"RUVR", October 14, 2008

Exhibition titled "Epoch of Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco" in Moscow

Exhibition titled “Epoch of Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco” is held in the Russian capital. It tells about personal life of the Hollywood star who became wife of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco. The exhibition is timed to coincide with 25 years since her tragic death in a car crash.

The exposition has been already shown in Monaco and Paris. It was brought to Moscow by the Grimaldi Foundation headed by Sovereign Prince Albert II, Grace Kelly’s son. Later the exhibition will travel to London, Rome and New York.

Cultural ties between Monaco and Russia have always been stable. It is well to remind here that in the early 20th century renowned Diaghilev Ballet Seasons were held in Monaco. A major project in recent history was a show of Russian museums titled “Russian Artists of the Knave of Diamonds Group: between Cйzanne and Avant-garde Art”.

Attending the opening ceremony in Moscow was a representative of princely family, Herve Eryan.

I hope that the exhibition will be a success in Moscow just as it was a success in Paris and Monaco. Cooperation between Monaco and Moscow becomes ever more close, and I hope that the exhibition will open up a new chapter in bilateral cooperation. I want to emphasize that the bulk of this exhibition’s items are stored in the Palace. These things are dear to me. They are beautiful, and I think that for many they will be associated with a certain return to the past and evoke the feeling of nostalgia.

The exhibition dedicated to Grace Kelly, heroine of one of the most beautiful fairy-tales of the 20th century, allows visitors to trace her life story from the very beginning. Kelly came from a Catholic family which was convinced that everything should be earned by industrious labour. She studied and earned money by participating in TV ad clips. Her best roles were in three Albert Hitchcock films, she is Oscar-winning actress. Visitors can see on a photo the man whom she loved and wanted to marry—-US fashion designer of Russian extraction Oleg Kassini. Yet his Orthodox parents did not give their blessing. But there was Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, whom she married. She became Princess and mother of three children. She rejected cinema for the sake of her family. True, from time to time she felt regret; but for the car crash she, probably, would have returned to it…

Grace Kelly’s life story is told by her numerous things brought to the Russian capital. Among most interesting exhibits are children’s toys, her wedding dress, video films made by the Princess and letters of her husband and numerous friends, including Mstislav Rostropovich, Rudolf Nuriev and Mark Chagall.

Showing letters one of the exhibition’s sponsors, Alexander Gusseinova, says that Mstislav Rostropovich wrote to the Princess that he looked forward to his trip to Monte Carlo and hoped to see all her family. In Mark Chagall’s letter there is the artist’s autograph in the form of little fish.

Grace Kelly’s daughter Princess Stephanie and numerous courtiers arrived in Moscow on the occasion.