Morozov Collection may return to Russia from France by mid-May - presidential envoy

MOSCOW. April 18 (Interfax) - The contents of the exhibition The Morozov Collection: Icons of Modern Art which took place in France may return to Russia by mid-May, Russian Special Presidential Envoy for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoi told Interfax.

"The first paintings are in Russia, and I believe everything will return by mid-May," Shvydkoi said, answering Interfax's question as to when the entire collection could return to Russia.

Agence France-Presse said earlier citing representatives of the French Culture Ministry that two paintings displayed at the Morozov exhibition have been detained. Le Monde, in turn, said that the two detained paintings are A Self-Portrait in Gray by Pyotr Konchalovsky, which, according to the newspaper, is owned by businessman Pyotr Aven, and A Portrait of Timofei Morozov by Valentin Serov owned by the Moscow Museum of Avant-Garde Mastery founded by businessman Moshe Kantor.

Shvydkoi confirmed to the Govorit Moskva radio station that there are difficulties with the return of the two paintings from private collections. In particular, he confirmed that one of these paintings is owned by Aven.

He also said that the first vehicle carrying the exhibits from the Morozov Collection has arrived in Russia.

The Morozov Collection: Icons of Modern Art exhibition organized by the State Hermitage Museum, the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, and the State Tretyakov Gallery was open at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris until February 22. The exhibition was later extended until April 3 due to a high level of interest.