I want to open a gallery featuring modern Russian art.....Need input.

[John_G]

My favorite Repin is the Cossacks Writing a Letter to the Sultan. This is my husband's favorite too, such a hilarious story behind it.
Have either of you read the original letter the painting is based upon?
Gotta love those Cossacks



I did not know the story, had to look it up. I was wondering why they were laughing. I still am.
First the Sultan's letter and then the masterpiece for those who don't know it.

Sultan Mahmud IV to the Zaporogian Cossacks:
As the Sultan; son of Muhammad; brother of the sun and moon; grandson and viceroy of God; ruler of the kingdoms of Macedonia, Babylon, Jerusalem, Upper and Lower Egypt; emperor of emperors; sovereign of sovereigns; extraordinary knight, never defeated; steadfast guardian of the tomb of Jesus Christ; trustee chosen by God himself; the hope and comfort of Muslims; confounder and great defender of Christians -- I command you, the Zaporogian Cossacks, to submit to me voluntarily and without any resistance, and to desist from troubling me with your attacks.
--Turkish Sultan Mahmud IV

Thou Turkish Devil!
Brother and companion to the accursed Devil, and Secretary to Lucifer himself, Greetings!
What the hell kind of noble knight art thou? Satan voids and thy army devours. Never wilt thou be fit to have the sons of Christ under thee. Thy army we fear not, and by land and by sea in our chaikas we will do battle against thee.
Thou scullion of Babylon, thou beer-brewer of Jerusalem, thou goat-thief of Alexandria, thou swineherd of Egypt (both the Greater and the Lesser), thou Armenian pig and Tartar goat. Thou hangman of Kamyanets, thou evildoer of Podolia, thou great silly oaf of all the world and of the netherworld and, before our God, a blockhead, a swine's snout, a mare's ass, and clown of Hades. May the devil take thee!
That is what the Cossacks have to say to thee, thou basest born of runts! Unfit art thou to lord it over true Christians!
The date we know not, for no calender have we got. The moon (month) is in the sky, the year is in a book, and the day is the same with us here as with ye over there - and thou can kiss us thou knowest where!

Koshoviy Otaman Ivan Sirko
and all the Zaparozhian Cossack Brotherhood

I take it that's a "no", then....

[Butterfield8]

carter-

Thanks for the offer. I would love to show them. I had originally planned just to rep Vlad, but after all the great suggestions and offers I have received on thios thread, I know the place is going to end up looking like a GUM stall. Fine by me. Do you have any pics of the pieces?

Shenlong-

Where's our picture? You are right, art IS anything you see. When I was 15, our high school art class took a field trip to the SF MOMA. I remember staring at an abstract painting, very minimalist, like 1 red blotch of paint on a white background or something, and feeling very irritated. I asked my teacher why this fool got space in the MOMA for what looked to be 15 minutes of effort and how can this be called " art " anyway ?

He said, " Art is anything that makes you feel ".

I said, " Well its a damn masterpiece then because I feel really pissed off. "



Butter Van Gone

[Butterfield8]

Fantushinka and John_G :

I love the religious items. Those are the pieces that yield the greatest amount of drool as I sit transfixed. Ah...The Armory at the Kremlin....

It was those Bibles in the armory. I nearly couldn't breathe staring at them. I am a jewelry artist, so these huge tomes painstakingly encrusted with mother-of-pearl, gold and silver inlay, and rubies among other things took my breath away. Had I not checked my bag when I entered, I would have whipped out my notebook for ideas.

I visited the Teatrykov ( spelling ? )and Pushkin museums on my most recent visit to Moscow. One of them had an Andrei Rublev icon that I was hungry to see. After buying a map to the museum, I noted where the " Icons " were and strategically planned my walking route so that I could savor the best for last. I was conscious to give each piece and each artist their proper due, but I was like a kid sweating through dinner only to get to dessert.

When I finally entered the Icons room, I increased the anticipatory tension by slowing down even more. Sometimes, being the sensory glutton that I am, the anticipation of an event is like a narcotic. Once the event happens, it's over. Or at least that event is over, time to find a new one or take the current one to the next level.

So I am proud to say that I, Butterfield8, had the once in a lifetime priveledge to stand in front a gilted wall with the sign " Item under renovation ".

Andrei, I am not giving up on you. See you in the fall you heartless *******.



Butter

[Sterco6660]

Originally posted by Shenlong
I have art in my mind
I will draw it and post it here for you
It might not be Russian
But its art none the less

Art is anything you see

Nothing for you to said such kind of snacks...

[carter]

I'll go to my storage and take some pics of 'em for you. Can I send pics through ru.com? Send me your email if I can't.

[Butterfield8]

carter, you can email me at : finemess1@netzero.net

I can't wait to see them. Why are they in storage?



Butter

[carter]

Cool, thx. Because I gots a lot of stuff mange.

I found the one that is framed. The other two are in too deep.

Look for it poja segodnya in your e-box. It's about 3 foot by 4 foot. I'm eyeballing it as it leans against my wall.

The artist is Mila Staroverova, she dated in 98 or 99, I can't tell.