Overview: 41 paintings from the Hermitage and Pushkin museums included 7 by Henri Matisse, 7 by Paul Gauguin, 6 by Pablo Picasso, 5 by Paul Cézanne, and 3 by Vincent van Gogh. The loan took place when negotiations with the Soviet Union, held privately by Dr. Armand Hammer, suddenly reached a successful conclusion. The loan was made through M. Knoedler and Co., New York, in which Dr. Hammer held a controlling interest. His own collection had been on view in Leningrad and Moscow for several months. The Gallery had but 36 working days to prepare for the dramatic exhibition.

Organization: Gaillard Ravenel designed the exhibition at the National Gallery.

Sponsor: The exhibition and related educational materials were partially supported by a grant of $105,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities under a new program of aid to museum exhibitions. The show had been promoted by the Soviet Minister of Culture, Yekaterina Furtseva.

Other Venues:

• M. Knoedler and Co., New York, 05/03/1973–06/03/1973
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 06/13/1973–07/08/1973
• Art Institute of Chicago, 07/18/1973–08/12/1973
• Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, 08/22/1973–09/16/1973