ART RUSSE READY TO ACQUIRE U.S. MONUMENTS TO THEODORE ROOSEVELT AND ALEXANDER BARANOV
30 Jun 20
The Art Russe Foundation led by Russian entrepreneur Andrei Filatov have expressed interest in acquiring a monument to the 26th US President Theodore Roosevelt and a monument to Alexander Baranov, the Governor of Russian settlements in North America in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, intended for demolition in the United States. Corresponding letters have been sent today to the authorities of New York City and Sitka, AK, by Art Russe Director Rena Lavery.
The letter addressed to the New York City authorities points out that “Mr. Roosevelt was an important figure connected to Russia at different points in the history of the two countries." Given the historical and artistic significance of the statue erected in front of the American Museum of Natural History, it’s protection and preservation for future generations is "critically important."
The monument to Alexander Baranov in Sitka, AK, “represents a significant period in the history of relations between Russia and the United States at the beginning of the 19th century”. Accordingly, the letter to the Sitka City Hall informs the authorities of interest of the Art Russe Foundation to acquire and preserve the monument as an important part of the historical heritage of Russia.
Art Russe Founder Andrei Filatov:
“For me, first and foremost, this is above about preservation of the memory of statesmen who influenced the history of Russia, the development of its economy and statehood. Alexander Baranov was not just the governor of Russian settlements in North America. An incredibly gifted and energetic entrepreneur, he was involved in establishing Russia’s new trade ties with China and the United States. His role in the nation’s trade and economic development was enormous. As for Theodore Roosevelt, we should be grateful to him for supporting Russia in a difficult, losing war with Japan. It was the United States, under the presidency of Roosevelt, that mediated the 1905 peace talks, and the Portsmouth Peace Treaty signed in the United States had been concluded on conditions so favourable to Russia that Witte was received back home as the winner."
The Art Russe Foundation believes that both monuments are of great historical significance and should therefore be preserved for future generations.
About Art Russe
Art Russe was established by entrepreneur Andrei Filatov in 2012 to implement educational projects aiming to support and raise awareness of 20th-centurry Russian art. The collection of the Foundation includes master artworks in a variety of genres, dating to the period 1917-1991. The Foundation aims to raise awareness of international audiences about Russian art of that period by supporting exhibition projects, as well as through art loans to Russian and foreign museums and galleries. An important area of activities of the Foundation is publication of artist monographs and catalogs as part of an independent publishing project.
