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Russian Museum confirms recovered painting’s authenticity

The painting titled "Ai-Petri. Crimea" by Arkhip Kuindzhi was stolen from the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow on January 27

Arkhip Kuindzhi’s painting "Ai-Petri. Crimea" Russia's Interior Ministry/TASS

Arkhip Kuindzhi’s painting "Ai-Petri. Crimea"

© Russia's Interior Ministry/TASS

ST. PETERSBURG, January 29. /TASS/. Experts from the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, who came to Moscow to inspect Arkhip Kuindzhi’s painting "Ai-Petri. Crimea," have confirmed its authenticity, the museum’s press service told TASS on Tuesday.

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Charges brought against alleged Kuindzhi painting thief

The painting, which comes from the Russian Museum’s collection and had been brought to Moscow for an exhibition of the artist’s masterpieces, was stolen from the State Tretyakov Gallery on January 27 but was recovered the next day.

"The Russian Museum’s experts have confirmed the painting’s authenticity. It received minor damage, there are small scratches, but its overall condition is satisfactory," a spokesperson said.

The media reported earlier, citing head of the Russian Culture Ministry’s Museum Department Vladislav Kononov, that experts from the Tretyakov Gallery - the chief curator and researchers - had inspected the painting and found some "tiny scuffs."

Museum theft

The painting titled "Ai-Petri. Crimea" by Arkhip Kuindzhi was stolen from the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow on January 27. The suspect, Denis Chuprikov, was detained in hot pursuit in the Zarechye settlement, Moscow Region. He said he had hidden the paining at a construction site in the Odintsovo District where it was eventually recovered. Police sources pointed out that the suspect was on bail in connection with a drug passion case. According to preliminary information, the crime was committed for financial gain. Investigators are working to establish the suspect’s possible accomplices.

Security measures at the State Tretyakov Gallery were stepped up following the incident. Kononov said there were plans to install digital sensors on all paintings in the gallery.

Kuindzhi’s 39 by 53 cm painting in oil on canvas and paper dates back to the 1890s. It comes from the collection of the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg and was brought to Moscow for an exhibition of the artist’s masterpieces.

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