At the end of 2020, in the Arkhangelskoye Museum-Estate, in the presence of journalists, two prominent works of Western European art were handed over for restoration with the sponsorship of the Knauf group: the paintings of the Florentine artist Vincenzo Mannozzi (1600-1658) "Ariadne", previously attributed to the Bologna artist Elisabeth Siranne (1638 - 1655), and paintings by the German artist Friedrich Barisien (1724 - 1796) - "Portrait of the Duke of Courland Peter Biron" (1774) from the collection of family portraits of the princes Yusupov.
Marina Krasnobaeva, the curator of paintings and graphics of the Arkhangelskoye Museum-Estate, told reporters about the controversial and entertaining history of these paintings during a press tour.
The collection of paintings of the Arkhangelskoye Museum-Estate is quite extensive; a significant part of it is made up of Italian artists. Owner Arkhangelsk N. B. Yusupov (1751 - 1831) was fond of collecting artists of the Italian, especially the Bologna school and acquired two canvases by Elisabetta Sirani - "Ariadne" and a self-portrait of the artist. "Ariadne" was exhibited among the paintings of the Gallery, located in the western wing near the Big House in Arkhangelskoye. It was in the collection of the museum all the time, but after 1917 it was kept in storerooms and was retrieved only a few years ago, when it became necessary to organize an exposition with a large-format central painting in the "Cabinet" of the estate. Why the painting was sent for restoration, when doubts arose about its authorship.
Initially, it was believed that the author of the painting "Ariadne" was the Bolognese artist Elisabetta Sirani. Apparently, Yusupov also thought so. However, after the beginning of the restoration and research of the painting using modern technologies, it was suggested that in fact it is the original work of the Florentine artist Vincenzo Mannozzi, a copy of which is in the Uffizi Gallery.
Since 2018, a whole team of specialists has been working on the restoration of the painting in order to bring it to the exhibition state, headed by the head of the oil painting restoration department of the MNRHU JSC, Yulia Savtsova, who told reporters in detail about the course of restoration work, assumptions about the true authorship of the painting that arose among the restorers and alleged evidence of its belonging to Vincenzo Mannozzi.
Initially, the scope of work on the restoration of the painting, supposed by the terms of reference, turned out to be much more than the planned estimate, and the restoration had to be postponed for some time.
Now the restoration of this masterpiece can be completed thanks to the support of Knauf. This was agreed during the meeting between the managing director of the KNAUF Eastern Europe and the CIS group Janis Kralis and the director of the Arkhangelskoye Museum-Estate Vadim Zadorozhny. Knauf is involved in various cultural projects in the cities where it works, so the idea was supported and additional funds were allocated to complete the restoration of the canvas, which is so important for the Museum's exposition. It is planned that the restoration will last about a year, after which the canvas will be exhibited in one of the premises of the Grand Palace.
At the same time, one more painting was “lucky” - the allocated funds will be enough for the restoration of the portrait of the Duke of Courland, Peter Biron, by Friedrich Barisien, whose canvases, in general, are not so many. This work is the earliest surviving depiction of Peter Biron, son of the famous regent Ernest Johann Biron and husband of E. B. Yusupova (1747 -1780), sister of N. B. Yusupov, the famous Catherine's grandee. According to some sources, the portrait was sent to the bride, according to others, Biron took it with him, going to St. Petersburg.
Upon completion of the restoration, the painting is planned to be placed in a special exhibition related to the history of the Yusupov family, because such paintings have not only artistic but also historical value.
“We decided to support the restoration of paintings, since corporate social responsibility is an integral part of our business activities in Russia”, - comments on the company's participation in the project, the managing director of the KNAUF Eastern Europe and CIS group Janis Kraulis, “Knauf as a family company considers it its duty preserving the heritage of mankind and always remember what exactly we will leave to our descendants - be it strong reliable buildings or objects of art."
Currently, visiting the Arkhangelskoye Museum-Estate is temporarily suspended, only the park of the estate is open for visiting. The advisor to the director of the museum Alexandra Mejericher led a tour of the park of the Museum-Estate for the press and told about the history of the Museum, which dates back more than 100 years.
The Knauf Group is an international company that has been carrying out investment activities in Russia and the CIS countries since 1993. Today the KNAUF group is one of the world's largest manufacturers of building finishing materials.
