For decades, the Morozov brothers Mikhail and Ivan have been devoting their lives to their shared passion of art collecting. The Morozov Collection is not only their lives’ work but also one of the world’s foremost collections of impressionist and modern art collections to date. Today, the exhibition The Morozov Collection. Icons Of Modern Art is opening at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. Open from the 22nd September to the 22nd February 2022, this is the first time the collection has left its motherland of Russia, since its initial creation at the turn of the millennium. The exhibition is the second in the icons of modern art series, organized by the Fondation Louis Vuitton with the State Hermitage Museum based in St. Petersburg, The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts as well as The State Tretyakov Gallery from Moscow.
Auguste Renoir: "Portrait de Jeanne Samary ou La Reverie", Paris 1877
For the opening of the exhibition, the Fondation Louis Vuitton focuses on what connects us beyond the visual – the music. To inaugurate this new chapter of the Morozov Collection, the Fondation invited the Mariinsky Orchestra of Saint Petersburg, which is under the direction of Valery Gergiev. Additionally, the grand opening on Monday night featured the pianist Yuja Wang as a special guest, who has performed on the world’s greatest stages.
Moreover, the second opening concert on Tuesday was musically supported by the Swedish violinist Daniel Lozakovich and the French pianist Alexandre Kantorow.
Paul Gauguin: "E haere ia oe Ou vas-tu La Femme au fruit", Tahiti 1893
The exhibition is installed across all galleries of the iconic Frank Gehry building and features a carefully curated world of artists including Manet, Rodin, Matisse, and Picasso alongside Russian masters like Serov, Malevich, and Konenkov. Curated by Anne Baldassari, the exhibition unites rare discoveries of bygone moments combined with a unique design, highlighting the timeless nature of the displayed works.
Valentin Serov "Portrait du collectionneur de la peinture moderne russe et francaise Ivan Abramovitch Morozov", Moscou 1910
For the first and only time, the private music room of Ivan Morozov will be presented outside the State Hermitage Museum, as part of a special exhibition in design and installation, which marks the termination of the presentation of the brothers’ collectables. The music room will provide an intimate and rare insight into his private life, consisting of an installation created by Maurice Denis, The Story of Psyche (1908-1909).
Vincent van Gogh: "La Mer aux Saintes-Maries", Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer 1888
In order to take this breathtaking moment in time home, there will be an exclusive 520 pages catalog available, co-published by the Fondation Louis Vuitton and Les Editions Gallimard. The printed catalog is based on the brothers’ extensive yet unpublished archives, texts, and documents that illustrate their unique family history.
Find out more about the exhibition HERE