20 January 2017
Guest speakers: Dr Jane Williams, Dr Olenka Pevny

The V&A’s rich and diverse collection of Russian and Soviet art includes several works and archives of the émigré mosaic artist, Boris Anrep (1883-1969). Anrep’s artistic interests lay in the revival of Byzantine art, a subject which attracted the interest of, among others, Roger Fry and the Bloomsbury Group. Anrep worked singlehandedly to revive the mosaic tradition by creating schemes for both religious and secular settings, and his works can be found in public and private spaces in London and around Britain. The most important Anrep work held by the V&A is a large wall mosaic commissioned by Augustus John for his home in Mallord Street; in need of conservation, it is too fragile for display, but will be discussed in the seminar. The speakers will discuss Anrep’s art, and explain the broader context of the Byzantine revival. There will then be an opportunity to view several Anrep designs and related objects in the V&A collection. This seminar is one of a series of V&A Russian Decorative Arts Seminars convened by Dr Tessa Murdoch (V&A) and Dr Louise Hardiman (CCRAC).

For the programme, please follow the link below.
russian-decorative-arts-seminar-programme