"The Knave of Diamonds in the Russian Avant-garde" in St. Petersburg

July 9 - August 9, 2004

A notable event attracting the art critics' and specialists' attention took place in St. Petersburg on July, 9, 2004. It was the opening of the exhibition "The Knave of Diamonds in the Russian Avant-garde" housed in the Benua Building of the State Russian Museum. The exhibition of paintings became an important landmark in the cultural life of "the Northern Capital".

For the first time ever the twentieth century Russian paintings from the State Russian Museum, The State Tretjakov Gallery, local museums and private collections were brought together within the frames of one exhibition. 10 out of 160 works presented at the exhibition are from the private collection of the President of the Ekaterina Cultural Foundation. The range of the exposition enables one to trace back the history of "The Knave of Diamonds" artistic movement and appreciate the significance of this Group in painting of the beginning of the twentieth century.

The exposition inspired the real interest of eminent art specialists, critics and collectors: it was visited by the Director of the Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography Michel Schvydkoj, the Academy of Arts President Zurab Zeretely, Deputy Director of the State Tretjakov Gallery Lidia Iovleva and other celebrities.