September 9, 1997. - An Exhibition organized by Christie's with the support of JSC LUKOIL and the Russian Ministry of Culture will take place in the Moscow Kremlin on October 7. It is the first project of the kind in Russia.
"The exhibition breaks new ground for Christie's and would not have been possible without the support of LUKOIL and the help and guidance of the Ministry of Culture," said Anthony Browne, Christie's director for Russia.
The exhibition of twenty modern and Impressionist paintings, to be sold by Christie's in New York on November 10, will be staged within the Krestovaya Patriarchal Chambers of the Moscow Kremlin.
Exhibits will include a study for La Toilette by Pablo Picasso which will be offered at the New York sale at the estimated price of $300,000 to $400,000.
The exhibition continues the long established link between Christie's and Russia. In 1778 James Christie, the firm's founder negotiated the famous Walpole collection of Old Masters to Empress Catherine the Great. Most of these works are still at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.
“It is difficult to overestimate the importance of this Exhibition. It offers to the Russian people a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the pictures which are likely to become soon a part of the private collections. That is why the Oil Company LUKOIL has eagerly responded to the world’s oldest Fine Art Auctioneers Christie’s proposition to hold this exhibition at the Patriarchal Palace of the Moscow Kremlin”, LUKOIL President Vagit Alekperov said.
LUKOIL regards the exhibition in the Moscow Kremlin as a part of its broad program of supporting Russian and world culture and the arts.
LUKOIL is the biggest Russia's vertically-integrated oil company which extracts oil and produces and sells petroleum products, is based on the "well-to-consumer" principle. LUKOIL has the largest proven oil reserves among the world’s private oil companies and has the world's fourth place in terms of production volumes.
Christie's is the world's oldest fine art auctioneer which held its first sale in 1766.
Press Centre OAO "LUKOIL" phone.: (095)927-1677, fax: (095)927-1653, E-mail: pr@lukoil.com
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