"This exhibit coincides with two significant dates - the 65th anniversary of the museum and the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from fascists during World War II," Valentin Rodionov, the director general of the Tretyakov Gallery, told RIA Novosti in an interview.
"This exhibit is of a special importance for our gallery, because it is the first from a CIS country after the collapse of the Soviet Union," Mr. Rodionov said.
In 2003, the Tretyakov Gallery organized an exhibit in Minsk that featured 60 canvases by 18th-20th century Russian artists. Today, the Belarussian National Arts Museum brought 100 pieces of fine art dating from the 17th century to present to Moscow, Mr. Rodionov said.
A spokesman for the Belarussian Embassy in Russia said that at the exhibit Muscovites would have the chance to enjoy the most valuable pieces from the National Arts Museum.
The exhibit has three sections. The first one, devoted to ancient Belarussian art, has 17th-early 19th century icons.
The second section features classic paintings, including works by great Russian artists, such as Ivan Aivazovsky, Karl Bryullov, Appolinary and Viktor Vasnetsov, Vasily Vereshchagin, Mikhail Vrubel, Konstantin Korovin, Ivan Kramskoy, Boris Kustodiyev, Isaak Levitan, Vladimir Makovsky, Ilya Repin, Valentin Serov, Alexei Savrasov, Vasily Surikov and Ivan Shishkin.
The third section will acquaint Muscovites with the works by Belarussian artists, including Vitold Byalynitsky-Birulya, Yudel Ten, Mai Dantsig, Alexander Kishchenko, Mikhail Savitsky, Vladimir Stelmashonok and Leonid Shchemelev.
At the opening ceremony, Belarussian Ambassador to Russia Vladimir Grigoryev presented Mr. Rodionov with the Francisc Skorina Order for his great personal contribution to the development of Belarussian-Russian cultural cooperation.
