Fine Art in Art Palace

By Art Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Art Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

The exhibit represents sketches of stage decorations, graphic compositions, Persian miniatures, French and German engravings, color lithographs and other precious exhibits preserved in the Art Palace of Georgia.

Hall of Columns of the Art Palace (1895/1905) by Raphael ArzumanovArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Around 10,000 exhibits of over 300 Georgian and roreign artists reveal to us the evolution of Georgian scenic design. The museum's depository of Fine Arts contains portraits of theatre actors and directors, sketches of stage decorations and costumes, graphic compositions, Persian miniatures, French and German engravings, and color lithographs.

Piligrims from Samarkand' by Gigo Gabashvili (1891/1894) by Gigo GabashviliArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

GIORGI "Gigo" GABASHVILI 

The late 19th century painting 'The Bazaar in Samarkand' belongs to one of the earliest Georgian representatives of the Realist School - Gigo Gabashvili, who was a prominent Georgian painter and educator. His work is known for covering a wide range of subjects, landscapes and scenes of everyday life through an orientalist lens. Gabashvili was educated at the Imperial Academy of Arts (1886–1888) and the Munich Academy of Fine Arts (1894–1897).

Returning to his homeland, he made a debut as the first artist to have been honored with a personal exhibition in Tbilisi. Gabashvili was one of the founding professors of the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts (1922) and was granted the title of the People's Artist of the Georgian SSR (1929).

He remained a staunch realist and made known his opposition to left-wing art.

Decoration sketch for the play 'Romeo and Juliet' by Wiliam Shakespeare (1949) by Joseb SumbatashviliArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

JOSEB SUMBATASHVILI

The author of the presented sketch is an indivisible part of the Georgian theatre and Movie Art who greatly contributed to the development of the Georgian National Cinematography and stage decoration. Joseb Sumbatashvili spent almost his entire life abroad, though, he was an active Georgian painter until the very end of his days.  

Decoration sketch for the play "Hearth of Kharatishvili Family" (1949) by Joseb SumbatashviliArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

“Each drawing by Joseb Sumbatashvili is unique. We can compare it with the reincarnation of a great actor who can be a tragedian one day and a comedian the next”. – theatre historian O. Eisenstadt

Decoration sketch for the movie 'Tsiskara' (1954) by Joseb SumbatashviliArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Decoration sketch for the play "Hearth of Kharatishvili Family" (1949) by Joseb SumbatashviliArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Decoration sketch for the play "The daughter of Zhamtaberi" (1944) by Joseb SumbatashviliArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Decoration sketch for the play 'Romeo and Juliet' by Wiliam Shakespeare (1949) by Joseb SumbatashviliArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Decoration sketch for the opera 'Tariel's Tale' (1945) by Sergo KobuladzeArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

SERGO KOBULADZE

An outstanding painter, graphic artist, theatre painter and book designer, one of the important representatives of the first generation of Tbilisi Academy of Arts graduates who developed a new style of Georgian art. Fascinated with the Italian art of the Renaissance period Kobuladze worked at the Z.Paliashvili Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, Rustaveli Theatre, Marjanishvili Theatre and collaborated with the Moscow Theatre. In the 1950s his works were sent to the Venice and London exhibitions. He painted the curtain of Georgian Opera and Ballet Theatre, later destroyed in a fire.

Sketch for the play 'The Story of Tariel' by Sergo Kobuladze (1945) by Sergo KobuladzeArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Kobuladze's teachers were E. Lanceray and I. Charlemagne.

Decoration sketch for the play 'King Lear' (1948) by Sergo KobuladzeArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Over the years Sergo Kobuladze began to analyze the principles of construction of ancient and Georgian architectural monuments, he led a graphic studio on in the Tbilisi Academy of Arts.

Sketch of the Opera House Curtain (1960) by Sergo KobuladzeArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Illustration. An oriental legend, 'The Wisdome of Balavari' (1948) by Sergo KobuladzeArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Decoration sketch for the opera 'Tariel's Tale' (1945) by Sergo KobuladzeArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Decoration sketc for the unrealised opera 'Lullaby' (1935/1955) by Ivane AskuravaArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

IVANE ASKURAVA

A prominent Georgian theater painter Ivane Askurava worked at the Georgian National Opera and Ballet Theater of Tbilisi as a chief production designer for more than 50 years. During his fruitful work, the artist worked on more than two hundred operas and ballets, movies and TV programs and managed to create a rich legacy of depictions.

Decoration sketch for the play 'Marine' (1954) by Ivane AskuravaArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

It is noteable that the artist also created designs for various national costumes.

Decoration sketch for the play 'Latavra' (1950) by Ivane AskuravaArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Decoration sketch for the play 'Chkhikvta Kortsili' (Wedding of Jays) (1954) by Ivane AskuravaArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Sketch for the play 'Commander of the Station' by David Kakabadze (1947) by David KakabadzeArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

DAVID KAKABADZE

Georgian avant-garde painter, graphic artist and scenic designer David Kakabadze, also was an art scholar and innovator in the field of cinematography as well as an amateur photographer. In 1916, he graduated from natural sciences at the St. Petersburg University. From 1919 to 1927, he lived in Paris where he published several books and partook in the “Société des Artistes Indépendants” exhibitions. He paid generous tribute to cubism. The artist lectured on various aspects of visual arts in Paris and developing his interest in kinetic form, in 1923 he constructed a film camera that produced an illusion of depth and thus became one of the pioneers of three-dimensional cinema.

The artist lectured on various aspects of visual arts in Paris and developing his interest in kinetic form, in 1923 he constructed a film camera that produced an illusion of depth and thus became one of the pioneers of three-dimensional cinema.

Sketch for the play 'Three Conceits' by Elene Akhvlediani (1931) by Elene AkhvledianiArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

ELENE AKHVLEDIANI

Sketch for the play 'Three Conceits' belongs to one of the significant representatives of the Georgian modernist art, painter, graphic artistand book illustrator - Elene Akhvlediani. In 1922, the artist studied painting in Italy. In 1924, she settled in Paris and participated in various exhibitions in France, United States, and Holland. 

Decoration sketch for the play 'Solar Eclipse in Georgia' (1932) by Elene AkhvledianiArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Her paintings are preserved in the State Museums of Georgia, Russia, France as well as in private collections.

Sketch for 'Malshtrem' by Kiril Zdanevich (1924) by Kiril ZdanevichArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

KIRILL ZDANEVICH

For Georgian State Museum of Theater, Music, Cinema and Choreography, Kirill Zdanevich’s works are special as the Polish originated painter is considered to be one of the founders of Georgia-Russian Cubism-Futurism in Georgia. The presented sketch was created for Georgian prominent writer Grigol Robakidze’s play “Malshtrem”. Which expresses painter’s passion to discover and master different ways of working process. His spheres of interest in Art were Academicism, Futurism, Cezannism, Impressionism, Primitivism.

Decoration Sketch for the play 'The Masses Man' by Irakli Gamrekeli (1923) by Irakli GamrekeliArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

The decoration sketch for the play 'The Masses Man" was created by Georgian cinema and theatre painter Irakli Gamrekeli. From 1921, collaborating with two great producers-reformers of Georgian theatre, K. Marjanishvili and S. Akhmeteli. Gamrekeli actively participated in the artistic life of Tbilisi and was fascinated with avant-garde tendencies.

Decoration sketch for the play 'Patara Kakhi' (Little Kakhi) (1943) by Irakli GamrekeliArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Decoration sketch for the play 'Patara Kakhi' (Little Kakhi) (1943) by Irakli GamrekeliArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Gamrekeli illustrated a Georgian futurist writers’ journal 'H2 SO4'. The artist's works significantly determined the main artistic tendencies of one of the leading Georgian theatre Rustaveli.

Decoration sketch for the play 'Patara Kakhi' (Little Kakhi) (1943) by Irakli GamrekeliArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

In different years, he collaborated with Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev and Baku Theatres.

The Execution of Berika by Lado Gudiashvili (1938) by Lado GudiashviliArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

LADO GUDIASHVILI

The painter of the dinamic scene of Georgian improvised masquerade folk theatre is Lado Gudiashvili (1896-1980) – one of the important representatives of the 20th-century Georgian Art. He was a graphic artist, theatre and movie painter, illustrator who lived and studied in Paris. Gudiashvili participated in exhibitions including the Salon d’Automne and Les Independants. His works were exhibited in Belgium, United States, Madrid, Paris, etc. 

Gudiashvili was a friend of A. Modigliani, H. Matisse, F. Leger and others.

In 1946, he painted the walls of the Georgian church in capital city -Tbilisi, which entailed his exclusion from the Communist Party and dismissal from the Tbilisi Academy of Arts.

Gudiashvili created his own rich world of artistic images.

The Khan Thrown in the River' Kura by Lado Gudashvili (1938) by Lado GudiashviliArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

The depiction reveals a scene of ancient Georgian theatre performance - 'Khanate'. The whole play needed a lot of preparation. It included several ceremonies.

Dressing of the Khan, the raiding of towns, a court, a fight between a king and a khan and the throwing of the defeated Khan into the river. The latter act is reflected in this picture by Lado Gudiashvili.

The khan's clothing is quite strange, with some wearing the full-dress coat of a drunken captain. The Khan painted by Gudiashvili wears such a costume. The wooden sword is also a notable point and on the top of it, there should have been an apple, which was a very important detail in the show.

In this picture, the King is sitting on a camel, holding a sword and giving the order to throw the defeated Khan into the river Kura.

Decoration sketch for Davit Eristavi play 'Homeland' (1942) by Simon (Soliko) VirsaladzeArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

SIMON (Soliko) VIRSALADZE

Simon (Soliko) Virsaladze (1909-1989) was a Georgian and one of the Soviet Union's leading designers of ballet, film and opera. Although he went on to design for plays, operas, and films it is as a ballet designer that he made his name. He was chief designer for the Z. Paliashvili Theatre for Opera and Ballet in Tbilisi and also, chief designer of the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow from 1964 until his death. 

Decoration sketch for the movie 'Sea Toilers' (1985) by Dimitri TakaishviliArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

DIMITRI TAKAISHVILI

Dimitri Takaishvili was a prominent Georgian film designer. With a distinguished style of painting he designed more than twenty factual movies. The following two sketches were created for the movie ‘Sea Toilers’ shot according the Victor Hugo’s novel ‘Les Travailleurs de la Mer’.

Decoration sketch for the movie 'Sea Toilers' (1985) by Dimitri TakaishviliArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Portrait of Kote Marjanishvili by Ketevan Magalashvili (1954) by Ketevan MagalashviliArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

KETEVAN MAGALASHVILI

The next two portraits of prominent Georgian director Kote Marjanishvili and famous Georgian actor Sergo Zakariadze belong to Ketevan Magalashvili (1894-19730) - a famous Georgian painter and portraitist who studied in Moscow during 1914-1917 and in Paris from 1923 in the Academy of Kolaros. Among different valuable works by Ketevan Magalashvili, the two portraits are especially valuable.

Portrait of Sergo Zakariadze by Ketevan Magalashvili (1951) by Ketevan MagalashviliArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Portrait of George Avalishili (1975) by Ucha JaparidzeArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

UCHA JAPARIDZE

Rector of the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts from 1942 to 1948, Ucha Japaridze was one of the most important figures in the development of 20th-century Georgian visual arts. He enjoyed creating detailed portraits and is responsible for producing a series of portraits of prominent persons and public figures

Portrait of Vano Sarajishvili (1949) by Ucha JaparidzeArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Portrait of Agraphina Japharidze (2014) by A. AntanosArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

FACES OF THE PALACE

Portrait of a Woman (1800/1900) by unknownArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Portrait of Anna Bagrationi by unknownArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Portrait of King Erekle (2014) by A. AntanosArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

The Portrait of General (1948) by unknownArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Niko Dadiani on his Horse (1877/1934) by Mari EttlingerArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Portrait of Gabriel Tamamshev (19-20 centuries) by UnknownArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Portrait of Mako (Mariam) Sapharova-Abashidze, as character of Ophelia. Painted by Aleksander Beridze (1883) by Aleksander BeridzeArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

SHAKESPEARE IN GEORGIAN ART

Shakespeare’s tragedies have been actively played on many a Georgian stage. The love of Shakespeare is also reflected in Georgian Art. Georgian founder of realism, Alexander Beridze (1858-1917), “was so fascinated with Mari Sapharova as the character Ophelia that he by rote colorfully painted her picture in the role."

Portrait of William Shakespear by Vasil Balanchivadze (1887/1890) by Vasil BalanchivadzeArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

This canvas, created in 1883, can be considered as the first illustration of Shakespeare's work in Georgia. At the same time, artist and actor Vasily Balanchivadze (1870-1950) created William Shakespeare's first Georgian portrait with a 19th century engraving and with his own interpretations. The work is distinguished for its exceptional originality, look and colour palette.

Costumes Sketch for the William Shakespear play 'Romeo and Juliet' (1932) by Simon (Soliko) VirsaladzeArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Shakespeare’s works ‘Othello’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’ were redesigned by famous Georgian theatre painter Soliko Virsaladze (1908-1989) who tried to depict not the era in the documentary, but to transfer the reflected character of Shakespeare’s tragedies through the costumes and sketches.

Costumes Sketch for the William Shakespear play 'As you like it' (1978) by Medea BakradzeArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

The sketch was drawn for the play ‘As you Like It’ by the contemporary artist Medea Bakradze.

Landscape by Josef Thoma (1865) by Josef ThomaArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

BESIDES GEORGIA

Besides great Georgian artists, Art Palace also preserves works of Russian, Armenian, Azeri, and other important foreign creators.

Praying in Gethsemane (1850/1900) by unknownArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

A Girl with a Dog (1800/1850) by unknownArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Jealous Wife (1610/1690) by unknownArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Still Life by Michelangelo Meucci (1890) by Michelangelo MeucciArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Depiction of Nikipore Kulesh. (1902/1920) by Nikipore KuleshArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Depiction of Nikipore Kulesh. (1902/1920) by Nikipore KuleshArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Lake Koknese' (1850/1900) by Unknown painterArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Landscape of a Lake Bank (1862/1942) by Mikhail NesterovArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Near the Lake (1800/1840) by unknownArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Naples (1850/1890) by unknownArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Houses Near Bay (1882) by Gustav SchönleberArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Sea Landscape (1840/1860) by unknownArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Old Stambol (1883) by O.I.Art Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Samarkand (1866/1939) by Richard ZommerArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

A House with Tbilisi in the Background (2015) by A. AntanosArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Copy of Mikhail Lermontov's depiction 'Tbilisi View' (1900/1950) by unknownArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

King Solomon and his Court (late 19 century) by UnknownArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

'KING SOLOMON AND HIS COURT'

The original painting dated by late 18th century, is created in papier-mâché and oil in the territory of Iran. Just like in Jewish and Christian traditions, Islam promotes the ancient king Solomon as a model ruler, wise and just. This painting celebrates one element of the considerable lore about Solomon that developed outside of Orthodox scriptural accounts: the belief that Solomon’s influence was so great that he was able to rule the kingdoms of animals and angels. Images of Solomon’s court populated by all manner of creatures, celestial beings, and even demons, were very popular in the court of the Ottoman rulers of Turkey.

Qajar Miniature (1800/1850) by unknownArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Qajar Miniature (1800/1850)Art Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Qajar Miniature (1800/1850) by unknownArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Qajar Miniature (1800/1850) by unknownArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Costume Sketch for the Play 'The Bourgeois Gentleman' by Alexandre Benois (1922) by Alexandre BenoisArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SILVER AGE

Within the Russian artists, in the Art Palace, there are representatives of the Russian Silver Age (founded in the early 20th century in St. Petersburg): Konstantin Korovin, Lev Bakst, Alexander Benua, Alexander Golovin, and Viktor Simov.

Costume Sketch for 'Cleopatra' by Lev Bakst (1909) by Lev BakstArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Costume Sketch for the play 'The Death of Gods' by Alexandre Benois (1902/1903) by Alexandre BenoisArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Costume Sketch for the Opera 'Talisman' (1908) by Alekander ShervashidzeArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Costume Sketch for Opera 'Tristan and Isolde' by Aleksander Shervashidze (1909) by Alekander ShervashidzeArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Costume Sketch for Opera 'Tristan and Isolde' by Aleksander Shervashidze (1909) by Alekander ShervashidzeArt Palace of Georgia - Museum of Cultural History

Credits: Story

Georgian State Museum of Theatre, Music, Cinema and Choreography - Art Palace


George Kalandia
Mary Kharaishvili
Irakli Zambakhidze
Anna Bakuridze
Irina Moistsrapishvili

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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