The Russian Academy Of Arts

Zurab Tsereteli has become a winner of the first prize “Golden Bridge” awarded to distinguished figures in recognition of the significant role in fostering and strengthening bilateral relations between the Italian Republic and the Russian Federation.

In his letter to Zurab Tsereteli the Italian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Vittorio Surdo noted: “This Prize has got encouragement from the President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano. The Prize has been awarded to you for your major contribution to promoting relations between Italy and Russia”.

The Russian Academy of Arts maintains close ties with the Italian Academies of Fine Arts. Works by many Italian artists have been on display in the exhibition halls of the Russian Academy of Arts. Among the Honorary Members of the Russian Academy of Arts are Tonino Guerra, Vincenzo Giubba, Arnaldo Pomodoro, Harry Rosental.  The artists of the Russian Academy of Arts take an active part in international exhibition projects in Italy, including Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art.

Zurab Tsereteli has paid tribute to our great compatriots who lived and worked in Italy. In the park of  Villa Borghese  stands his monument to the Russian writer Nikolai Gogol donated by the Russian Government to the City of Rome.   In Rome and Marciano there are memorial plaques on the houses where Alexander Ivanov began work on his famous monumental canvas “Appearance of Christ to the People” and Karl Bryullov executed many of his masterpieces.

In 2003, the monument to St. Nicholas the Wonder Worker  by Zurab Tsereteli found its home in Bari on the foreground of the Basilica of St. Nicholas the Wonder Worker  where the relics of the saint  remain.

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