'Guardians of Time. Conservation at the Moscow Kremlin Museums' Exhibition Opening

Exhibition opening ceremony
Director General of the Moscow Kremlin Museums Elena Gagarina, Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Moscow Kremlin Museums Sergei Ivanov and Special Presidential Representative for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy Opening the Exhibition
Sergei Ivanov, Special Presidential Representative, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Moscow Kremlin Museums addressing the guests at the exhibition opening ceremony
Special Presidential Representative Mikhail Shvydkoy addressing the guests at the exhibition opening ceremony
Exhibition opening
Elena Gagarina explains the dignitaries the work done on the conservation of the crown of Empress Anna Ioannovna
Elena Gagarina, tells the dignitaries about fabric conservation
People's Artist Nikolay Tsiskaridze, Head of the Russian Ballet Academy n.a. Vaganova, tours the exhibition with the exhibition curator Irina Maslennikova
Elena Gagarina and the conservators of the Moscow Kremlin Museums talks to journalists
Paintings conservator of the Moscow Kremlin Museums Vadim Yakovlev on metal takes questions from journalists
Paintings conservator of the Moscow Kremlin Museums Nadezhda Maslennikova explains the work done on the marks adorning the regalia collar (barmy) on parchment
Paintings conservator of the Moscow Kremlin Museums Oleg Kolikov explains to journalists the work done on the pistols with mother-of-pearl inlay
Guests of the Exhibition Opening
Guests of the Exhibition Opening
Guests of the Exhibition Opening
Guests of the Exhibition Opening become familiar with the working process of the Museums’ conservators on a screen display

‘Guardians of Time. Conservation at the Moscow Kremlin Museums’ exhibition opening ceremony took place at the Exhibition hall of the Assumption Belfry on 10 July 2019. Guests of the vernissage could appreciate unique pieces restored mainly over the last five years — State regalia, objects which belonged to the monarchs, ceremonial arms, ancient icons and magnificent jewels. Many of those had been kept in museum store-rooms for a long time and now presented to the public for the first time.

Director General of the Moscow Kremlin Museums Elena Gagarina noted that the Museums carry out significant conservation work as can be judged by the display. Later, the renovated art pieces are worthwhile put on permanent display in the new building of the Museums at Red Square, so that the visitors could enjoy the collection in the full blaze of beauty.

“I am aware of complex and limited space conditions, to say the least, where the conservators of the Kremlin Museums work. So I would make every afford for providing them with spacious, modern, well-equipped rooms,” said Sergei Ivanov, Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Moscow Kremlin Museums.

Mikhail Shvydkoy, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation said at the exhibition opening ceremony, “The name of the display is not accidental. The conservators comprehend the progress of time and penetrate into the epoch of the objects they work on. This display is homage to great men.”

On display in the exhibition hall of the Assumption Belfry are pieces related to State ceremonials, arms and armour, ceremonial horse harness as well as works by the best West European craftsmen from the Treasury of the Muscovy sovereigns. Demonstrated at the exhibition hall of the Patriarch’s Palace are rare artefacts from Kremlin Cathedrals and Monasteries, i.e. icons, masterpieces of church needlework art and precious utensils form church sacristies.

The exhibition goes on until 13 October 2019.