One of the foremost monumental paintings of Nicholas Roerich, Internal Exit from the Old Belfry was thought about lost for over one hundred fifteen years. This painting is once more creating headlines because it will appear at the Russian Art Auction on 15th October. This re-emergence of the Masterpiece is being considered as one of the most important and noteworthy moments within the Russian Art Market.
The work Internal Exit from the Old Belfry belongs to the famous “Architectural Series,” that was created by the creator during his trips across the Russian Land in the year 1903-1904. This trip was organized by the Imperial Society for the Encouragement of Art. It was after these trips when Nicholas Roerich realized that this was the perfect time to make the Russian educated individuals discover and fall soft on with Russia. Since Roerich worked within the open air, therefore, most of the works he created throughout his travels were little sketches made on plywood. Internal Exit from the Old Belfry is a large and fully accomplished Oil painting on the canvas. This painting was not only one of the finest examples of the best phase of Roerich in the Russian period but also a symbol of Modern Russia entering its spiritual past. However, his fate was tragic. It was exhibited in St. Petersburg in 1904 when Emperor Nicholas II gave the order to buy the painting for the Russian Museum. Both Russian and European Art communities commented on the work with great zeal. It was reproduced in French (Roseau, Nicolas Constantinovitch Roerich, L’Art Decoratif, No. 86, November 1905, p. 175) and Russian press (S. Makovsky, Svyatyninashei stariny (Po povodu etudov N. Rerikha), Zhurnal dlya vsekh, No. 6, June 1904, p. 355).
Nicholas Roerich, who dreamed of having the world fame, decided to first send the canvas to the exhibitions in London and Paris. It was after these exhibitions he planned to transfer the canvas to the Russian Museum. Soon he was given the opportunity to participate in a larger project. The St. Louis World Exhibition of 1904 in the USA. several artists like Klavdy Lebedev and Petr Petrovichev took part in the exhibition beside Roerich. Sadly, the painting never returned from the United States due to fraud done by the organizer of the Exhibition E. Grunwaldt, who secretly sold the paintings of the Russian Artists and embezzled the money. Roerich repeatedly and unsuccessfully tried to return to Pechory Monastery. This painting disappeared out of the minds of collectors for over 115 years and until now. Catherine MacDougall, Director of MacDougall’s commented: “We very much hope that after a century of troubles, Roerich masterpiece Pechory Monastery, Internal Exit from the Old Belfry, will find a place in a museum or other significant collection”.
