there were other important factors that drove Soviet Russia to undertake the sale of many of The Hermitage's treasures, together with items from other museums’ and former aristocrats’ private art collections.
While discussing the above issue it is important to mention the efforts made by The Hermitage’s curators and administrative staff, who did their best to prevent these sales. They undertook numerous risks by writing letters of protest to influential persons and organizations that warned them against the loss to be suffered by the Soviet Union if such sales took place. Besides mentioning the absurdly low prices Soviet Russia was asking for these unique works of art, they lamented on the loss of the country’s cultural heritage. By putting their careers at risk, these devoted professionals attempted to hide masterpieces in obscure places and refused to hand them over for sale. As a result of their opposition many were fired or transferred to remote provinces.
Other countries began to deal directly with Soviet Russia, especially the United States whose important art collectors and patrons were active in pre-war Europe. We, at The M. T. Abraham Foundation, consider supporting art events and cultural enterprises our social responsibility. We are proud, as well as delighted, to be an active participant in the publication of "Selling Russia's Treasures."
Amir G. Kabiri President, The M. T. Abraham Center for the Visual Arts Foundation
Selling Russia's Treasures will be published in 2013 by M.T.A Publishing and will be available worldwide. Hard cover, 364 pages.
This publication was made possible thanks to:
Amir G. Kabiri
Isaac M. Tamir
Tamar M. Kabiri
Editorial:
Nicolas V. Iljine
Natalya Semyonova
Elena Emelianova
Rifat GafifullinAleksei Petukhov
Yury Piatnitsky
Elena Solomakha
Translations:
Andrew Bromfield
Howard M. Goldfinger
For more information go to: www.mtabraham.com
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