April 16 will see the opening of the exhibition Images of Italy in the Zurab Tsereteli Gallery.

      The exhibition is dedicated to one of the most romantic subjects in the history of domestic art – foreign travels of Russian artists and architects.

      The Imperial Academy of Arts from the mid 18th century used to send its best graduates abroad for further education, paying them grants at the expense of Russian treasury.

      The students made sketches, etudes, and copies regularly sending to Petersburg reports about what they saw and receiving further instructions and advice. Staying in Europe could last from three to six years depending on what genre the artist painted in. Skill improvement abroad was completed with painting of their own works, which were then delivered to Russia and got to the Academy’s collection.

      The exhibition runs till May 26.