17th-Century Ukrainian Icons on Show at Louvre-Lens: Charity Auction in Paris Today for Chernihiv Museum

The Louvre-Lens museum in Lens, France, is hosting the exhibition “Icons from Ukraine,” which brings ancient Ukrainian icons from the Khanenko Museum collection to the attention of the European public. Curated by Maximilien Durand, the exhibition features four rare icons illustrating the fusion of Western influences with the 17th-century Byzantine tradition, notably works by the Cretan artist Theodoros Poulakis. The exhibition will remain open until next year.

The display of these icons in France was made possible by a wide-ranging rescue operation: with the support of Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications and the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH), 16 ancient Ukrainian icons were transported from their museum for temporary exhibition in France, amid the war.

Cooperation between the Louvre and the Khanenko Museum for the protection of Ukraine’s art treasures began in February 2022, immediately after the start of the Russian invasion, and stands as a powerful example of cultural diplomacy in wartime.

Alongside the exhibition, today, September 24, at 5:00 p.m., a charity auction will be held at the “Don’t Take Fake” space, featuring works by artists from 10 countries, in partnership with the Tajan auction team (the MOT project). The funds raised will go toward the restoration of the Chernihiv Art Museum in Ukraine, one of the institutions damaged by the war.

The news of the exhibition and the auction was announced by the Embassy of Ukraine in France via a Facebook post.

Source: The Gaze