NGV’s Hermitage exhibition put at risk by Malaysia air disaster

AN exhibition from Russia’s Hermitage Museum, coming to the NGV, was almost derailed by the downing of Malaysia Flight 17.

BRIAN CRISP ST PETERSBERG: The Hermitage museum. Picture: Thinkstock

AN exhibition of masterpieces from Russia’s State Hermitage Museum, coming to the National Gallery of Victoria, came close to being derailed last year after Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over Ukraine with the death of 38 Australians.

The exhibition of artworks from the collection founded by Catherine the Great has been in the pipeline for four years and was being contracted when the air disaster occurred.

As relations between Australia and Russia became increasingly strained in the months leading up to Brisbane’s G20 meeting in November, organisers became concerned the exhibition would have to be abandoned.

They met with the highest levels of government to ensure the exhibition would go ahead, with the Hermitage show seen to complement the NGV’s own Felton Bequest collection of masterpieces.

On account of the political sensitivities and threat of cancellation, the NGV has kept quiet about its biggest annual exhibition, despite Melbourne Winter Masterpieces shows traditionally being announced in the year before they are held.

Art Exhibitions Australia chairman Harold Mitchell yesterday confirmed the exhibition had been specially curated for the Melbourne gallery. “It’s going to be unbelievable, it’s all cleared and ready to go,” he said.

NGV director Tony Ellwood did not confirm the Hermitage exhibition, but said the delayed announcement was due to the November 29 state election.

“With the change of government and just getting the contracts signed, this has taken longer than most of the shows in that series,” he said. “But we’re pitching at an announcement some time this month, we hope. Getting all the partners together is always a bit more complex than it seems, but that should be signed and done in the next three to four weeks.”

More than 200 paintings, pieces of decorative art and drawings amassed by Catherine during her 18th-century reign are intended to be included.