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.