MEDIA CENTRE

ART RUSSE PARTNERS WITH BORDEAUX’S CHATEAU LA GRACE DIEU DES PRIEURS

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Art Russe announces a new partnership with Château La Grace Dieu Des Prieurs, a French winemaker situated in Saint-Emilion, part of the Bordeaux winemaking region. The reproductions of 19th and 20th century Russian paintings from Art Russe’s collection will appear on the château’s labels as part of the relaunch of its grand cru wines.

Art Russe Director Rena Lavery and La Grace Dieu Des Prieurs Manager Laurent Prosperi signed a collaboration agreement today. Under the terms of the agreement,  Art Russe will provide its brand and images of 12 Russian artworks from its collection annually to the château for its grand cru wine label design. This year, the design will include reproductions of works by Viktor Vasnetsov, Ilya Repin, Filipp Malyavin, Vladimir Serov, Nikolai Fechin, and Fyodor Reshetnikov.

ChâteauLa Grace Dieu Des Prieurs is located in one of the most ancient wine-growing areas of France, among grand cru vineyards of the Saint-Emilion region, which in 1999 was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Château La Grace Dieu Des Prieurs was founded in 1885 and today is surrounded by such vineyards as Château Laroze, Château Chauvin to Figeac, Château La Dominique and Château Cheval Blanc. Saint-Emilion wines are among the most sought after in the world. Between 2014-2017, the estate underwent a large-scale transformation aimed at preserving the traditions of French winemaking  and ensuring the consistent production of this top-quality wine. The renowned oenological consultant Louis Mitjavile was invited to improve the winemaking process, while Jean Nouvel, one of the best-known French architects, created a unique design for the renovated château.

Art Russe, which owns one of the largest collections of Russian art of the late 19th-20th centuries, was founded in 2012 by entrepreneur and philanthropist Andrey Filatov, with the aim of developing a greater understanding of Soviet and Russian cultural contributions. In particular, it focuses on collecting and increasing international awareness of Russian art dating mainly from 1917 – 1991. Its aim is to increase appreciation for this genre through exhibitions, lending to international museums and galleries, and publishing books and catalogues on key artists and artefacts.

Art Russe Director Rena Lavery said: “While collaboration with Château La Grace Dieu Des Prieurs is a completely new experience for Art Russe, it builds on the work we have been doing since 2012. Making unique wine requires creativity and is undoubtedly a form of art. By combining the art of winemaking and the art of painting, the project continues the tradition of supporting cultural projects. For Art Russe, this represents an opportunity to further expand the reach  of our programs and raise awareness and recognition of Russian art through a new medium.”

La Grace Dieu Des Prieurs Manager Laurent Prosperi said: "Russian art, an important contributor to the world art heritage, remains underestimated by international audiences. Meanwhile, it has been gaining recognition and popularity in France. Inclusion of a collection of Soviet unofficial art in the permanent exhibition of the Center Georges Pompidou is a vivid confirmation of this. By participating in this project, we are pleased to pay tribute to masterpieces of Russian painting and build on the tradition of supporting cultural initiatives, following in the footsteps of our neighbors from the Château Cheval Blanc, whose owner Bernard Arnault held the exhibition Icons of Modern Art. The Shchukin Collection at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, and Baron Philip Rothschild, who pioneered wine label art.”

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