From Russia Exhibition, At The Royal Academy Plus Lectures by Charles Spencer, Art Critic and Author, recipient of the Anglo-Russian Cultural Award

Sunday 10 February 2008, 3pm - FULLY BOOKED

Conducted tour of the Exhibition by Charles Spencer

Royal Academy of Arts, £15

Tuesday 12 February, 7.30pm

Antokolsky and the Slavophil movement

Tuesday 19 February 2008, 7.30pm

The Abramstsevo Generation – Serov, Levitan; plus Leon Bakst

Tuesday 26 February 2008, 7.30pm

The Inheritors – Chagall, Gabo, Lissitsky, Ryback, Altman etc

Lectures at University Women’s Club - 2 Audley Square, London, W1K

Price: £15 per lecture / £36 per whole course (the 3 lectures only)

‘From Russia’

Exhibition at the Royal Academy 26 January – 18 April 2008-01-17

The exhibition will present the works of Jewish artists such as Antokolsky, Serov, Levitan, Bakst, Chagall etc indicating the important development in Russia in the mid-19 century. The Slavophil movement in literature, music and painting was inspired by the theme of Russian life and landscape. At the same time it encouraged ethnic minorities to express their own cultures in the arts.

The first Russian-Jewish artist to achieve national fame was Mark Antokolsky (1843-1902) who became a Professor at the St Petersburg Academy. His significance is that not only is he Russia’s first major sculptor, he is also the first important sculptor in Jewish art. Orthodox Judaism forbad the representation of the human form.

Antokolsky’s influence was greater than his actual artistic achievements; he inspired Jewish art movements including the Bezalel School in Jerusalem and the Ben Uri Society in London. Equally importantly, he encouraged younger Russian-Jewish artists to respond to the Slavophil philosophy and to play their parts in national movements. The Bolshevik regime initially continued to encourage minority cultures in literature, music, theatre and the arts. Artists such as Chagall, Lissitski, Gabo etc collaborated with the new regime, but later many of them moved to Paris and became part of the brilliant achievements of Jewish artists in the early years of the 20th century.

Charles Spencer’s fully illustrated lectures will explore and describe this remarkable story.

Charles Spencer is an international art critic and lecturer and recipient of the Anglo-Russian Cultural Exchange. His books include Leon Bakst and the Ballets Russes and The World of Serge Diaghilev.