Exhibition «Pages of the History of Russian Statehood. Victor Matorin. Historical Painting» — Events

August 13 — September 27, 2026

The emergence of historical painting as an independent genre in Russian art is linked to the establishment of the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg (1757). At this higher educational institution, the division of painting classes by genre was introduced. The historical genre was recognized as the most important. The period of consolidation of the national state in the 18th century also marked the birth of Russian historical painting. The historicism of thinking can be considered one of the main achievements of Russian culture in the 19th — early 20th centuries. N. K. Roerich played a special role in shaping the genre of Russian historical painting.

The purpose of the solo exhibition by the contemporary artist V. V. Matorin, «Pages of the History of Russian Statehood. Victor Matorin. Historical Painting» is to showcase the dialogue between the artist and the history and culture of the Fatherland, embodied in art. The master's work reflects the events and heroes that laid the foundations of statehood: Dmitry Donskoy, the Battle of Kulikovo, the formation of a unified Russian state with Moscow as its center, the flourishing of Russian culture in the 17th century, the creation of the Russian fleet, and Peter the Great.

The exhibition consists of four sections. The first section presents the artist's place in modern culture: it includes work with museums, exhibitions, and catalogues. The second section is devoted to the Battle of Kulikovo, which took place on September 8, 1380; this fateful event is reflected in the artist's most famous historical paintings. The third section shows the close connection between the master's work and Russian culture: the author celebrates the uniqueness and beauty of the architecture of the royal estates near Moscow — Kolomenskoe and Izmailovo. The fourth section of the exhibition reveals the multifaceted historical image of the Izmailovo estate, which has inspired the artist for more than 15 years to create paintings in various genres — from large-scale historical reconstructions to delicate lyrical landscapes.

Victor Victorovich Matorin is a contemporary Russian painter (born in 1971), who lives and works in Moscow. He graduated from the Penza Art School, and then from the Russian Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture in Moscow (the workshop of the People's Artist of the USSR I. S. Glazunov). His paintings are held in the collections of state museums in Russia.

Currently, V. V. Matorin is an employee of the Moscow State Integrated Museum-Reserve 'Kolomenskoe – Izmailovo', and the head of the museum studio «In the World of Art». He is actively involved in exhibition activities in Moscow and St. Petersburg. His contribution to modern culture has been recognized with diplomas and commendations from such government institutions as the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Library, the Moscow City Duma, the Moscow City Department of Culture, and others.

The exhibition concept was developed by Svetlana Vladimirovna Guseva, Candidate of Historical Sciences, the author of more than 40 scientific articles on the medieval history of Russia, the history of the Russian Orthodox Church, and various aspects of Russian culture from ancient times to the present day. She is the curator of the artist's exhibition activities; joint work on exhibitions, catalogues, and presentations of paintings brings something new to the creative and scientific-educational activities of like-minded individuals.

V. V. Matorin and the St. Petersburg State Museum-Institute of the Roerich Family have a long-standing partnership. In 2022, the artist painted the portrait «N. K. Roerich in St. Petersburg» which is now on display at the museum.

The main theme of most of Victor Matorin's paintings is culture as the guardian of treasures. In this sense, his work embodies the teachings of the outstanding Russian artist, thinker, humanist, and patriot N. K. Roerich.

Dates of the event: August 13 — September 27, 2026.

Venue: Museum-Institute of the Roerich Family, Hall 309

Source:Museum-Institute of the Roerich Family