On the occasion of Sergei Shchukin’s birthday

Language: Russian / French

On June 23, the Russian House in Brussels invites you to a new event of the “Evening Hermitage” series— an online journey into the world of French art dedicated to Sergei Shchukin and the work of Henri Matisse.

Located on the 4th floor of the General Staff Building of the Hermitage Museum is the renowned exhibition of French painting from the mid-19th to the early 20th century, part of the gallery dedicated to the memory of collectors Sergei Shchukin and the Morozov brothers. Thanks to their remarkable taste and bold vision, the Hermitage today possesses one of the world’s finest collections of French art — from Impressionism to the avant-garde of the early 20th century.

Sergei Shchukin, born into an Old Believer merchant family and a successful textile entrepreneur, began acquiring Impressionist works at a time when this art was still controversial and largely unrecognized by European collectors. Shchukin was among the first to perceive the revolutionary power and future significance of these extraordinary paintings.

A special place in his collection was devoted to Henri Matisse. After seeing the famous painting The Joy of Life in Paris, the Russian collector wished to meet the artist personally. Their encounter marked not only the beginning of a collector-artist collaboration, but also a genuine friendship between Shchukin and Matisse. Thanks to this relationship, Moscow became home to what was perhaps the finest collection of Matisse’s works of its time.

During this new online tour, you will discover legendary masterpieces such as Dance, Music, The Red Room, Portrait of the Matisse Family, and other iconic works that became symbols of 20th-century art.