Artists’ heightened perception of the surrounding world gives rise within their soul to feelings and emotions that the great Goethe termed “rare impressions”. The inexhaustible source of these impressions is nature, fickle and peculiar in its manifestations.

This exhibition invites viewers on a fascinating journey to a world of “nature reimagined”, guided by artists from various times and genres. Together with works by Arkhip Kuindzhi, Alexei Sarvasov, Fyodor Vasilyev, Ivan Aivazovsky, and other masters of landscape art, visitors to the exhibition will see lesser-known artistic images that convey the astonishing emotional impact of natural phenomena.

There are not very many people who have never stood in awe gazing at the fanciful shapes made by the clouds in the blue sky. And undoubtedly many people still have unforgettable impressions of booming peals of thunder and frighteningly dark, leaden storm clouds. How many moments of joy have each of us experienced upon suddenly seeing the colourful celebration of a rainbow appear in the sky after the rain? It is hard to forget the poetic magic of sunrises and sunsets, and impossible to ignore the stunning effects of light and shadow that accompany a bright, sunny day or moonlit night.

One can learn the “art of seeing”, but only a few chosen individuals are capable of mastering the art of creating images that reflect the poetry of nature. Some of the best examples of this type of landscape are the “classic” works Calm Sea by Rufin Sudkovsky, Quiet by Nikolai Dubovskoi, Rainbow and Moonlit Night on the Dnieper by Arkhip Kuindzhi, Twilight. The Moon by Isaac Levitan, and others. Lovers of Russian fine art will also be delighted to discover paintings by less famous artists from the Russian Museum’s collection, demonstrating the variety of ways such themes can be addressed. The numerous paintings in the exhibition (more than 100) will be displayed beside works of sculpture, decorative and applied art, and folk art that also take the theme of nature for their subject.

All of the artists whose works are shown at the exhibition are united by a sincere desire to relate the beauty of nature’s majestic power. It is well known that Russian artists had a fondness for painting Italian landscapes, yet the main source of their inspiration was always the natural landscape of their home. It is this, Russian nature, that Dmitry Likhachyov has called “the eternal masquerade ball, eternal celebration of colour and line, eternal movement within the year and within the day”.

The Russian Museum is very grateful to VTB Bank, PJSC, for its assistance in making this project a reality.