Hermitage to reconsider its exhibition activity abroad

Russia’s Hermitage will revise all agreements with other countries concerning exhibiting its treasures in case they do not stipulate that works of art cannot be arrested because of third persons’ economic risks. Hermitage Director Mikhail Piotrovsky made the statement on Wednesday in connection with the arrest of Russia’s Pushkin Museum paintings in Switzerland.

Mikhail Piotrovsky said in an interview to the NTV-St.Petersburg television that the Hermitage will take back its exhibits from Zurich and will not bring Matisse paintings to Baden as it was agreed before in case the conflict in Switzerland were not settled. What is more, the Hermitage director adds that under such conditions the museum hesitates to organize an archeological exhibition of Hermitage exhibits in Switzerland.

Interfax learnt at the Hermitage press-service that as of today there are 7 exhibits of the museum - four bronze sculptures, two drawings and one altar decoration - at the Dalai Lama exhibition in Zurich.

It is reported that there were no Hermitage paintings by French artists among exhibits of Russia’s Pushkin Museum arrested in Switzerland in connection with the court examination with Switzerland’s Noga. I.L.