The Russian History Museum is proud to announce the completion of the conservation treatment of a piece of work in its collection, "Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane," by the Russian-American creative person Constantin Alexandrovich Westchiloff (b. St. Petersburg 1878 – d. New York 1945).

Westchiloff studied nether Ilya Repin at the Royal University of Arts in St. Petersburg from 1898. His painting, "Ivan the Terrible Afterward the Triumph of Kazan" won an academy honour in 1904. He studied at the Royal Academy in London in 1905-06 and exhibited "Quantum of the Cruiser Askold in 1904 in the Xanthous Sea," which depicted a critical moment in the Russo-Japanese War. Westchiloff fled the Soviet Union in 1922, emigrating commencement to Italia, then France, and finally to New York, where he became known primarily for his seascapes and landscapes.

"Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane" occupies a very rare position in Westchiloff'south work, as information technology is a religious theme, which is unusual for the artist.The painting had significant structural and status issues which prevented its brandish. The conservation of the painting was made possible by the NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Handling Grant Program administered by Greater Hudson Heritage Network with public funds from the New York Country Council on the Arts.

The project was carried out by Westlake Conservators, LTD of Skaneateles, NY, by the conservators Margaret Sutton and Nathan Sutton. The painting responded well to treatment, and tears in the work were stabilized and distortions in the canvas were restored to plane.  Layers of discolored varnish were removed, and a new varnish coat was applied to restore original tones of painting.

The work was completed in time to be displayed in our current exhibition, "Revealing the Divine: Treasures of Russian Sacred Fine art," in which it represents an important and unique moment in the piece of work of the artist Westchiloff, as one of the few sacred subjects by this secular painter. The painting volition be exhibited one time the Russian History Museum reopens to the public. It will serve as an case of a non-devotional religious art and contrasted with works in the exhibition which are devotional in nature.

The Museum is deeply grateful to the Greater Hudson Heritage Network and the New York Country Council on the Arts for awarding the grant that fabricated it possible to bring back to life this rare example of Constantin Westchiloff'due south work.