GLIMPSES OF HISTORY OF ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN ARTISTIC RELATIONS

The article presents the first Russian-language historical overview of Armenian-Russian artistic relations in the field of fine arts. These relations expanded and strengthened specifically since the first quater of the XIX century, after Eastern Armenia had been merged into the Russian Empire. Dozens of gifted Armenian youth ? among many others Akop Ovnatanyan, Ivan Aivazovsky, Yeghishe Tadevosyan, Martiros Saryan and Georgiy Yakulov ? had the opportunity to study in Russian art schools including The Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg and The Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, attending the classes of great Russian masters of painting, graphics and sculpture. In the XX century Armenian-Russian artistic relations became even more firmly established and grown in comprehensiveness and diversity. The key landmarks in the history of their development were ten-day festivals of Armenian literature and art that took place in Moscow in 1939 and 1956. Following the breakup of the Soviet Union and the declaration of independent republic of Armenia, Armenian-Russian artistic relations grew much weaker, nevertheless in the last few years they are gradually taking shape and rising. Armenian-Russian cultural dialogue is considerably fostered by the Russian Center of Science and Culture that is actively operating in Yerevan since April 16, 2009.