The Russian Museum in St. Petersburg has completed a thorough restoration of Konstantin Makovsky’s canvas titled “People’s Festival During the Shrovetide on Admiralteyskaya Square in St. Petersburg,” along with its historical frame. This update was reported by Russian media outlets to mark a significant moment in the museum’s conservation program.
In anticipation of the 2023 Pancake Week celebrations, the restored work was displayed in the Garden Entrance Hall, offering visitors a direct view of the painting as it appeared when first created. The restoration included not only the canvas but also the frame, which had a long history of exposure to the elements and time, and had previously traveled with the work as part of both permanent and temporary exhibitions. The frame’s return to the original ensemble enhances the overall presentation and helps viewers appreciate the era in which Makovsky worked.
Historically, the frame was replaced in 2010 with a temporary one due to concerns about protection and durability. Since then, conservation teams at the Russian Museum replenished dirt removal, reinforced the structural support, and addressed the gaps that had developed in the frame’s preservation. In a statement, the museum highlighted the careful and meticulous work involved in today’s restoration, noting that the painting can now be viewed as the artist intended by audiences in the space where the work is exhibited. The authority quoted emphasized the importance of returning both the canvas and its historical frame to a state that aligns with Makovsky’s original vision.
The painting entered the Russian Museum collection through a transfer from the Gatchina Palace in 1897, marking a stewardship that spans more than a century and a half. This long association underscores the painting’s significance within Russia’s artistic heritage and the museum’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding its material and historical integrity.
Previously, updates noted in the Tretyakov Gallery discussed questions about unclaimed works in its collection, reflecting broader conversations about inventory, provenance, and curatorial responsibility across major Russian institutions. These topics continue to inform current practice in museum conservation and exhibition planning, guiding decisions about how best to preserve and present works from past centuries for contemporary audiences.