ARMENIAN NATIONAL GALLERY REPLENISHED WITH WORKS OF 24 RUSSIAN
PAINTERS

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation headed by Valentina
Matvienko, St Petersburg Governor, that arrived in Yerevan on the
occasion of the Year of Russia in Armenia, donated works of 24 Russian
painters to the Armenian National Gallery. Valentina Matvienko
declared this at the opening of the exhibition of these works on
September 14 at the gallery. Mrs Matvienko expressed hope that these
works will find their deserved place in gallery’s department of
Russian painters. She also mentioned that many Armenian painters got
education at St Petersburg Academy of Art and were fostered by the
traditions of Russian painting.

According to Mrs Matvienko, the first Armenians settled in St
Petersburg already since 1708 (St Petersburg was founded in 1703) and
had an impact on city’s establishment and development with their
practical, scientific and cultural activity.

In the affirmation of Gagik Gyurjian, RA Deputy Minister of Culture
and Youth ASffairs, this visit will become a kind of a bridge
restoring the traditional scientific-cultural and educational
cooperation already formed between the 2 peoples.

“Last I was in Armenia 18 years ago. We arrived at night but it was
pleasant to see that the city was illuminated, of course, it wasn’t so
light as in New York and there is no such need. Yerevan is Yerevan
with its peculiar attraction, its mystery and secrets,” V.Burov,
Chairman of St Petersburg Committee of Culture, mentioned.