closely here.
A chicken and a cat are in the foreground.
They are symbolic figures.
The chicken represents greed, avarice...
the cat, cynicism and cruelty.
Cynicism and cruelty.... The cat....
They are both calmed by the birth of John.
How interesting.
Why is he dressed like that?
Cleopatra, for example....
What do you know of her?
Massimo Stanzione....
Cleopatra is on the same wall...
as The Circumcision of Christ
by the pious Lodovico Cardi.
-What bothers you?
-Bothers me?
Right next to Saint Cecilia?
Can you imagine!
By Carlo Dolci!
And next to Eastern Still life!
-Why does that bother you?
-Don't argue, Oleg.
As a Catholic, that shocks me.
What do you think of Wagner?
Who is Wagner?
Oleg, he doesn't know Wagner!
Wagner is that child who behaved badly...
with my best friend, Meyerbeer.
I have never listened to Wagner.
-Broaden your horizons!
-That doctor is so insistent!
-But I'm not sick!
-We wish you much success.
Sir, why are they badly dressed?
My friends, how could I think...
that you would get along so badly?
I'll tell you one day.
I'm in a strange situation.
Why quarrel with everyone?
If you do, we will never discover
why we are here.
Such clothing kills
a man's creative essence!
Why do you find it necessary
to embrace European culture?
For what reason?
Why borrow also Europe's mistakes?
My God! What is all this?
Mother!
Canova!
What an elevated approach to art!
What feel for the material!
How wonderful!
He is a true heir to the masters of antiquity!
Canova almost married my mother.
Was your mother a sculptress?
Yes. In Rome.
In Rome? Your mother, a sculptress....
In this Canova collection,
there are even sculptures...
that Tsar Alexander bought from the wife....
Of Napoleon?
Yes.
It was 1815, I was at the Congress of Vienna.
What were you doing there?
-I was a diplomat.
-A diplomat?
This collection was the object
of a harsh dispute.
Look where we are now!
Is this a dream?
Maybe, maybe.
I don't know about you, but I'm wide awake!
It's amazing how well I speak Russian!
Yes, quite well.
Who was that small man?
Wasn't that Pushkin?
-Good day.
-Good day.
Is that your great poet? Your beloved one?
I read him in French. Nothing special.
Sir.
My God, how touchy you are!
Pardon me!
I'm sorry if I've offended
your nationalist sympathy.
What is that, nationalist sympathy?
What's that there?
-Please....
-Who is that?
Please don't rush.
All alone, without an escort?
It would be wiser not to talk to that lady.
Don't bother her.
Let's move along.
Excuse me, madam,
have you lost your guide?
Thank you for your concern.
I know everything here.
Of course. Do you work here?
Not at all. I'm here to admire the works
of the old masters.
Would you accompany me
into the next salon?
To see the Flemish masters?
With pleasure. Your slender fingers see all.
-140 paces, straight ahead.
-140, is that so?
How many are left?
Watch your step.
-One cannot be so intrusive, I told you.
-It's not the right time for this.
It's all your fault.
-You are compromising me!
-Oh, don't.
How dare you! Quiet!
-We're here.
-Yes.
Can we go closer to that painting?
Would you like me to tell you about it?
The Virgin with Partridges by van Dyck.
Catherine II acquired it.
Tell me about this painting.
Please, tell me.
See the calm and serenity
around the Madonna and Joseph.
-Joseph, yes.
-God protects them.
There is no doubt
about his unseen presence.
The apple tree represents life.
Sunflowers stand for piety.
On the upper right,
partridges symbolize frivolity.
-They're flying away.
-Partridges....
Angels dance and play.
So many other symbols
that we can only guess about.
Sir, leave her. She's an angel.
Why have you gone quiet?
The partridges, the children, the Madonna....
Thank you, madam. Thank you.
I highly value your opinion
on the works of van Dyck.
You'll definitely be interested
in another painting.
Be very careful!