April 16 will see the opening of the Tretyakov Gallery exhibition displaying over 50 icons and other rarities of the 15th – 19th centuries from collection of the Serpukhov Historical and Art Museum.

      Within 95 years of its existence the museum has accumulated an extensive collection of the Russian and West European art. One of the most important parts of it is the Old Russian art fund comprising over 1000 works. Most of them were brought to the museum from local monasteries and churches, as well as from rich collections of Old Believers’ icons and relics of the well-known Serpukhov factory owner A.V.Marayeva.

      The Novgorod icon St. Niche the Wonderworker of the late 15th century is exhibited for the first time after restoration. Among unique works there is a Loose-Leaf Book (about 1576) and a communion-table Gospel (mid 17th century) from Vysotsky Monastery in Serpukhov; the Panhagia icon (Moscow, the second half of the 15th century) from the Episcopal Monastery; 11 portraits of “the Pomor fathers” or “Old Believers’ figures” painted in tempera on paper with filigree in 1813. The exhibition will run till July 28.