The importance of Beethoven’s sonatas as of a sort of “creative laboratory” in which the composer developed the fundamentals of his style is generally recognized. It was in this form that Beethoven mastered the dialectical method, moulded his themes and reached unprecedented heights in the development of musical ideas and images. Many of his piano…
The symphonic suite “Scheherazade” written by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov in 1883 is one of the masterpieces of Russian classical music on Oriental themes. The suite is based on the “Arabian Nights”. The composer originally gave subtitles to individual parts of the suite, but later deleted them and left ony the title and the general programme.…
The First Symphony, begun in March of 1866, was done anew by the composers twice. In this new (already third!) editing “Winter Dreams” was soon presented to the Moscow audience. Its premiere was given by the Russian Musical Society on February 3, 1868, under the baton of N. Rubinstein. “…The performance signified Tchaikovsky’s first outstanding…
During the summer of 1788 Wolfgang Mozart composed three symphonies representing the acme of the symphonic work of the great Austrian composer: Symphony No. 39 in E-flat major, Symphony No. 40 in G minor and Symphony No. 41 in C major (“Jupiter”) cf which the G minor symphony with its sincere iyrics passion and ingenuousness…
Mozart’s violin concertos occupy a prominent place among his numerous and diverse violin compositions. They were written in connection with his concert activity as soloist and first violinist in the Salzburg orchestra. The great Austrian composer was not only a clavier virtuoso, but a superb violinist as well. Mozart’s violin concertos belong among his early…
The Requiem Mass is based on the text of a medieval Catholic funeral service. Its messages are the Day of Wrath, the Last Judge’s terrible punishment onto the sinners, their fierce pleading for mercy, the allmighty and relentless God and the merciful Jesus Christ. Neither the religious dogma, nor mysticism prevail in Mozart’s Requiem, which…
The Orthodox Church alone has kept so far the ancient Christian conception that the liturgical music should be only vocal. Way back in the IV c. St. Jerome has said that a Christian maiden should have an aversion for the heathen instruments and that it is not even befitting her to know the difference between…
Juan tie Zurharan. 1598—1664. Spanish school. 1640. Oil on canvas. 48X75 cm
Jacques-Louis David. 1748—1825. French school. 1793(?). Oil on canvas. 61X50 cm
Diego Velazquez. 1599—1660. Spanish school. 1659-60. Oil on canvas. 80X62 5 cm.
20th century. India. Carved wood. Height, 40 cm
1869—1938. China. Renunciation of Vanity. 1924 Hanging scroll
19th century. Tibet. Tempera on textile. 60X44 cm
18th century. Japan. Wood, gold lacquer. Height, 15 cm
19th century. Persia. Metal. Height, 33 cm
19th century. India. Carved mahogany. Height, 94 cm
20th century. India. Carved ivory. Height, 33.5 cm
19th century. China. Rosewood. 115X50 cm (back); 60X51 cm (seat)
16th century. China. Bronze. Height, 55 cm
19th century. China. Bronze. 121X122 cm
Illustration for the Shah-nаmа by Firdausi. 18th century.
Illustration for the Shah-nama by Firdausi. 18th century Persia. Miniature. 20.5X11.5 cm; 31X19.5 cm. (including the frame).
18th century. Persia. Faience. Height, 3 cm. Diameter, 56 cm.
Snuff-box. 18th century. China. Jade. Height, 6.8 cm.
19th century. Tibet. Gilded bronze. 30X10 cm.
18th century. Japan. Carved ivory. Height, 53 cm. Length, 45 cm.
17th century. China. Porcelain painted in cobalt blue. 23.4X85 cm.
18th century. China. Porcelain decorated with painting. Height, 6.5 cm. Diameter, 37.5 cm.
Mori Morikata Sosen. 1747—1821. Japan. 181X57 cm.
Kitagawa Utamaro. 1753—1806. Japan. 1789. Xylograph. 25.5X38.5 cm.
Anonymous artist of the Капо school. 18th or 19th century. Japan. Hanging scroll. 175X100 cm.
After a model by Pablo Picasso (1881 — 1971). France. Porcelain, painted in enamel. Diameter, 25 cm.
Cesare Zocchi. 1851—1922. Italy. Marble. Height, 73 cm
Robert Cauer the Elder. 1831 — 1893. Germany. 1864 Marble. Height, 72 cm.
Pierre-Jules Mene. 1810—1879. France. Sheep and Lamb Bronze. Height, 14 cm.
L. Marchand. Active in the latter part of the 19th century. France. Bronze. Height, 38.5 cm.
Plate. 1806. Vienna, Austria. Porcelain, with polychrome and lustre painting. Diameter, 24.5 cm Mark in underglaze blue: shield.
19th century. After a 1772 model by Wilhelm Christian. Meyer, Berlin, Germany Porcelain decorated with painting. Height, 23.5 cm. Mark in underglaze blue: sceptre.
Tapestry. 18th century. After a cartoon by Jan van Orley Brussels, Flanders. Jan van den Borght’s manufactory Silk, wool. 360X500 cm.
Tapestry. 1720—30. After a cartoon by G. L. Vernan-Sal and J. Dumont. France. The Beauvais Tapestry Factory Wool, silk. 356X552 cm.
Anonymous sculptor active in the 18th century. Italy. Tinted wood. Height, 57 cm.
Anonymous sculptor active in the 18th century, Italy, Tinted wood. Height, 57 cm.
1790. Painted by Georg Lamprecht. Vienna, Austria. Porcelain, painted in grisaille. Heighi, 7.8 cm. Diameter, 6.9 cm (cup); 16.2 cm (saucer)
1770s, Berlin, Germany, Porcelain, with painting in cobalt yellow and purple. 18.6X21.6 cm Mark in underglaze blue: sceptre
1760. Vienna, Austria. Porcelain decorated with painting. Height, 39.5 cm. Diameter, 18.8 cm (vase); 17 cm (lid) Mark in underglaze blue: shield
1770s. Meissen, Germany. Porcelain, with polychrome painting. Height, 5.5 cm; 20X17 cm (oval) Mark in underglaze blue: crossed swords
19th century. Made after a 1785 model by Louis Simon Boizot (1743—1809). Sevres, France Bronze, biscuit. Height, 41.5 cm
Berlin (Wegely’s Porcelain Factory, 1752—57), Germany Porcelain. Height, 10 cm.
Latter part of the 18th century. Made after a model by Wilhelm. Christian Meyer. Berlin, Germany Porcelain, with polychrome painting. Height, 20.5 cm.
Late 18th century. Meissen, Germany. Porcelain, with polychrome painting. Height, 5 cm. Diameter, 8 cm. Mark in underglaze blue: crossed swords.
1800. Vienna, Austria. Porcelain, with polychrome painting. Height, 5.8 cm. Diameter, 6 cm
Vienna, Austria. Porcelain, with polychrome painting. Height, 24.5 cm. Diameter, 8.1 cm.
Late I8th century. Berlin, Germany. Porcelain, with polychrome painting. Height, 11 cm. Diameter, 7.5 cm (cup); 14 cm (saucer) Mark in underglaze blue: sceptre.
1770s. Meissen, Germany. Porcelain, with polychrome painting. Height, 17.5 cm. Diameter, 6 cm Mark in underglaze blue: crossed swords Garland of flowers shaped as a monogram: И ВТ.
Edme Bouchardon. 1698—1762. France. Bronze. Height, 64 cm
Antoine Coysevox. 1640—1720. France. Bronze. Height, 62 cm. Cast from the model of a sculpture adorning the Tuileries gate (Paris).
17th century. Germany. Wood, ivory, mother-of-pearl. 140X145X48 cm
17th century. Germany. Wood, ivory, mother-of-pearl. 123X48X39.5 cm.
Decorative plate. Early 17th century. Italy. Maiolica. Diameter, 31.5 cm