Russia approves paintings release for London show

An exhibition at the Royal Academy looks set to open as scheduled on January 26 after a Russian government agency approved the transport of paintings to London.

The decision by Russia’s Federal Culture and Cinematography Agency, also known as Roskultura, comes after the United Kingdom enacted legislation to protect artwork loaned by foreign governments from seizure.

The new law, which came into effect on December 31, will protect many works which were claimed by the state after the 1917 Bolshevik revolution.

Previously, Russian authorities had feared new legal challenges could be launched by descendants of private collectors who owned the paintings before the revolution.

Descendants of the previous owner of some of the works have aalready made legal bids to have them returned, and Russian officials feared further attempts while the paintings were in the UK.

Russian authorities had threatened to scuttle the show – From Russia: French and Russian Master Paintings 1870-1925 – at the Royal Academy.

But Russia had indicated that approval was almost certain after Britain speeded up the legislation to protect the artwork from seizure.

Now reports in Russia claim that permission has been granted for the exhibition to start on time.

“Approval has been granted,” Roskultura official Anna Kolupayeva said. “We hope that we will be able to open the exhibition on January 26, if no unforeseen hurdles get in the way.”

The exhibition includes paintings by Matisse, Van Gogh and other Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists.