Russian Ark Page #2

One of the earliest pieces

of the hermitage collection.

Such information is for specialists.

For us, detail is more interesting.

Look closely here.

A chicken and a cat

are in the foreground.

They are symbolic figures.

The chicken represents greed,

avarice...

the cat, cynicism and cruelty.

Cynicism and cruelty... the cat...

they are both

calmed by the birth of john.

How interesting.

Why is he dressed like that?

Cleopatra, for example...

what do you know of her?

Massimo stanzione...

cleopatra is on the same wall...

as the circumcision of christ

by the pious lodovico cardi.

- What bothers you?

- Bothers me?

Right next to saint cecilia?

Can you imagine!

By carlo dolci!

And next to eastern still life!

- Why does that bother you?

- Don't argue, oleg.

As a catholic, that shocks me.

What do you think of wagner?

Who is wagner?

Oleg, he doesn't know wagner!

Wagner is that child

who behaved badly...

with my best friend, meyerbeer.

I have never listened to wagner.

- Broaden your horizons!

- That doctor is so insistent!

- But I'm not sick!

- We wish you much success.

Sir, why are they badly dressed?

My friends, how could I think...

that you would get along so badly?

I'll tell you one day.

I'm in a strange situation.

Why quarrel with everyone?

If you do, we will never discover

why we are here.

Such clothing kills

a man's creative essence!

Why do you find it necessary

to embrace european culture?

For what reason?

Why borrow also europe's mistakes?

My god! What is all this?

Mother!

Canova!

What an elevated approach to art!

What feel for the material!

How wonderful!

He is a true heir

to the masters of antiquity!

Canova almost married my mother.

Was your mother a sculptress?

Yes. In rome.

In rome?

Your mother, a sculptress...

in this canova collection,

there are even sculptures...

that Tsar Alexander

bought from the wife...

of napoleon?

Yes. It was 1815,

I was at the Congress of Vienna.

What were you doing there?

- I was a diplomat.

- A diplomat?

This collection was the object

of a harsh dispute.

Look where we are now!

Is this a dream?

Maybe, maybe.

I don't know about you,

but I'm wide awake!

it's amazing how well i speak Russian!

Yes, quite well.

Who was that small man?

Wasn't that pushkin?

- Good day.

- Good day.

Is that your great poet?

Your beloved one?

I read him in French.

Nothing special.

Sir.

My god, how touchy you are!

Pardon me!

I'm sorry if i've offended

your nationalist sympathy.

What is that, nationalist sympathy?

What's that there?

- Please...

- who is that?

Please don't rush.

All alone, without an escort?

It would be wiser

not to talk to that lady.

Don't bother her.

Let's move along.

Excuse me, madam,

have you lost your guide?

Thank you for your concern.

I know everything here.

Of course. Do you work here?

Not at all. I'm here to admire the works

of the old masters.

Would you accompany me

into the next salon?

To see the flemish masters?

With pleasure.

Your slender fingers see all.

- 140 paces, straight ahead.

- 140, is that so?

How many are left?

Watch your step.

- One cannot be so intrusive, I told you.

- It's not the right time for this.

It's all your fault.

- You are compromising me!

- Oh, don't.

How dare you! Quiet!

- We're here.

- Yes.

Can we go closer to that painting?

Would you like me

to tell you about it?

The virgin with partridges

by Van Dyck.

Catherine II acquired it.

Tell me about this painting.

Please, tell me.

See the calm and serenity

around the Madonna and Joseph.

- Joseph, yes.

- God protects them.

There is no doubt

about his unseen presence.

The apple tree represents life.

Sunflowers stand for piety.

On the upper right,

partridges symbolise frivolity.

- They're flying away.

- Partridges...

angels dance and play.

So many other symbols

that we can only guess about.

Sir, leave her. She's an angel.

Why have you gone quiet?

The partridges, the children,

the Madonna...

thank you, madam. Thank you.

I highly value your opinion

on the works of Van Dyck.

You'll definitely be interested

in another painting.

Be very careful!

A rubens.

Sir, do not disturb me!

The feast in the house

of simon the pharisee.

The pharisee...

I don't see it.

Where is it?

Thirty-six, thirty-five...

no, that painting isn't here.

Not part of the Tsar's collection.

Yes, it's here.

That particular rubens is not here!

Yes, it was from

Lord Walpole's collection...

like the virgin with partridges.

But that rubens isn't on exhibit.

But it's here.

- Where are you?

- What a wonderful scent!

The scent of oils...

sir, let's leave here now.

No, let's stay a while.

What wonderful paintings!

What are those men counting?

You were right. I found it.

Let's take a closer look.

There it is.

We're almost there.

Face the painting directly.

There it is.

Yes, there it is.

- Something to say about rubens?

- Van dyck.

Rubens considered Van Dyck

to be his best pupil.

You know, there was a time

when all these paintings...

were placed much higher

and much closer to one another.

The Tsar himself supervised

how they were hung. Did you know this?

- Who are you?

- I'm a sailor.

- Insignias.

- Yes, the navy.

The Tsar visited his collection

every morning.

He personally saved all this...

during the fire.

- Which fire?

- In 18...

so you are asking me?

Enough, let's go.

It's time for me to go.

May I accompany you?

What a pity.

I must ask you to leave.

The museum is closing.

Please see yourself to the exit.

Quiet. Close the door.

The museum is closing.

- How was my scene?

- I wasn't impressed.

I was joking.

Joking...

- do you hear music?

- I hear something.

Russian music makes me break out in hives.

That has nothing

to do with the music.

Why do you look at me like that?

- Rags... a dog...

- rags... a dog...

- eternal people...

- eternal people...

live and go on living.

- You'll outlive them all.

- Eternal people...

what are you doing?

Eavesdropping?

Are you interested in painting?

What nice little hands!

Stay away from me!

Amen. Amen.

- Beautiful, isn't it?

- Absolutely.

- Are you catholic?

- No, I'm not catholic.

Why do you ask?

It seemed to me that you were deep

in thought...

while admiring the images

of the founders of our church.

I don't know.

I wasn't thinking about that.

You were not...

do you know that

those are the apostles peter and paul?

Yes, that's what I heard.

That's what you heard. And so?

I looked at them

because I like them.

You like them...

- one day, all men...

- all men...

...will become like them.

- Really?

How can you know

what will become of people...

if you don't know the scriptures?

Why aren't you saying anything?

Look at their hands.

The hands are beautiful. And so?

How can you know what will become

of people...

if you don't know the scriptures?

For you,

they're just two dusty old men.

- Just flesh.

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