Morozov Collection exhibition gearing up to return home to Russia

PARIS, April 4./TASS/. Foundation Louis Vuitton and Russian experts are readying paintings that were on display in Paris at an exhibition of the Morozov brothers’ collection for their safe return to Russia, the foundation told TASS on Monday. "All the necessary procedures are underway. The paintings are being removed and prepared for the return to the museums from where they arrived. This work is being done with the participation of Russian preservation specialists," it said. The interlocutor did not specify whether some of the paintings had already been sent on their way, noting that the exhibition ended at 21:00 local time on Sunday, while the terms of transporting the paintings are strictly confidential. The source also said that all the paintings for the exhibition were insured. "The foundation observes international laws and is returning the artworks to the museums from where they were obtained. The foundation maintains dialogue with cultural institutions and the artworks are being transported according to the conditions agreed on with the museums," the source said. "The Morozov Collection: Icons of Modern Art" opened at the Louis Vuitton Foundation on September 21 with the participation of French President Emmanuel Macron. Initially, it was scheduled to run until February 22, 2022, but later a decision was made to extend it until April 3. The Paris exhibition features paintings by Van Gogh, Gauguin, Monet, Sezanne, Renoir, Manet, Matisse and other outstanding European painters. Along with them, works by some of Russia’s best-loved painters from the Morozov brothers’ collection were on display, including paintings by Konstantin Korovin, Valentin Serov, Kazimir Malevich, Natalia Goncharova and Pyotr Konchalovsky. On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in response to a request for help by the heads of the Donbass republics. He stressed Russia had no intention of occupying the country, the operation was aimed at the denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine. In response, the US, the EU, Britain and a number of other countries announced sanctions against Russian individuals and entities. Some restrictions also affected the cultural sector and its representatives. Due to the emerging logistical difficulties, various options for the return of the collection to Russia are being looked into, Russian Ambassador to France Alexey Meshkov said. According to Director of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts Marina Loshak, the French Ministry of Culture had extended a decree to ensure the inviolability of the paintings from the Morozov collection until May 15, 2022. Read more