Iran in the Hermitage. The creation of collections

On 25 June 2004 an exhibition opened in the Peter Gallery of the Small Hermitage which has more than 300 paintings, sculptures, and works of applied art of Iran from ancient times to the end of the 19th century. Many items are being displayed for the first time.

The idea of the exhibition bears an historiographical character. Its aim is to show the history of the creation of the collections of Iranian works in the Hermitage and also to provide a historical perspective on the basic directions that study of Iranian materials in the museum have taken. At the same time the exhibition touches on a number of subjects relating to the history of Iranian culture that are being very actively pursued at present.

The material is organized by chronological order in four sections.

The first section presents ancient and early medieval monuments dating from the period before Iran was drawn into the group of countries where Islam is the predominant religion (7th century), which brought about cardinal changes in the culture.

The second section of the exhibition displays works of the medieval, properly speaking Moslem period. The third section is devoted to the culture and art of Iran during the rule of the Qajar dynasty (1785-1925), when a strong Western influence was felt.

The fourth and final section presents works by Russian and also Western European artists who worked in Russia reflecting Russian-Iranian diplomatic relations.

Within the several sections the exhibits are grouped together either by type of material (paintings, various forms of applied art) or by common subjects.

A scholarly catalogue to the exhibition has been issued by the Slavia Publishing House. The foreword was written by Director of the State Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky. Staff from all the main research departments of the museum took part in compiling the catalogue.

The opening of the exhibition coincides with an international conference on the study of Iranian culture in the West that is being held in the State Hermitage from 24-27 June 2004.

More

Adel Adamova, Curator of the exhibition

At the opening of the exhibition

At the exhibition

At the exhibition

The catalogue