Exhibition dedicated to Aivazovsky’s 200th birth anniversary attracts thousands of visitors within one week

The exhibition dedicated to the 200th birth anniversary of world-famous Armenian seascape painter Hovhannes Aivazovsky opened at the National Gallery of Armenia on 15 September has already welcomed some 4000 visitors.

People of various age groups, including entire families attend the exhibition titled “Hovhannes Aivazovsky: Creation”, the gallery reports in a Facebook post.

The exhibition features 52 paintings, 26 graphic works, 1 work of the decorative-applied art and 20 documentaries. The exhibition for the first time displays the prominent painting “Chaos: Creation of the World” from the collection of the Mekhitarist Congregation in Venice.

The exhibition runs until 15 January 2018.

To note, the National Gallery is closed only on Mondays. The ticket for “Hovhannes Aivazovsky: Creation” costs 1500 AMD. The ticket price comprises 750 AMD for the students of non-professional universities, with 400 AMD price set for the  students of the cultural educational  establishments. The ticket costs 300 AMD for school students.

This year marks the 200th birth anniversary of the world-famous seascape painter Hovhannes Aivazovsky. The anniversary is included in UNESCO's list of memorable dates in 2017.

Hovhannes (Ivan) Aivazovsky (born July 29, 1817 – died May 5, 1900), also known as Haivazovskiy, was an Armenian painter, most famous for his seascapes, which constitute more than half of his paintings. Aivazovskiy was born to a poor Armenian family in the city of Theodosia in the Crimea.

At the age of twenty, he graduated from the Art Academy of St. Petersburg with a gold medal. He went to Italy to continue his studies and returned as an internationally acclaimed seascape painter. Neither financial security nor life in Palace interested him. He returned to his native land, built a workplace on the seashore and, until the last days of his life, dedicated himself to the work that he loved. Aivazovsky participated in exhibitions all over the world.