A.G.Leventis Gallery in Nicosia

19 сент. 2017 г.
3 мин. чтения

Meanwhile, I enjoy spending time in the capital of Cyprus Nicosia #λευκοσια (Greek.). Despite the fact that this is the capital, the cities around the coast (Limassol, Paphos) I liked more, but the museums of Nicosia were more to their liking. In truth, I was even pleasantly surprised. Today I was lucky to visit #LeventisGallery. Named after the founder of A.G. Leventis (1902 - 1978), she housed the richest collection of Western European and Asian art on the whole island.

Christoforos Savva (1924-1968)

Bathers of Kyrenia, 1957

Oil on canvas

А.G. Leventis was a Cypriot businessman who founded a major merchandise trading firm, A.G. Leventis (Nigeria) Plc, in West Africa. After his death in 1978, the A.G. Leventis Foundation was established in 1979. It has a primary focus on the cultural heritage of Cyprus and Greece, especially reflected in its collections of Cypriot antiquities displayed in several museums around the world, its restoration of cultural monuments, and its sponsorship of scholarships for postgraduate work in several fields including archeology and agriculture. The foundation also sponsors work in the areas of environmental protection and medical research.

In 1987 the A.G. Leventis Gallery was opened in the British Museum, to display Cypriot antiquities from the early Bronze Age to the Roman era. In 1997, a similar display was opened at the Fitzwilliam Museum, and in 2000 another at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

In 2008 the A.G. Leventis Foundation endowed a new chair at Cambridge University in Greek culture—the A. G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture.

A.G. Leventis Gallery is located in the city center, the permanent exposition of which occupies three huge floors. On the perimeter in the exterior on each floor are planted trees of giant dimensions, which create a cosiness and a sense of a small garden for visitors. On the first floor there is a painting of Cypriot artists of the first half of the 20th century, expressed by national motives and the struggle for independence against Turkey.

If you want to climb on foot instead of the elevator (and there is one), then at the entrance to each floor along the walls are mounted in the walls of the showcases for porcelain #Meissen. As a rule, porcelain is represented by compositions with exotic animals, pastoral and flirty scenes, carnival images and caskets with vases. Sometimes, there are dishes of other manufactories.

Entrance to the 2nd floor

View from the stairs

On the second floor, the space of huge halls is divided into showcases with dishes, sculpture of Ancient China. The exposition of the gallery is built according to a chronological principle, accompanied by visitors, it opens antique furniture, mirrors and interior items with paintings.

Parisian collection of A.G. Leventis on the 2nd floor

Sometimes in the exhibition harmoniously coexist and painting "vanitas" of the 17th century, and eastern ceramics of the 6th century with porcelain. Madly liked the halls of the museum: spacious, fresh, cozy, ideally maintained temperature regime, very helpful staff and perfect cleanliness.

Parisian collection of A.G. Leventis on the 2nd floor

Furniture of 17th and 18th centuries

For the first time in European museums I saw the following practice, which struck me. Painting Guards: small in size landscapes in medallions, placed on translucent stands. Being at an angle, for the convenience of the viewer, it is possible to inspect from all sides, including the negotiable one.

Francesco Guardi (1712-1723)

Three landscapes

Francesco Guardi (1712-1723)

Three landscapes

On the reverse

In the Impressionist and Post-Impressionists Hall: Camille Corot, Eugene Boudin, Alfred Sisley, Renoir, Claude Monet and Pierre Bonnard. What else can you add? The Hall of Impressionists and their followers was so impressive that I, being fascinated, spent an hour and a half there. Many other amazing artists, about viewing which one could only dream of in lectures.

In the collection of the museum there is also a painting of Marc Chagall, El Greco, Peter Paul Rubens, Canaletto, Francesco Guardi and many others.

Marc Chagall

Engaged Couple with Bouquet

Oil on canvas

Marc Chagall

Engaged Couple with Bouquet, Fragment

Oil on canvas

El Greco

St. Francis in Ecstasy

Oil on canvas

Giovanni Antonio Canal, il Canaletto

The Piazzetta, Venice, with the Campanile under repair, 1746-1755

Oil on Canvas

Museum's ticket, museum's postcards and Cypriot tourist maps

Address: 5, A. G. Leventis (ex Leonidou) str.,1097 Nicosia, Cyprus P.O. Box: 22543 Tel.: +357 22668838 Email: info@leventisgallery.org

Museum's Website: http://www.leventisgallery.org/home

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