Renoir. Compositions with Stairs. From the Revived Masterpieces series
26 May 2009 - 6 September 2009

This is the first exposition of the cycle and it is dedicated to the work of restorers. Ever since the time when Rembrandt's Danae was restored professional work of restorers was not paid fair attention by the general public.

The exhibition presents pair paintings of Pierre-Auguste Renoir - Man on a Staircase and Woman on a Staircase. For a long time they were in private hands in Europe and over the prolonged indefinite status the canvases didn't gain due popularity. The paintings were a part of decoration in the antechamber of Charpentier mansion, the main salon of Paris, the place where the pick of the European artistic elite gathered in 1870s. That is why the canvases grew dim and their appearance was damaged by the multiple layers of lacquer.

Restorers of the State Hermitage managed to restore the paintings to their original state.