Georgian PM invited to attend depositing ceremony of painting he handed German Chancellor Merkel
The painting was preserved at the Dresden museum up until 1945, when the piece was lost in the aftermath of World War II and Germany’s occupation by the Allied armies. Photo: PM’s press office.
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Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has been invited to the Dresden Gallery in Germany to attend the depositing ceremony of Still Life with a Hare, a 17th century painting by Pietro Francesco Cittadini, which Bakhtadze handed to German Chancellor Angela Merkel during her visit to Tbilisi in the summer of 2018.
Bakhtadze stated that “we discovered this painting by accident in the private collection of one of our citizens.”
He said that the painting was brought to Georgia by a Soviet army officer decades ago.
Georgian PM told the audience how the painting was found. Photo: Prime Minister's press office.
The private collector expressed good will and handed over the painting, which was later given to Madam Chancellor during her visit to Georgia” Bakhtadze said.
This day is yet another demonstration of the historical friendship between the Georgian and German nations," Bakhtadze said.
Bakhtadze thanked the German people for their continued support for Georgia.
Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel was treated to a display of Georgian hospitality on Thursday, with a vocal performance and a “surprising gift” offered to the high-profile visitor in Tbilisi.
Angela Merkel has visited the occupation line in the village of Odzisi before leaving Georgia. Merkel spent half an hour in the village and took the opportunity to observe the territories beyond the occupation line through binoculars.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she is happy to see much progress in Georgia since her last visit to the country 10 years ago.
After a face to face meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze and a meeting with part of te Georgian cabinet, she held a joint press conference with the Georgian PM.
The topics discussed at the meetings included the situation in Georgia’s regions occupied by Russia, the country’s European aspirations and integration and the deepening of the economic and cultural ties.