An exhibition of one painting "Ambrose of Mediolansky prohibits the Emperor Theodosius entrance to the temple" opens in the Tretyakov Gallery

The Tretyakov Gallery presents an exhibition of one painting. The canvas by Andrei Ivanov, entitled "Ambrose of Milan, forbids the Emperor Theodosius, the entrance to the temple" will be shown to the public for the first time after the restoration. And many will first hear the name of the artist.

Meanwhile, Academician Andrei Ivanov was a notable figure in the Russian art of the era of classicism. Recognition of contemporaries, he deserved and as a virtuoso painter, and as a brilliant teacher, the teacher Karl Bryullov and his own son Alexander, who over time surpassed his father. 

On the way to the place of exhibition, the picture is taken through the hall with the masterpiece of his son, Alexander Ivanov, and the works are for a few minutes. Until recently, the Tretyakov Gallery mistakenly believed that the canvas depicted "Baptism of Prince Vlady of Peace in Korsun". With this name, the painting entered the museum in 1968.

From the archives it is known that Ivanov painted a painting in 1829, commissioned by the Russian spiritual mission in China for the Sretensky temple of Beijing. In the XX century, the mission was repeatedly looted, and in the mid-fifties it finally closed. When and under what circumstances the picture with large damages was forwarded to the USSR, it is not known exactly.

"The work was badly damaged, numerous breakthroughs were formed, which were then roughly restored for sale in a private collection," said restoration artist Ivan Salakhov.

Specialists of the Tretyakov Gallery not only carried out the restoration of the painting, but also returned to it the original name - "Ambrose of Milan does not authorize the Emperor Theodosius to enter the temple." For Prince Vladimir mistakenly accepted the emperor, whom the patron saint of Milan does not allow to receive Communion after the massacre he committed over the risen Thessalonians. Such a plot, according to art historians, was chosen by Ivanov for the Beijing temple not by chance.

"In a stranger in the spirit, a very warlike region, this story with Ambrose was instructive and instructive.What happens in the picture? In 397, the emperor ordered to suppress it.Posted very cruelly.Several thousands of people died.And when Theodosius came to the church to take communion, Ambrose he was not allowed on the threshold of the temple, "- said the curator of the exhibition Svetlana Stepanova.

In total, Andrei Ivanov performed 14 icons and four paintings on the order of the Russian spiritual mission in China. They decorated the Sretensky Temple of Beijing, which has not survived to this day. This picture is one of the few surviving relics.

October 17, 2017 - January 14, 2018