Presentation of restoration projects made by the museum artists-restorers with the support of Japan Tobacco International (JTI)

23 November 2010 the presentation of restoration projects made by the museum artists-restorers was held within the framework of meeting of corporate members of the Hermitage Friends' Club in the Field Marshal's Hall of the Winter Palace with the support of Japan Tobacco International (JTI).

In 2012, Russia will celebrate the 200th anniversary of its victory in the Patriotic War of 1812. The State Hermitage will honor this anniversary by a special exhibition one of the essential stages of preparation for which is the restoration of items.

In 2010, with the support of Japan Tobacco International (JTI), the State Hermitage completed the restoration of the first twenty works for this exposition. Among them are Portrait of Field Marshal Dibich-Zabalkansy by P. Basin, Portrait of Field Marshal Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky by F. Riss, Portrait of Great Princess Alexandra Fedorovna with Children by J. Dow, as well as swords, backswards, sabers, rifles and other weaponry of the second half of the 18th century - the first half of the 19th century which belonged to officers of the Russian guards.

"The beginning of the 19th century is one of the most interesting and, perhaps, one of the most eventful and romantic periods of Russian and European history. That is why we were so glad to accept an offer to participate in the restoration project," said Martin Braddock, JTI's President CIS, Adriatica, Bulgaria and Romania region.

"The Hermitage has few long-term partners like Japan Tobacco International. We deeply appreciate the responsiveness of our friends to our various projects, both restoration and exhibition ones. We not only rely on their support but we also actually do a lot of things together by being partners in Russian cultural environment. Both restoration and exhibition projects is a joint activity where an initiative evolves in a dialog and where we see significant and very good prospects. We got used to the fact that Japan Tobacco has a good understanding of what are today's actual needs of not only the Hermitage but the overall cultural environment of Russia," said Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director of the State Hermitage.

The presentation of restoration projects was attended by Deputy Directors of the State Hermitage Svetlana Adasina and Vladimir Mateev, President Russia, CIS, Adriatica and Romania region Martin Braddock, JTI's Director for Communication, Charity and Sponsorship Projects Anatoly Vereschagin.

Head of the Laboratory for Scientific Restoration of Easel Paintings Victor Korobov and Head of the Laboratory for Scientific Restoration of Items Made of Organic Materials Yekaterina Mankova shared about the restoration of items with the audience.

At the meeting, fragments from M. Lermontov's Borodino poem were performed by People's Artist of Russia Georgy Shtil. Staff members of the museum's Education Department showed friends around the expositions relating to the history of war of 1812.

Martin Braddock, JTI President CIS, Adriatica, Bulgaria and Romania regions

At the meeting for members of the Hermitage Friends' Club in the Field Marshal's Hall

Portrait of Field Marshal Dibich-Zabalkansy by P. Basinv

Portrait of Field Marshal Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky by F. Riss