On November 18, 2025, the Russian House in Brussels hosted the continuation of a series of virtual meetings dedicated to the exhibition “ARS VIVENDI. Frans Snyders and the Flemish Still Life of the 17th Century.” Following the success of the first online tour, the State Hermitage prepared the second part of this fascinating journey into the world of 17th-century Flemish art for the Belgian audience. The program was held in Russian and French.
Guests once again met with Vladislav Statkevich, who presented large-format still lifes and animalistic masterpieces by Frans Snyders, Abraham Breughel, Abraham van Diepenbeeck, and Pieter Boel. Participants learned about the specifics of creating these grand works, their artistic purposes, and their role in shaping the unique Flemish “art of living.”
A special highlight of the evening was a virtual visit to the restoration laboratory of the State Hermitage Museum. Painting restoration experts spoke about the subtleties of preparing enormous canvases for the exhibition, shared details of their work, and demonstrated how complex and meticulous this process is.
As tradition, Mikhail Dedinkin, Head of the Department of Western European Fine Arts at the Hermitage and curator of the exhibition, joined the meeting online. He answered viewers’ questions and shared additional information about the project and its scholarly concept.
The event once again attracted a broad audience and reaffirmed the interest in Flemish art, allowing viewers from different countries to engage with the masterpieces of a world-renowned museum in a convenient online format.
Watch the tour:
