Thank You For Your Support Of Museum London All Donations: Fill & Download for Free

Top 12 unusual places in St. Petersburg that you need to see at least once in your life1) Winter Canal Embankment2) St. Petersburg Buddhist Temple3) Rotunda on Gorokhovaya4) Belfry of Smolny Cathedral5) Republics of cats6) Street art museum7) Vitebsky Station8) Bolsheokhtinsky bridge9) Doctor Pely Pharmacy10) Necropolis Museum of Urban Sculpture11) Eliseevsky shop12) Botanical Garden Water Conservatory1) We suggest starting with a walk along the embankment of the Winter Canal. This is one of the shortest canals in the city. Its length is 228 meters and the width does not exceed 20 meters. It is located in the very center of the Northern capital, near the Winter Palace, and connects the rivers - the Big Neva and the Moika.It was dug in 1718-1719, the work was supervised by the famous builder-contractor Vasily Ozerov. This part of the embankment became one of the first stone embankments in the city. By 1787, a three-story building of the Hermitage Theater and the Great Hermitage were built on 2 opposite banks of the canal. Two buildings at the level of the 2nd floor were connected by a passage resting on a powerful arch thrown over a groove.In 1782-1784, the embankment grooves were chained to the city’s traditional granite and decorated with strict lattices. The canal received its first name in 1738 - the Old Palace Canal, but in fact it was not used. People called the canal Zimnedomsky, Zimneredvortsovym or simply Winter. Since 1768, the right bank was called Postal Street, since nearby, on the current Millionnaya Street, was the Postal Courtyard. The modern name has been known since 1801.The first wooden drawbridge was thrown over the canal in 1718-1720, immediately after the channel was dug at the Winter Palace of Peter the Great according to the Dutch model. Now 3 bridges are thrown over the Winter Canal: 1st Winter (on Millionnaya St.), 2nd Winter (on the Moika Embankment) and the Hermitage (on Palace Embankment), the former Winter Palace.The first Winter and Hermitage bridges were built in the 18th century, and the Hermitage Bridge became the first stone bridge in St. Petersburg. The second Winter bridge was built in the 1960s, It was built specially according to the old style, so as not to destroy the atmosphere of Pushkin Petersburg.The small channel is famous for its musical and cinematic interest. In his opera Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky “The Queen of Spades”, in the 3rd act introduces an element of the plot, which is absent in the eponymous novel by Pushkin. It became the original literary version of the musical work.This applies to the moment when the heroine of the composer Lisa throws herself from the Hermitage Bridge into the waters of the Winter Canal, as Herman, who is obsessed with 3 maps, runs away from her. Tchaikovsky did it under the influence of the real fact of the suicide of a certain Julia Perova, who committed on this site on the basis of unhappy love. That fact was described in one of the Petersburg newspapers of 1868. It is known that in 1890 Pyotr Ilyich sent a newspaper clipping to his brother Modest with a request to include Lisa's suicide in the libretto of the opera. Therefore, you can hear the second name of this bridge - "Lisa Bridge".Also, the Zimnyaya Kanova embankment fell into the film of A. Balabanov's "Brother" when the protagonist Danila Bagrov walks around the city upon arrival in St. Petersburg and walks along Millionnaya Street, crossing the Zimnaya Canal. If you like this film, and you want to "remember" everything on your feet, you can see it again with your eyes, but changed and modern after 20 years.address: metro station admiralteyskaya embankment of the winter groove2) Datsan Gunzechoynei ", it is the name of this Buddhist temple in St. Petersburg, translated from the Tibetan" Gunzechoynei "means the source of the holy teachings of the All-Compassionate, Hermit Master. It is the northernmost Buddhist temple in the world. It belongs to the Buddhist traditional sangha of Russia, Gelugpa school.It is also one of the most expensive Buddhist temples in Europe. The dasan in St. Petersburg was built from chipped granite and from many other valuable materials. The temple is a monumental work of art, also famous for the chic stained glass windows that Nicholas Roerich made. On them, the artist depicted 8 good Buddhist symbols.From the chronicles you can learn that the first Buddhists on the banks of the Neva were the Volga Kalmyks, subjects of the Kalmyk Khanate, which became part of Russia in 1609. During the construction of the Peter and Paul Fortress, with which St. Petersburg was erected, Buddhists worked hard with other workers, and lived nearby, in the Tatar settlement, located behind the crown cover, in the area of ​​the present Bolshaya Spasskaya Street.However, in later sources of the XVIII - mid XIX centuries there is no mention of the Kalmyks, or representatives of the Buddhist denomination living here. The Buddhist community in St. Petersburg began to form at the end of the 19th century.In 1900, the representative of the Dalai Lama XIII in Russia - Aghvan Dorzhiev received permission to build a church in St. Petersburg. In 1909, Dorzhiev bought a plot of land on the northern outskirts of the city, on the banks of Little Nevka. The project was developed in accordance with the canons of Tibetan architecture in 1909, student of the Institute of Civil Engineers N. M. Berezovsky and architect G. V. Baranovsky - the author of the project Eliseevsky deli on Nevsky Prospekt.Construction was carried out in the years 1909 -1915. The first Buddhist service took place in 1913 in honor of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. For the temple, King Siam Rama the Fifth presented a statue of Buddha. The consecration of Datsan took place in the capital on August 10, 1915. Not a very good fate befell Datsan and his ministers at the beginning of Soviet power and during the Great Patriotic War. The temple was closed, and the building was transferred to the possession of athletes.Datsan gets into the plot of the story "The Old Woman", written by Daniel Harms in 1939. When the hero travels in a commuter train from Finland Station to the Lisiy Nos station and tells what he sees from the window:We drive through Lanskaya and Novaya Village. The golden top of the Buddhist pagoda flickers, and the sea appears.During World War II, a military radio station was built in the church. She remained in the building until the 1960s and was used as a “jammer”. In 1960, Yu. N. Roerich and a number of other orientalists achieved that the building should be transferred to the Academy of Sciences. Then there were laboratories of the Zoological Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR.Only in 1968 the temple was declared an architectural monument of local importance. In 1990, the decision of the executive committee of the Leningrad City Council was transferred to the Central Spiritual Administration of Buddhists of the USSR. In 1991, the temple received its modern name - Datsan Gunzechoynei, the Tibetan name given to him during the consecration.After 3 years, the new burkhan of the Big Buddha Shakyamuni, made by Mongolian masters in the traditional Mongolian style - from papier-mâché, with the subsequent coating of the figure with gold leaf, was installed in the main altar of the temple. Since then, Datsan has been visited by Tibetan and Western teachers. Within its walls they give lectures on Buddhist philosophy, as well as special teachings and initiations to the laity. They also conduct meditation retreats, which, according to the teachings of Buddhists, serve as a practice for accumulating good merit and a way of self-knowledge.Buddhist monks regularly perform prayers for the well-being of the living and for the best rebirth of the dead. In addition, astrologers and Tibetologists, specialists in the field of traditional Tibetan medicine, conduct receptions in the community.Address: metro station m. "Staraya detevnya", Primorsky Prospect, 913) The famous Rotunda is an unusual front door of an ordinary-looking house No. 57 on Gorokhovaya Street, which is considered almost the most mystical place in the Northern capital. A house with a rotunda is also known as the house of Yakovlev, or the house of A.F. Evmentiev.The story about the architectural features of this house should not begin with the building itself, but with Gorokhovaya Street. This highway is the central axis of the classic St. Petersburg "trident", one of those "perspectives" on which the "lead" system of the imperial capital was built.In accordance with the original plan, the axial street was emphasized by the dominant - the admiralty spire and small half-areas at the intersection of the highway with river embankments. Half-areas are considered the work of the famous Russian urban planner of the XVIII century A.V. Kvasova.Houses in such a grandiose composition are minor details. The house with the rotunda was built by the architect Ferri de Pigny at the turn of the 1770-1780s’. The rotundanot only blends perfectly with the general architecture of the building, but also features a beautiful spiral staircase, which makes it possible to circumambulate and smoothly climb in a spectacular geometrically verified space.For classical architecture, the rotunda, located in the inside of the house, in the center of the architectural composition, is a characteristic decor. In addition, the combination of a circle and a rectangle in plan is one of the architectural archetypes. It is here that the roots of the mystical history of the building sprout. The magnificent park arbor, hidden from the eyes of passers-by and built into an unremarkable house, certainly gives rise to a lot of myths and legends.Address: Sadovaya metro station, Gorokhovaya street, 574) The belfry of Smolny Cathedral is one of the best viewing platforms in St. Petersburg. The height of the cathedral is 93 meters. And you can look at the sights of St. Petersburg from a 50-meter height. Tourists are attracted not only by the observation deck, but also by what they hear and see, breaking 277 steps up. Baroque music sounds during the ascent, and “along the way” you can see the masonry from the time of Rastrelli.According to the layout of the ensemble of the Smolny Monastery, which is stored in the Museum of the Academy of Arts, the bell tower should have been erected 140 meters high. It would have been 18 meters higher than the height of the spire of the bell tower of the Peter and Paul Cathedral, and could have become the tallest building in Europe.The first tier of the bell tower should have looked like a triumphal arch, the main entrance to the monastery, the second - the gate church, and in the remaining 3 belfries should have been located. The bell tower was to be completed by a small turret with 4 round windows and a crown crowning it with a cross.But these plans were not destined to be realized. Rastrelli began to erect Smolny on the orders of Empress Elizabeth in 1748. Thanks to the completed layout, the architect realized the mistake and retained the dominant influence of the only buildings of the cathedral itself. And he became for the townspeople a very unusual creation and an outstanding work of art, for the author a kind of symbol of the violation of European traditions. This time, a master who worked in baroque combined in this masterpiece the baroque elements of overseas architecture with Russian architectural delights, folk identities and the ancient culture of Russia, which makes the latter look incredibly solemn and elegant.Even the ardent opponent of Bartolomeo Rastrelli, Giacomo Quarenghi, an adherent of the baroque style, the author of the strict Smolny Institute, a supporter of classicism, and perhaps the most prolific representative of Palladianism in Russian architecture, admired the Smolny Cathedral. And whenever this architect and Vedutist of Italian descent passed by his rival’s brainchild, he always took off his hat, pronouncing with genuine admiration: “This is a temple!”You can admire the colorful Smolny today, as well as the beautiful city on the Neva from a bird's flight, climbing the cathedral belfry. Conquering the height of Smolny, getting to its observation deck, is so easy. Why? It’s calmer and more spacious, fewer people, and the review can’t be expressed in words how good it is, and you can look at everything well here with the help of free binoculars, for example, the Petrograd side, and it’s incredibly nice to see how ships navigate the Neva, how beautiful and restless Petersburg is.Address: metro station "Chernyshevskaya", Rastrelli Square, 15) Cotocultural center appeared in the Northern capital in 2008. In Vsevolozhsk, on the basis of the Elvet veterinary clinic, the Cat Museum was opened, which has become a vivid attraction of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region. Today it can be called a big tourist cat-mecca. The museum and its branches implement the project of Yuri Kuklachev "School of Kindness".The first kotokafe (cat cafe) in Russia and Europe was opened in St. Petersburg in 2011 - "The Republic of Cats", which is located on Yakubovich 10. This is the center of the Kotokulturnaya capital of the country and a branch of the first Cat Museum in Russia. You can come here for cat therapy, where you will find yourself in the company of 25 cats of 17 breeds, including the Hermitage cats. You can: stroke, take pictures, play with them. This is the most beautiful place for cat lovers, and tourists come here from all over Russia and the world.The "Republic of Cats" is located on Liteiny Prospekt 60. The institution is positioning itself as the largest cat-cafe in Europe, in which up to 60 cats and cats live at the same time. Visit time - unlimited, admission for a voluntary donation (donation). It is also a concert venue, a place for seminars, master classes and children's events in the company of cats.The city on the Neva became the Cotocultural capital. St. Petersburg has acquired new symbols of the city - cats. Before entering the arch at the “Republic of Cats” on Liteiny, another monumental symbol of the city will soon appear: “The Cat in the Sack”, the creation of which is currently being carried out by the sculptural father of Funtika, Semyon Platonov.The fact is that 2 years earlier in the very center of the Northern capital, not far from St. Isaac’s Cathedral, near the “Republic of Cats” on Yakubovich Street, a bronze figurine of the kitten “Funtika” was installed, the fruit of love “Elisha” and “Vasilisa” from Malaya Sadovaya streets. The author of the monument, as mentioned above, was the sculptor Semyon Platonov, and, now, the idea belonged to the historian Sergei Lebedev."Funtik" is known for fulfilling children's desires. It is installed at a height accessible to the smallest children, it can be stroked and scratched behind the ear just like a real kitten. In gratitude for this, Funtik fulfills the wishes that the kids make, they only need to whisper cherished dreams in his ear. Also there is another sculptural cat-masterpiece: the keeper of republican cats - "Cat Basil".The new cat-symbol of the Northern capital - "Puss in a Poke" will serve people faithfully. He can be admired, and also, which is important for Petersburgers, he can be told about all his desires. “Puss in a poke” will sensitively listen to each of its guests, regardless of age, and will try to fulfill any even the most ambitious and financial dreams.Address: Admiralteyskaya metro station, st. Yakubovich, 10metro station "Mayakovskaya", Liteiny ave., 606) The Museum of Street Art is located on the territory of existing production in the east of St. Petersburg. It was opened in 2012. Famous artists of our time have already visited and left his creations in his workshops. This is a new format of museums, including street type.Unlike the usual gallery, the exposition is located on the territory of the conserved industrial zone. Here you will not find classic exhibits under glass or in a shop window, as we see in a traditional museum space. Compared to a street museum, which is usually subject to a common theme, here you can look at various works.In this museum, each exhibit is self-sufficient, unique in its own way, with its own history and even character. All of them are exhibited in the open air, and most importantly, of enormous size, there are exhibits the height of a whole house. The collection is constantly updated and updated. One of the reasons why creative people like to come here often is to see the novelty for joy.Each new visit gives as many unexpected and pleasant surprises as a first-time visit. The territory of the museum is divided into two zones - a permanent exhibition, which is located in the area of ​​the existing production of the “Laminated Plastics Plant”. Here is an annually updated collection of monumental murals by contemporary street artists. The second zone is a public venue where temporary exhibitions are shown to guests, and various events are held here.address: metro station Ladozhskaya, 84 Revolution Highway (entrance from Industrial Avenue)7) From this station, the history of Russian railways began. Vitebsky Station - the oldest of the 5 stations in St. Petersburg, the very first station in Russia. From here in 1837 the first train went to Tsarskoye Selo. The station today takes from there and sends electric trains there. Want to visit Tsarskoye Selo? Of course, Tsarskoye Selo - a museum-reserve should be visited at least once in a lifetime. First, take a good look at this unique and ancient station, and immediately go on an excursion to the city of Pushkin, where you can visit the Museum-Lyceum of A.S. Pushkin, where the Tsarskoye Selo with the famous Catherine Palace and its delightful Amber Room, with magnificent parks, etc..Start exploring the Vitebsk station. At first, there was an ordinary one-story wooden building, which made it a small station, as in some provincial town. But Petersburg was still the capital. And no good, the authorities thought. And in 1849-1852 a solid stone building was built on this site according to the project of the architect K.A. Ton, the author of the Moscow station. The construction was done in a classic style. Years later, it fell into oblivion.In 1904, according to the project of academician of architecture S. A. Brzhozovsky, a huge station complex in the "modern" style was erected in its place. To this day, the Vitebsky Station is not inferior in beauty and grandeur to its European railway "brothers." In its decor, you can see openwork lattices, various modernist delights, many unique architectural elements, sometimes differing from classical St. Petersburg.Now all this can not but arouse admiration, and in those days, at the beginning of the last century - as everything here was a curiosity. The station is equipped with all modern technical means. Vitebsky Station is loved by filmmakers. He got into the frames of such films as “The Twentieth Century Begins”, “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes”, “Station for Two”, “Brother”.AddressPushkinskaya metro station ", Zagorodny prospekt, 528) Bridges of St. Petersburg is a separate huge novel in the history of the glorious city on the Neva which not surprisingly is called the city of bridges. To see them all - about 300, you need to live here for more than one year.During sightseeing in the Northern capital, it is impossible not to admire the most famous of them - Palace Bridge and Trinity Bridge. And we want to focus your attention on this unique crossing, first of all, on the most charming - Peter the Great Bridge - Bolsheokhtinsky Bridge.Many tourists find in it and in its surroundings a resemblance to the London surroundings. It was not without reason that in 1983 part of the bridge fell into the scenes “Treasures of Agra” from the series “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson”. Filmmakers were able to convince domestic audiences that Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were chasing criminal Jonathan Small on the Thames in London.Also in 2013, scenes from the film "I Make a Decision" were shot at the bridge. In 2015-2016, on the Bolsheokhtinsky bridge and its environs, they shot the 2nd season of the series Major. But most importantly, why you need to see him at least once in your life, suddenly you are lucky. According to legend, one of the rivets in the construction of the Bolsheokhtinsky bridge is gold. No one has yet found her.AddressChernyshevskaya metro station, Bolsheokhtinsky bridge9) Some consider the "Doctor Peel Pharmacy" not only ancient, but also strange, some as the most mysterious and mystical, as a whole, picturesque corner of history in St. Petersburg. In reality, the pharmacy building looks authentic, inside - at least, everything breathes in the past and is full of rarity.Here you can see old appliances from Pel’s workshop, a bulky telephone, funny cones and leather chairs from those times, etc.. This is a place where you can endlessly examine various historical exhibits. Among them there is a stuffed crocodile. The logo itself with a black silhouette of the owner, in whose honor the pharmacy was named, is quite mesmerizing in the cylinder.But let's start all over again. This drugstore appeared in the capital on Bolshaya Meshchanskaya in 1760. Here, its grand opening took place. And she was called differently. In 1770, pharmacist Aric moved her to the 7th line of Vasilievsky Island, where she is to this day.The pharmacy had several owners. In 1850, it was acquired by Vasily Vasilievich Pel. Then at once she was given the name of the new owner, and she is called the "Pelya Pharmacy" from then until today. Pel was seriously engaged in his favorite business: he transformed a pharmacy laboratory, introduced quality control of raw materials, and created a warehouse of benign drugs.In 1867, even Pel founded the Russian Society for the Sale of Pharmaceutical Goods. Since 1871, he serves as a reliable supplier of medicines to the imperial court. After the death of Pel, the son continued the work of the father, in the future the pharmacy was managed by the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Vasily Vasilyevich.However, during the Soviet era, the laboratory and the factory did not work in the pharmacy. She was given another name - "Andreevskaya", which was understandable, since it was opposite the Andreevsky market. In the Great Patriotic War, the pharmacy did not close, oddly enough, but no matter how scary it was, because shells were aiming at it, and yet it hit the building and inflicted damage on it.Alas, in 2005 there was a fire in it. Fortunately, in 2010 the oldest drugstore was restored, and in the same year it was already serving customers. Since 2011, excursions have been held at the Doctor Peel Pharmacy, and she annually participates in the Museum Night project."Doctor Pelya's Pharmacy" is located in the house 16-18 on the 7th line of Vasilyevsky Island, but the building was not such when VV Pelyu got it. In 1858, houses were combined. In 1907, a corner house was built on, as well as floors: 3rd, 4th, 5th and attic. In 1910, the facade was decorated in the contemporarily modern style. Thanks to these reconstructions, the name of Professor Pelya Vasily Vasilyevich and his descendants went down in the history of St. Petersburg. On top it all you should be intrigued even more. As they say briefly on a page in a group:A new series is being shot at Doctor Pehl's Pharmacy! "Silence. Camera. Get started!"AddressMetro station "Vasileostrovskaya", 7th line V.O.10) The Necropolis of the Museum of Urban Sculpture is the Necropolis of the 18th century and the Necropolis of Artists. The necropolis of the 18th century and the Necropolis of art masters are important sights of St. Petersburg, where they come to pay tribute to the great figures of the past.In the XVIII century Necropolis a unique collection of works of memorial art of the XVIII - XX centuries. Here you can see the monuments to famous writers and scientists: M. V. Lomonosov, D. I. Fonvizin; architect: A.N. Voronikhin, J. Tom de Tomon, D. Quarenghi, K.I. Rossi; sculptors, political and military figures, as well as many other famous Petersburgers - in total more than 1000 monuments. The Lazarev tomb contains more than 80 tombstones, including monuments to prominent figures in Russian history :: B.P. Sheremetev, I.A. Hannibal, F.P. Uvarov.Artists come to the Necropolis to pay tribute to musicians and artists, poets and actors. There are memorials to M. I. Glinka and P. I. Tchaikovsky, N. M. Karamzin and F. M. Dostoevsky, I. I. Shishkin and I. N. Kramsky, V. F. Komissarzhevskaya and G. A. Tovstonogov and about 200 other artists. An exhibition dedicated to the monumental sculpture of St. Petersburg has been placed in the exhibition hall on the territory of the Necropolis, temporary exhibitions are held here.This complex also includes Narva Gate and Anikushin's workshop. The necropolis was founded at the beginning of the 19th century, when there was no more space in the old cemetery at the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. It was here that many famous cultural figures of the 19th century were buried. Unfortunately, in the 30s of the XX century, some graves were destroyed.Address and opening hoursMetro station "Alexander Nevsky Square", Nevsky pr., 179Necropolis of the XVIII century: 9: 30–18 :: 00, seven days a weekNecropolis of Masters of the Arts: 9: 30–21: 00, Thu - from 9:30 to 18:0011) In the very heart of St. Petersburg, on its main highway - Nevsky Prospekt, opposite the Catherine’s Garden there is a legendary deli known throughout the world. His story is amazing. In 1812, on one of the magical and frosty Christmas evenings, Count Sheremetev’s serf gardener, Peter Eliseev, presented the guests with a dish of freshly grown strawberries.All those present were so amazed at the fresh, sweet and fragrant berry in the winter that the Count was ready to fulfill any desire of his faithful servant and talented gardener. Sheremetyev asked Eliseev what he wants for this charm. Eliseev quickly answered: "Freedom." The count kept his word, although it was a pity to lose the brilliant gardener. He gave freedom to Peter. "And a hundred rubles ... for the establishment," - at the request of Princess Dolgoruky, who was present at the evening. A 100 rubles of lifting - a lot of money at that time. For comparison, a good mansion could be built for them.Without hesitation, in fear that the count would not change his mind, Peter Eliseev took his whole family with his belongings and went to conquer the capital. He immediately bought a bag of oranges, went to Nevsky Prospect and began to trade. After 90 years, his descendants in the same place opened a grocery store, glorifying the family name for centuries.The building was designed by one of the largest architects and public figures of the late XIX - early XX centuries - G.V. Baranovsky. In the Soviet era, the "Eliseevsky" store "on Nevsky Prospekt 56 was renamed as" Grocery Store No. 1 ". However almost no one called it that; among the people, it still remained Eliseevsky.Since then, the "Shop of the Merchants Eliseevs" has always been a refined atmosphere and luxurious interior. Today it is restored from photographs of 1903. In addition to the luxury of decoration in the deli, you can see all kinds of inimitable delights, most importantly, here you can buy: various fish, meat delicacies, confectionery and alcoholic beverages, any gastronomic works of art and indescribable goodies.A cafe is open for Petersburgers and city guests on the Neva River, where they enjoy coffee with dessert and the atmosphere of the early 20th century. In the "Shop of merchants Eliseev" it is pleasant to be and make purchases. Eliseevsky grocery store is easy to find. It differs on Nevsky with its colorful showcase and striking design. Locals love the local delicious and fragrant pastries, eclairs - melting in your mouth. What is more many there you can purchse many other culinary masterpieces that you really can not see in other stores of the Northern capital.Address and opening hoursGostiny Dvor metro station, Nevsky pr., 56/8Daily from 10:00 to 23:0012) In summer, the Botanical Garden opens for visitors one of the "pearls of a blossoming museum" - the Victorian Orangery. It was revived and received the first visitors, connoisseurs of beauty in 2015. For winter, the water route is closed - it is exclusively a summer pleasure.The Victorian greenhouse was arranged in the garden over 100 years ago. Its highlight is the pool - one of the largest greenhouse reservoirs in the world. Under the glass dome stretched the water surface of the pool, where you can see wonderful lotuses and several types of giant water lilies. Also, guests are shown rhizophores, pandanuses, sugarcane, water hyacinth, Egyptian lotus, rice and much more. Making water routes, participants in walks in the greenhouse observe the beautiful flowering of lotuses, which lasts all summer. Garden employees write:In St. Petersburg, lotuses can bloom. Is this not evidence that anything is possible?In the water conservatory you can admire the largest water lily in the world - Victoria of the Amazon. Its homeland is the water elements of the Amazon and Lake Titicaca. This beautiful water flower was named after the British Queen Victoria. The diameter of round leaves is about 2 meters. And withstand capable floating saucer weight up to 50 kilograms. So, not only an inch or a child, but also a teenager, or even a small one, a thin adult can calmly sit on a "flower", or even swim.Address and opening hoursMetro station "Petrogradskaya", st. Professor Popov, 2Tue-Sun 10: 00-16: 30″© Необычные места в Петербурге, которые нужно увидеть хотя бы раз в жизни

Q. Did the British Parliament commission Graham Sutherland to paint a full-length portrait of Sir Winston Churchill in 1954 as a way of giving the then prime minister a reality check of his condition?A. Sir Winston Churchill was honored at the opening of parliament in 1954 which coincided with his 80th birthday. The portrait was commissioned by both houses of parliament as a tribute for his service. While the portrait was unveiled by the opposition leader Clement Attlee, it was not meant to discredit him. He accepted the gift with grace. Although his wife Clementine thought otherwise.Portrait of Prime Minister Winston Churchill painted in 1955 at the age of eighty-one, during his second term as Prime Minister by the artist, Bernard Hailstone. Churchill sat informally to the artist in his famous siren suit, the outfit he habitually wore during his wartime leadership. (Artist sought out by Churchill, and captured as he saw himself.)Winston Churchil: “The portrait is a remarkable example of modern art.”Sutherland's Portrait of Winston Churchill - WikipediaThe Real Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill Receives Portrait by Graham Sutherland (1954)Churchill's Forgotten, Ruthless Past | On The Media | WNYC StudiosWhat I Learned From Winston Churchill and ‘The Crown’The International Churchill SocietyPhilip Mould | Historical Portraits | Sir Winston Churchill PM | Bernard Hailstone |Quote Explained #3: Winston Churchill - Success - Inspirational Quotes | QuotiveePortrait art has never been more pointlessThe Winston Churchill style guide: cuban cigars, cars and bow tiesPortrait – Art Term | TateWhat “Darkest Hour” doesn’t tell you about Winston ChurchillThe importance of portrait painting in today's societyקובץ:Winston Churchill in North Africa, August 1942 – ויקיפדיהPortrait painting - WikipediaWhat can Brexit Britain learn from Winston Churchill?Sutherland's portrait of ChurchillWinston Churchill | Historical Figures | History | Yesterday Channel8 Lost Masterpieces of ArtWords to Start a War: Read Churchill's 'Iron Curtain' SpeechSecret of Winston Churchill's unpopular Sutherland portrait revealed10 Great Winston Churchill SpeechesSutherland's Portrait of Winston Churchill - WikipediaGraham Sutherland's 1954 portrait of Winston ChurchillIn 1954 the English artist Graham Sutherland was commissioned to paint a full-length portrait of Sir Winston Churchill. The 1,000 guinea fee for the painting was funded by donations from members of the House of Commons and House of Lords. The painting was presented to Churchill by both Houses of Parliament at a public ceremony in Westminster Hall on his 80th birthday on 30 November 1954.Churchill hated the portrait. After the public presentation, the painting was taken to his country home at Chartwell but was not put on display. After the death of Lady Churchill in 1977, it became clear that she had the painting destroyed some months after it was delivered.BackgroundChurchill was an elder statesman in 1954, then towards the end of his second period as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Sutherland had a reputation as a modernist painter with some recent successful portraits, such as Somerset Maugham in 1949. He was drawn to capturing the real person: some sitters considered his disinclination to flattery as a form of cruelty or disparagement.Sutherland and Churchill had very different conceptions of the painting. Churchill hoped to be depicted in his robes as a Knight of the Garter, but the commission specified that he should be shown in his usual parliamentary dress – a black morning coat, with waistcoatand striped trousers, and a spotted bow tie.PreparationSutherland made charcoal sketches of Churchill at a handful of sittings at Chartwell from August 1954, concentrating on Churchill's hands and face, and then made some oil studies. Sutherland also worked from photographs by Elsbeth Juda. He took his preliminary materials back to his studio to create the final work on a large square canvas, the shape chosen to figuratively represent Churchill's solidity, reflecting a remark that Churchill made, "I am a rock".The pose, with Churchill grasping the arms of his chair, recalls the statue of US President Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. Churchill is shown scowling, slightly slumped forward, surrounded by wintry grey, brown and black tones. Sutherland was reluctant to discuss the work in progress with Churchill and showed the subject few of his working materials. Churchill's wife thought it was a good resemblance – "really quite alarmingly like him" – but also said it made him look too cross, while recognising that it was a familiar expression. Churchill's son Randolph thought the portrait made him look "disenchanted".Winston Churchill by Graham Sutherland pencil and wash, 1954ReceptionChurchill's wife viewed the completed portrait on 20 November 1954 and took a photograph back to her husband. It was his first view of the work, and he was deeply upset. He described it to Lord Moran as "filthy" and "malignant", and complained that it made him “look like a down-and-out drunk who has been picked out of the gutter in the Strand.” With only 10 days to go, he sent a note to Sutherland stating that "the painting, however masterly in execution, is not suitable" and declaring that the ceremony would go ahead without it. Sutherland maintained that he honestly painted what he saw. MP Charles Doughty persuaded Churchill that the presentation had to go ahead, to avoid offending the donors.The presentation ceremony at Westminster Hall was recorded by the BBC. In his acceptance speech, Churchill remarked on the unprecedented honour shown to him and described the painting (in a remark often considered a backhanded compliment) as "a remarkable example of modern art", combining "force and candour". Other reactions were mixed; some critics praised the strength of its likeness, but others condemned it as a disgrace. While Aneurin Bevan, a Labour MP and one of Churchill's critics, called it, "A beautiful work", Lord Hailsham, one of Churchill's Conservative colleagues and a friend, called it "disgusting".The painting was intended to hang in the Houses of Parliament after Churchill's death, but it had been given to Churchill as a personal gift, and he took it away to Chartwell, where it was never displayed. Requests to borrow the painting for exhibitions of Sutherland's work were refused. In 1978, it was reported that Lady Churchill had destroyed the painting within a year of its arrival at Chartwell, by breaking it into pieces and having them incinerated, to avoid causing further distress to her husband. Lady Churchill had destroyed earlier portraits of her husband that she disliked, including sketches by Walter Sickert and Paul Maze. In fact, Lady Churchill had hidden the portrait in the cellars at Chartwell, and employed her private secretary Grace Hamblin and Hamblin's brother to remove it in the middle of the night and burn it in a remote location.Many commentators were aghast at the destruction of a work of art, and Sutherland condemned it as an act of vandalism; others upheld the Churchills' right to dispose of their property as they saw fit.Some preparatory sketches for Sutherland's painting are held by the National Portrait Gallery, London. It is thought that a copy of the portrait is held at the Carlton Club, also in London, although it is not on display. The Beaverbrook Art Gallery also has a number of studies Sutherland did in preparation for the portrait in its collection.Winston Churchill by Graham Sutherland oil on canvas, 1954Cultural referencesWithin the events of the Netflix series The Crown, the ninth episode of the first season dramatizes the creation, unveiling, and destruction of the portrait starring John Lithgow as Sir Winston Churchill, Stephen Dillane as Graham Sutherland, and Harriet Walter as Lady Churchill. The episode won Lithgow a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.Winston Churchill Receives Portrait by Graham Sutherland (1954)Westminster's Day Of Majesty (1954)As part of his 1954 birthday celebration, Winston Churchill receives Graham Sutherland's portrait at Westminster Hall in London. "The portrait is a remarkable example of modern art," says Churchill with a sarcastic undertone (he had previously tried to reject the portrait), which draws a laugh from the crowd. The original Graham Sutherland Winston Churchill portrait can be seen in this video. It was never displayed in public and Churchill's wife Clementine would later have it burned.What I Learned From Winston Churchill and ‘The Crown’This 1979 “sand painting” attempts to reproduce Sutherland's painting of Churchill, “a remarkable example of modern art”. Lady Churchill had the original destroyed. (Source: Brian Pike, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)Tod WornerThe artist was standing before a bulldog.And both of them knew it.His subject stood dressed in his stately parliamentary attire. Cigar champed between his teeth, his eyes periodically glowering when they were not searching the artist’s face and hands. Impatiently, he shifted from one foot to the other. The bulldog wasn’t sure he trusted this modern artist.Graham Sutherland by Irving Penn gelatin silver print, 1950For in 1954, Graham Sutherland had accepted a sizable commission. He was asked to paint a portrait of Prime Minister Winston Churchill.The occasion for the portrait was Churchill’s 80th birthday. Serving his second term as Great Britain’s Prime Minister, both Houses of Parliament raised a large sum of money to secure the skills of a celebrated artist. Graham Sutherland was deemed worthy and subsequently charged with artistically immortalizing the iconic victor of World War II. Though Sutherland was aware of the mettle of which Churchill was still made, it was clear that the Prime Minister had aged appreciably with accustomed weight gain and physical frailties. And so, Churchill’s interest in a flattering remembrance of “his finest hour” was quite keen.What actually transpired in the sessions held between Graham Sutherland and Winston Churchill is surely lost to history, but the Netflix series (The Crown) about Queen Elizabeth II and Winston Churchill does its level best to poignantly help us to imagine.In the ninth episode (out of ten episodes in Season 1) called Assassins, we witness the initial exchange between the reserved artist and the brash Prime Minister. Both figures are guarded and deftly sizing one another up.Churchill: So, where do you want me? So, will we be engaged in flattery or reality? Are you going to paint me as a cherub or a bulldog? I imagine there are a great number of Mr. Churchill’s.Sutherland: Yes, indeed there are.Churchill: Well, as you search for him, perhaps I can implore you not to feel the need to be too accurate.Sutherland: Why? Accuracy is truth.Churchill: No. For accuracy we have the camera. Painting is the higher art.Churchill recognizes not only has his body tired, mind slowed and weight climbed, but moreover that his indispensable role as the roaring lion of 1940 has passed. He fears that, in spite of his continued hold on the Prime Minister’s position, his power is increasingly ceremonial and phantom…that his age has defeated him. And the stroke of an artist’s brush, if not assiduously coaxed, may tell this story without mercy.Sutherland, on the other hand, feels there is mercy in tenderly surrendering to the inevitable truths (warts, Churchill may call them) of age, that our heroes are human, and that proud ideals are more easily approached when we sense their accompanying twinges of sadness and musty decay.The ideal inspires, leads and ennobles says one. The real humanizes, humbles and assures says the other.In another scene, not allowed to see the portrait in the making, Churchill would badger with a touch of anxious anticipation. Could he give advice to Sutherland to better represent his finer points? Could he help him shave of the bad and smooth over rough edges? After all, Churchill would remind:I find in general people have very little understanding of who they are. One has to turn a blind eye to so much of oneself in order to get through life.When Sutherland gently insists that the artist’s call is to draw out and represent the good as well as the bad, Churchill huffs:Just concentrate on the good, and all will be well. You’re not just painting me, you know. You’re painting the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and everything that great office represents. Democracy. Freedom. The highest ideals of government and leadership. Just remember that.As the sessions continued and the day of presentation drew near, Churchill grew more apprehensive. He began to research Sutherland’s style and questioned him on it, playfully and then, pointedly. Likewise, Sutherland analyzed some of Churchill’s paintings and responded in kind. The resulting dialogue was a pinnacle of poignancy that captured the ideal beauty of art fed by the deep pain of reality.Churchill: Do you think I’ll like it?Sutherland: I think that’s possibly too much to ask for. But I do take comfort from the fact that your own work is so honest and revealing.Churchill: Oh, thank you for the compliment. Well, are there any works that you’re referring to in particular?Sutherland: I was thinking especially of the goldfish pond here at Chartwell.Churchill: The pond? Why the pond? It’s just a pond.Sutherland: It’s very much more than that. As borne out by the fact that you’ve returned to it again and again. More than twenty times.Churchill: Well, yes, because it’s such a technical challenge. It eludes me.Sutherland: Well perhaps you elude yourself, sir. That’s why it’s more revealing than a self-portrait.Churchill: Oh, that’s nonsense. It’s the water, the play of light. The trickery. The fish, down below.Sutherland: I think all our work is unintentionally revealing and I find it especially so with your pond. Beneath the tranquility and the elegance and the light playing on the surface, I saw honesty and pain, terrible pain. The framing itself, indicated to me that you wanted us to see something beneath all the muted colors, deep down in the water. Terrible despair. Hiding like a Leviathan. Like a sea monster.Churchill: You saw all that?Sutherland: Yes, I did.Churchill: Perhaps that says more about you than me?Sutherland: Perhaps.Churchill: May I ask you a question, Mr. Sutherland? It’s about one of your paintings. It’s about the one you call “Pastoral”. With all that gnarled and twisted wood. Those great ugly dabs of black. I found something malevolent in it. Where did that come from?Sutherland: Well, that’s very perceptive. That was a very dark time. My... my son, John, passed away, aged two months.Churchill: Oh my. I am sorry.Sutherland: Yes. Thank you. You have five, yes?Churchill: Four. Marigold was the fifth. She left us at age two years, nine months. Septicemia.Sutherland: I’m so sorry. I had no idea.Churchill: We settled on the name Marigold, on account of her wonderful golden curls. The most extraordinary color. Regretfully, but though perhaps mercifully, I was not present when she died. When I came home, Clemmie roared like a wounded animal. We bought Chartwell a year after Marigold died. That was when... I put in the pond.For a moment, in grief, the artist and the bulldog understood one another. For a moment, they were unlikely brothers. Their art served as an outlet that both obscured and revealed the depths of their despair. The brushstrokes painted images of ideal beauty, yet very real woe.When Graham Sutherland’s painting was unveiled before Parliament, benefactors and Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister was mortified. In it, he saw decay and demoralization. Privately, he called the portrait malignant and had it cut up and burned. Sutherland, however, saw the lion of Britain no less heroic … only tempered by the bittersweet surety of age.Both men went their separate ways.Indeed.And then, both began to paint again.(The Crown, a brilliant series, is available only on Netflix.)Graham Sutherland – Stone in Estuary, 1935 (Left) / Landscape with Rocks, 1944 (Right) – image courtesy of Lucy Johnson galleryPhilip Mould | Historical Portraits | Sir Winston Churchill PM | Bernard Hailstone |Portrait of Sir Winston Churchill KG (1874-1965) Oil and CanvasThis important portrait is a rare life study of Churchill painted in 1955. It shows him at the age of eighty-one, during his second term as Prime Minister, and was painted during sittings for his last commissioned portrait. The artist, Bernard Hailstone, had been commissioned to portray Churchill as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, the ancient union of Sandwich, Dover, Hythe, Romney and Hastings. The finished full-length portrait is in the collection of the Imperial War Museum, and shows Churchill in full dress uniform and decorations. The present sketch, however, shows Churchill as he sat informally to the artist in his famous siren suit, the outfit he habitually wore during his wartime leadership.The success of the present portrait in showing Churchill’s character and indefatigable spirit (despite the fact that by then he had suffered three successive strokes) was no small achievement, for the Prime Minister was by no means an easy sitter. Churchill was hard to please, and the Hailstone portrait was in part an attempt to succeed where Graham Sutherland’s earlier portrait of 1954 had so famously failed. When Sutherland’s portrait was unveiled to Parliament in 1954 Churchill made a civil acceptance speech, but privately called it ‘filthy’ and ‘malignant’. His wife Clementine likened the image to a ‘gross and cruel monster’. The painting disappeared, and it was only in 1979 that the national press revealed Clementine had burnt it.Churchill took matters into his own hands, and stormed into studio of Bernard Hailstone, by then a well-established society portraitist, demanding that he execute an alternative portrait: ‘It was a Friday afternoon’ the artist recalled, ‘and I was up in the attic, arranging it as a studio, when Sir Winston came in. “Graham Sutherland”, he snarled, “made me look like some half dead thing. I’m not, am I?”’. Hailstone found Churchill a frustrating sitter, ‘[he] refused to sit for very long at a time and was constantly moving. As a matter of fact he was dictating his “History of The English Speaking Peoples” as I was trying to paint him, and we eventually came to some sort of agreement involving sign language…the hand turned sideways, veering to either right or left, was the indication of where I wanted his head to move”’.The resulting portrait therefore captured Churchill as he saw himself. Churchill’s concern over his own image is reflected in his famous remark that history would be kind to him ‘because I shall write it.’ And his experience with Sutherland was repeated with the sculptor Oscar Nemon, whose first attempt at a bust was struck down with the angry denunciation that it made the sitter look like a ‘shifty warmonger’. The present head study is however remarkably personable. This is Churchill behind the public facade.As an artist, Hailstone was an apposite choice for Churchill. Hailstone’s whole persona conveyed optimism; his gregariousness was much commented upon by his sitters, who included members of the Royal Family (Princess Anne, Prince Charles, and Queen Elizabeth II - in 1978) as well as cultural heavyweights such as Peter Ustinov and Sir Laurence Olivier. His ability to convey charisma derived from observation of nuanced facial expression, and he often surrounded his still sitter with a body of impressionistic brushwork which lent entire compositions animation. In this case, artist and sitter got along well, and both Churchill and Clementine praised Hailstone’s achievement.Hailstone’s own career trajectory was an eccentric one. As a member of the Auxiliary Fire Services, he began painting scenes of the Blitz and the Royal Academy featured them in an exhibition. This attracted the attention of Kenneth Clarke, who asked Hailstone to represent the Merchant Navy an Official War Artist. With typically enterprising spirit he requested a posting to the Far East to paint Lord Mountbatten and his Chiefs of Staff. After the war he focussed entirely on portraiture.This picture was purchased from the artist by a member of Churchill’s family, from whom it has passed by descent. The quirk of its date – a fudged 1957 – needs explanation however. It is reported by the present owner that it was reframed by Hailstone in 1967 and he mistakenly dated it that year. Remembering the true date of 1955, he felt that it was easier to change the 6 than the 7 – accordingly one digit remains erroneous. Two replica versions of this preparatory study are recorded, however they lack the vitality of the original.Portrait art has never been more pointlessWhy does mention of portraiture make me snort with derision? For the sitter, to have one's portrait painted is to indulge in a preposterous bit of self-aggrandisement, while to be a jobbing portrait painter is to exercise the lucrative employment of one's skills in a manner that has nothing to do with contemporary art. To champion portrait painting is to hark back to a 19th-century view of what matters in art, just as to visit the National Portrait Gallery is to enter an archive of social history rather than an art gallery. But isn't there something perverse about this view? I know Jean-Paul Sartre told us that hell is other people, but on the whole we tend not to be so misanthropic. We like people a lot, and whether or not we have met them personally, we gain particular satisfaction from knowing what they look like.Among the genres of art we find outlined in traditional academic theory, landscape appears to be the one with the largest and most immediate contemporary purchase on our imagination. While Joshua Reynolds might have been thinking only of painting when he discussed 'landskips' in his Discourses on Art, the category now encompasses a far wider range of activities, from Richard Long's walks to the wheat crop recently grown and harvestedon a disused railway siding in Dalston, East London, by the Hungarian-American artist Agnes Denes.Alongside landscape, that other minor category, portraiture, seems to be much less secure in its status. The act of commissioning a portrait is something few of us will do – it being restricted to those with more money than is good for them. There are more photographic images of individuals around than ever before – perhaps because of that, and the ease with which still more can be generated, the idea of producing a composed portrait strikes me as increasingly pointless. Even when we do encounter such a thing, we don't always assume that what we're looking at is a portrait. Why is it, for example, that when walking round the current Elizabeth Peyton exhibition at the Whitechapel Art Gallery – an exhibition consisting largely of paintings of people – it doesn't seem right to classify it as a show of portraiture?The people Peyton paints are famous, and their faces can be seen everywhere in countless photographs. So, one of the main functions of the portrait – producing a likeness – is rendered irrelevant because we really don't need Peyton to show us what Liam Gallagher looks like. If her work is interesting it's because it goes beyond this, allowing us to see Gallagher not only as an individual, but as signifying pervasive features of our cultural environment, a screen upon which we can project our own desires and fears. Which is to say, it is not a portrait at all, but what Reynolds would have called a history painting: the most important kind of art there is.Reynolds's preferred term was, in fact, poetical painting. That is, painting that generalises a specific person in an imaginative and instructive way. When Charlotte Corday went to stab the French revolutionary Marat, he was sitting in his bath because that was the only way he could get relief for the chronic skin condition from which he suffered. He was definitely not the smooth-skinned, muscle-bound, Michelangelo-esque demi-god depicted by Jacques-Louis David in his famous painting of the murdered man. Likewise, when Gerhard Richter paints his aunt Marianne from an old family snapshot – a painting shown in the exhibition of his portraits at the National Portrait Gallery earlier this year – what makes it overwhelmingly powerful is the knowledge that some time after the photo was taken she was placed in a mental home and subsequently murdered by the Nazis as part of their euthanasia programme to improve the nation's health.The figure in history is what matters. As with landscape, portraiture becomes pertinent when it breaks out of its straightjacket and offers something more than a tastefully composed and skilfully executed representation of someone. This is not to say that painting can't matter in either landscape or portraiture, it's just that it can no longer be a necessary and sufficient condition. Witness the contrasting tales of two men in Trafalgar Square. Nicholas Penny, director of the National Gallery, has expressed regret at the spectacle of Antony Gormley's One and Other project outside his hallowed doors. Sandy Nairne, director of the adjacent National Portrait Gallery, has himself stood on the fourth plinth. There is a live feed from the plinth relayed to a screen in the portrait gallery's foyer in recognition of the fact that, along with such things as tagged photos on Facebook, this parade of randomly selected humanity is as much as anything else the contemporary face of portraiture.Portrait – Art Term | TateBritish School 17th century The Cholmondeley Ladies c.1600–10 TatePortraiture is a very old art form going back at least to ancient Egypt, where it flourished from about 5,000 years ago. Before the invention of photography, a painted, sculpted, or drawn portrait was the only way to record the appearance of someone.But portraits have always been more than just a record. They have been used to show the power, importance, virtue, beauty, wealth, taste, learning or other qualities of the sitter. Portraits have almost always been flattering, and painters who refused to flatter, such as William Hogarth, tended to find their work rejected. A notable exception was Francisco Goya in his apparently bluntly truthful portraits of the Spanish royal family.Among leading modern artists portrait painting on commission, that is to order, became increasingly rare. Instead artists painted their friends and lovers in whatever way they pleased. Most of Picasso’s pictures of women, for example, however bizarre, can be identified as portraits of his lovers. At the same time, photography became the most important medium of traditional portraiture, bringing what was formerly an expensive luxury product affordable for almost everyone. Since the 1990s artists have also used video to create living portraits. But portrait painting continues to flourish.The importance of portrait painting in today's society.Susan Boone DurkeePortrait Painter specializing in Traditional Classic Portraiture for over 25 years6 articles"There is no greater work of Art then a great Portrait" Henry JamesAn oil Portrait lives forever! The portrait symbolizes the value and worth of the individual in society. To capture a loved one or to honor a special individual on canvas is a timeless human need and expression. An oil portrait, unlike a photograph, has so much room for expression and power, passion and harmony, and life. Today, Portraiture is more important than ever. In a world becoming less and less sensitive to the human condition, the more important portraiture becomes for preserving our humanity, culture, care and love. Mankind has an inherent need to love and honor, as an art form, only portraiture can accomplish this.Portrait painting - WikipediaPortrait painting is a genre in painting, where the intent is to depict a human subject. The term 'portrait painting' can also describe the actual painted portrait. Portraitists may create their work by commission, for public and private persons, or they may be inspired by admiration or affection for the subject. Portraits are often important state and family records, as well as remembrances.The official Chinese court portrait painting of Empress Cao (wife of Emperor Renzong) of Song Dynasty, 11th centuryHistorically, portrait paintings have primarily memorialized the rich and powerful. Over time, however, it became more common for middle-class patrons to commission portraits of their families and colleagues. Today, portrait paintings are still commissioned by governments, corporations, groups, clubs, and individuals. In addition to painting, portraits can also be made in other media such as etching, lithography, photography, video and digital media.Anthony van Dyck, Charles I in Three Positions, 1635-1636, shows profile, full face and three-quarter views, to send to Bernini in Rome, who was to sculpt a bust from this model.Sutherland's portrait of ChurchillSaturday, 13 May, 2017In June 2016 (see previous article), Alistair Lexden published an article about Graham Sutherland’s acclaimed, but deeply controversial portrait of Winston Churchill. Presented to him on his eightieth birthday, 30 November 1954, the picture was later destroyed on his wife’s instructions. (A copy was later made and given to the Carlton Club, but it is not on display.)A programme about the portrait and its destruction is being made for broadcast on Sky Arts; it is expected to be shown towards the end of the year. On 11 May Alistair Lexden was interviewed at some length in Westminster Hall where the portrait was presented in front of a large group of MPs, peers and distinguished guests. He described the ceremony itself, which concluded with a well-known speech of thanks from Churchill. He devoted just two terse sentences to this “remarkable example of modern art”; a finely produced volume, containing the names of the parliamentarians who had contributed to the cost which was also presented to him, received lavish praise. No one was in any doubt about his dislike of the portrait.Alistair Lexden also explained how Sutherland came to be commissioned by an all-party committee of MPs in July 1954 and how work progressed with Sutherland and Churchill establishing a friendship which was shattered when Churchill saw a photograph of the portrait a few days before it was due to be presented. He tried to get the presentation cancelled. His hatred of the picture became all-consuming. Lady Churchill’s secretary and her brother burned it at the latter’s house near Chartwell in 1955 or 1956.Graham Sutherland – Western Hills, 1938-1941 – image via Financial Times8 Lost Masterpieces of ArtSecret of Winston Churchill's unpopular Sutherland portrait revealedThe true fate of Sir Winston Churchill's Sutherland portrait has come to light, finally unravelling the mystery of its controversial disappearance.The portrait of Sir Winston Churchill by Graham SutherlandBy Hannah Furness, Arts correspondent10:47AM BST 10 Jul 2015As 80th birthday presents go, it was one of the more awkward in political history: a portrait described as making its subject look "half-witted" and famously destroyed by his disapproving wife.Now, decades later, the true fate of Sir Winston Churchill's Sutherland portrait has come to light, finally unravelling the mystery of its controversial disappearance.The painting, hated by Sir Winston's family, was until now understood to have been disposed of by Clementine Churchill, who strove to carefully control the politician's reputation after his death.But a tape stored unnoticed in an archive has revealed the full story behind its disappearance.In fact, the painting was taken out in the dead of night by Lady Churchill's loyal private secretary, driven by her older brother to a country house and burned so far away from the road that nobody ever noticed.The conspiring women later took a vow never to reveal what happened, to avoid anyone being unfairly blamed for using their initiative to carry out Lady Churchill's wishes.Sonia Purnell, a historian who has written a biography of Sir Winston's wife, said the account, from Grace Hamblin, had been recorded onto tape before her death and sealed, lying largely unnoticed by scholars ever since.Clementine Hozier with fiancee Winston Churchill, one week before their marriage in 1908 (Alamy)Speaking at the Telegraph's Ways With Words festival, she said the recording was "probably not looked at until I stumbled across it" at the Churchill Archives Centre, Cambridge, giving the first full account of the destruction."There have been lots of rumours about it," she told an audience in Dartington, Devon."Clementine asked Grace Hamblin, her secretary at Chartwell: 'What do we do Grace? We've got to get rid of it'."It had been hidden in a sort of cellar at Chartwell. Grace thought about what to do."It was very, very heavy, so she got her big burly brother over to Chartwell in the dead of night, and they carried it out of Chartwell into her brother's van. I think her brother was a landscape gardener or something like that."They put it in the back of his van and drove to his house several miles away, and then scurried round the side of his house into the back garden, built a huge bonfire and put it on so that no-one could see it from the street."The next day, she told Clementine what she'd done and Clementine said: 'We'll never tell anyone about this because after I go I don't want anyone blaming you. But believe me, you did exactly as I wouldhave wanted'."Grace, who died in 2002 aged 94, was described as the "greatly loved and ever efficient private secretary of Winston and Clementine Churchill for more than 40 years".She went on to run Chartwell and became a curator when it was passed to the National Trust and has gone down in history for her discretion and loyal devotion to the Churchill family. Among her tasks was to finally confirm to the public that the Sutherland portrait had indeed been destroyed.A 1978 newspaper article, confirming the loss of the painting, said: "This was done on her own initiative by Lady Churchill before Sir Winston's death."She neither consulted anyone, nor informed anyone, of her intention."The painting, by Graham Sutherland, was commissioned by members of the House of Commons and House of Lords to mark Sir Winston's 80th birthday.When it was first unveiled, Sir Winston archly described it as "a remarkable example of modern art" to laughter from his audience.Sutherland later described the disposal of the portrait as an "act of vandalism"."Clementine's work, in the last few years of her life, was all about protecting his [Sir Winston's] legacy," said Purnell. "When his career was no longer important, it was his legacy that counted."Just as she was fastidious in promoting his career, so she did the same with his legacy."She saw that painting as not being the kind of heroic, warrior statesmankind of image she wanted to project."So she was ruthless about it; it had to go."She added that the recording of the confession had gone under the radar of biographers until now because historians have been so focused on archives relating to Sir Winston himself.Her book, First Lady: The Life and Wars of Clementine Churchill, details Miss Hamblin's account of the incident, saying: "I destroyed it but Lady C and I decided we would not tell anyone. She was thinking of me."The biography was awarded five stars by the Telegraph and is out now.Graham Sutherland – The Fly, 1978 – image courtesy of Goldmark GalleryBy PETER HITCHENS FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAYPUBLISHED: 00:53 BST, 12 July 2015Facing the truth about a legendNow at last we have absolute confirmation that Graham Sutherland’s ruthlessly honest portrait of Sir Winston Churchill was indeed burned because the great man’s wife, Clementine, couldn’t bear to look at it. You can see why. It’s not flattering. But no good portrait is flattering.Now at last we have absolute confirmation that Graham Sutherland’s ruthlessly honest portrait of Sir Winston Churchill was indeed burned because the great man’s wife, Clementine, couldn’t bear to look at itBy the time it was painted, Sir Winston, like the country he had led, was failing, weakened by disappointment and fearful of the future. The picture showed that truth. We still do not like to admit it.Graham Vivian Sutherland / United Kingdom 1903 - 1980 Abstract Art, Neo-romanticism

Here Are All the Major Music Events Canceled Due to Coronavirus (Updating)Billboard has compiled an ongoing list of major concerts and events that have been postponed or canceled due to the outbreak.As the disease continues to spread, live event organizers have been canceling or postponing large gatherings from technology conferences to major concerts.Cancellations Announced in MarchMarch 12 - Billie Eilish announced that her Where Do We Go? tour dates for the rest of the month have been postponed. "I’m so sad to do this but we need to postpone these dates to keep everyone safe. We’ll let you know when they can be rescheduled. Please keep yourselves healthy. I love you," she wrote.Taylor Swift was scheduled to headline Capital One's JamFest in Atlanta on April 5, as part of the 2020 NCAA March Madness Music Festival. The event has been canceled, following news that the Division I men’s and women’s 2020 basketball tournament is also not happening.Nonprofit Christopher Street West announced on Thursday (March 12) that all events related to this year's LA Pride have been postponed.Amoeba Music canceled all in-store performances for the rest of March.The Grammy Museum made the decision to close through March 31, 2020, which includes all Public Programs, on-site Education Programs and guided tours.Harlem's Apollo Theater is canceling all public programs such as WOW - Women of the World Festival, Amateur Night at the Apollo, School Day Live, Historic Tours, Live Wire, Apollo Comedy Club,and Apollo Music Café events through April 4. Additionally, the Apollo Theater and African Film Festival’s Africa Now! concert featuring Oumou Sangaré on Saturday, April 4 has been postponed until the fall.Reba McEntire shifted her spring tour to a summer kickoff, and will now begin on July 9 in Huntsville, Alabama. “For the safety of everyone, we have decided to postpone our new arena tour until July,” she said. “All tickets will be honored for the new dates. Most importantly, stay safe and take care of you and your loved ones. We’ll get through this together.”Pussy Riot postponed their Santa Ana tour stop Thursday evening until the fall. "dear all, due to safety & health reasons the show in SANTA ANA today is not happening, it's postponed and will happen in the fall, all tix will be valid," the punk bank tweeted. "stay tuned for more news about the tour. stay safe!"STYX is rescheduling concerts from March 13 to March 28.The Allman Betts Band canceled the rest of their scheduled shows in March. "We are looking at options to reschedule dates and appreciate your patience while determining next steps. As soon as we have additional info to share, we will. Stay safe and follow the guidelines in your community -- we all need to do our part to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and look out for each other," the band wrote in a statement.Hamilton performances at the Hollywood Pantages Theater for the remainder of March have been suspended by California Governor Gavin Newsom. Fans can still purchase tickets for future dates during the musical's scheduled run until Nov. 22.Blake Shelton postponed the final two weekends of his Friends and Heroes Tour 2020 until later unknown dates in spring 2021. "Omaha, I’m here in your city with my friends and heroes and am ready to play a show for you, but for all the right reasons -- chiefly everyone’s safety and well-being -- we have to reschedule tonight and the rest of the tour," said Shelton in a press release on the night of his Omaha tour stop. "Please take care of yourself and your loved ones. You can bet we’ll see you back here soon!"The C2C: Country to Country music festival in London, Dublin and Glasgow has been postponed to later unknown dates. Headliners Eric Church, Luke Combs and Darius Rucker were set to kick off the festivities Friday (March 13). "Thank you all for your understanding and patience at this very difficult time. C2C and its organizers apologize wholeheartedly for the time to work through the issues to get this statement out," the C2C festival organizers said in the statement. Old Dominion had pulled out of the festival last week citing concerns.Quavo announced on Instagram that he's canceling the third annual celebrity flag football game Huncho Day on the Nawf originally set for April 5, 2020. "We are disappointed, but feel strongly about doing our part to keep people safe and this virus contained. Thanks for your support and understanding," the rapper's letter read. "Please make sure you're taking the necessary steps to take care of yourself and your family."Broadway officially sets its closure at 5 p.m. ET Thursday night until April 12 at New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's nearly immediate command. "Our top priority has been and will continue to be the health and well-being of Broadway theatregoers and the thousands of people who work in the theatre industry every day, including actors, musicians, stagehands, ushers, and many other dedicated professionals," said Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League, said in a press release.AEG joined competitor Live Nation in recommending concerts be postponed through the end of the month. Earlier Thursday (March 12), Live Nation officials told employees they were pausing arena tours through the end of the month.Michael Bublé postponed the remaining arena shows in March and April to later unknown dates. "I was looking forward to getting back on the road but the safety of my fans and my touring family of course take priority under the current circumstances. We will be coming back soon with new dates and everyone will be safe to enjoy a great night out. Stay well everyone,” Bublé said in a release. His tour dates beginning May 2 and on will continue as scheduled.Kenny Chesney announced that he's postponing the first 11 shows of his Chillaxification tour out of an abundance of caution. “You can’t take risks without really understanding the consequences,” he said in a statement. "In times of uncertainty, I won’t take chances with those I love. I can’t imagine, as much as we love being out there playing for the fans, being able to do that through the worry our nation is experiencing."Cher postponed the remainder of her ABBA-inspired Here We Go Again Tour with new dates from September to December. "I'm heartbroken, but the health of my fans and my touring family comes first. The shows have been really special but, nothing is more important than everybody's safety. I’m excited to see everyone when we’re back out on the road,” the singer said in a press statement.All Los Angeles Philharmonic concerts held at Walt Disney Concert Hall have been canceled until March 31. "The California Department of Public Health issued a mandate that all public gatherings, including concerts and presentations at Walt Disney Concert Hall, should be canceled through March 31, 2020 to protect public health and slow the rate of transmission of COVID-19," read an official statement on the orchestra's website.The 2020 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Public Hall in Cleveland honoring Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, the Doobie Brothers, T-Rex, Notorious B.I.G. and Whitney Houston has been postponed until a later date.Organizers of Lollapalooza Argentina have officially announced that the festival will be postponed until the second half of the year.Maluma has postponed the European leg of his 11:11 World Tour.Tove Lo has rescheduled the remaining dates on her European tour to September. "I have been looking forward to these shows for so long, but it has become unsafe and impossible for all of us to continue as planned," she tweeted.Dan + Shay have postponed their spring tour -- dates now start in July. "Thank you all for your patience and understanding. It is a strange, strange time for all of us, but we felt this was the right thing to do. Previously purchased tickets will be honored at all rescheduled dates. We hope everyone can make it. Keep an eye on venue websites for further information and updates. Stay safe out there," the band said in a statement.All events at Carnegie Hall in New York City for the month of March have been canceled. "With the health and safety of its public, artists, and staff as its foremost priority, Carnegie Hall today announced that it will be closed for all public events and programming through the end of March, effective midnight tonight, in an effort to reduce the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19)," read an official statement on the venue's site.Pixies scrapped the final five dates of their Australian tour, citing "caution for current public health concerns."The Who postponed their UK/Ireland tour, which was slated to kick off on Monday (March 16) in Manchester at the Manchester Arena. "The fans' safety is paramount and given the developing Coronavirus situation, the band felt that they had no option but to postpone the shows," read a statement that promised the dates will be rescheduled for later in the year. Singer Roger Daltrey assured fans that the gigs will "definitely happen and it may be the last time we do a tour of this type, so keep those tickets, as the shows will be fantastic," with guitarist/songwriter Pete Townshend adding, ”[the band] haven't reached this decision easily, but given the concerns about public gatherings, we couldn’t go ahead... if one fan caught Coronavirus at a WHO concert it would be one too many.” The pushed off shows include a Teenage Cancer Trust show at Royal Albert Hall on March 28.March 11 - Dark Mofo, a festival in Australia's southernmost state, has been canceled due to concerns surrounding COVID-19. Bon Iver was scheduled to perform at the June fest.Italian orchestral death metal band Fleshgod Apocalypse postponed their North American tour -- which was slated to feature their first accompaniment by a string quartet -- due to travel restrictions tied to the coronavirus. The shows will take place at a later, as-yet-unspecified, date. "It is with heavy hearts that we must announce the postponement of our upcoming tour in North America with the Veleno String Quartet and The Agonist," the band wrote to fans. "We’re absolutely devastated about the delay, but we’re already working to reschedule the tour for late Summer/early Fall (exact dates coming soon). We know that there are so many people waiting for us in the US and Canada and we can’t wait to see you."Israeli pop band Lola Marsh rescheduled a string of European dates for June and September. "We are sad as this tour was a real dream for us, but looking forward to seeing everyone at the new shows! Wishing health and safety to all," they wrote in an Instagram post with the new dates.K-pop group Stray Kids will not be touring Europe this spring after all. The boy band's planned gigs in Madrid, Berlin, Brussels, Paris and Moscow have been put on ice, as well as their show at London's Wembley Arena on May 17 on their District 9: Unlock tour. "We ask for your understanding as this decision has been made in consideration for the safety of the artists and audience," they wrote.Following an emergency health declaration from Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, all remaining events for RodeoHouston have been cancelled. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo runs from March 3-22. Kane Brown was scheduled to perform March 11, with additional country sets by Dierks Bentley on March 15 and Keith Urban on March 16.The latest festival to cancel in the wake of the virus -- which has spread to 38 states and the District of Columbia -- is Knoxville, Tennessee's Big Ears Festival, which was slated to take place from march 26-39. "This has been a tough decision. Not only is the principle that 'the show must go on' woven into our DNA, but the impact of this cancellation on the community that makes Big Ears possible — the artists, the festival attendees, our staff and production teams, and the Knoxville community with all of its businesses and workers — cannot be overstated," read a statement. Refunds will be offered to ticketholders for the event slated to feature sets from Devendra Banhart, Joe Henry, Kronos Quartet, Patti Smith and Thundercat, among others.The MUSEXPO Creative Summit 2020 set for March 22-25 in California was postponed due to following the announcement by The World Health Organization that the coronavirus (COVID-19) is now officially a pandemic.Concert Industry Faces Cruel, Cruel Summer as Coronavirus SpreadsThe GLAAD Media Awards were set to take place in New York on March 19, but have been cancelled in the interest of public safety over the spread of the coronavirus. Rich Ferraro, GLAAD's chief communications officer and an executive producer of the GLAAD Media Awards, says, "we will be in touch with nominees shortly with plans for how award categories scheduled for the New York show will be announced."Glass Animals canceled their March 14 show at Neumos, Seattle, following Washington governor Jay Inslee's temporary ban on group events with more than 250 people.Papa Roach canceled shows in Paris, Tilburg, Düsseldorf, Hamburg and Copenhagen due to government restrictions on public gatherings. At press time the dates have not yet been rescheduled.Pearl Jam hosted a fan FAQ on their tour postponement, explaining, "We have been through a lot as a band over the past 30 years and we did not make this decision lightly. Our team worked tirelessly to see if we could keep the tour going. It became clear by Monday afternoon that we would not be able to – in good conscience – head out on the road. Even though our gear was already en route and our crew was on the ground for rehearsals, we made the difficult decision to postpone. We wanted you all to know as soon as we knew so you could make your own plans." The band also explained if original tickets will be honored, whether anyone in the band is infected (they're not) and if it will affect the March 27 Gigaton album release date (it won't).Iconic D.C. rock venue 9:30 Club has joined Lincoln Theater, the Anthem and other Washington venues in canceling shows until at least March 31 after the city's health department recommends calling off gatherings of 1,000 people or more.Reunited prog rockers Yes canceled shows in Florida and their Cruise to the Edge appearance. "Although YES performs with the spirit that 'the show must go on,’ we’ve reached the point where various factors require us to cancel our forthcoming U.S. dates and cancel our appearances on the 7th ‘Cruise To The Edge,'" wrote guitarist Steve Howe of the event slated to feature Marillion, Saga, Kings X, Gong and others. "We are full of regret, as we’ve been preparing for these shows with maximum excitement. Running a relatively large show aided by our 12-piece crew and full production requires insurance coverage, which is currently unavailable to us for a variety of reasons beyond our control." Cruise to the Edge is still slated to leave the port of Miami on March 27 without Yes.Metal band Machine Head postponed the second European leg of their 25th anniversary tour, which was scheduled to take off in Zaragoza, Spain, on April 19. "It is with heavy heart that we must announce the postponement of our upcoming EU/UK tour in support of the 25th anniversary of Burn My Eyes," they wrote. "As residents of the Bay Area, we’ve been hit hard and have witnessed firsthand what has been going on. Public gatherings of more than 1000 have been banned in San Jose, and events in downtown San Francisco including major concerts and conferences have been shut down."Under order from the Colombian officials banning gatherings of 1,000 or more, Juanes postponed a planned Para Todos show on March 14 in Bogota.They Might Be Giants have pushed all March and April shows in New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. to the end of the year. "It is our hope the 4.30 Boston show and May shows can proceed as planned, but only time will tell," they told fans.Boise, Idaho's Treefort Music Fest postponed this year's event from March 25-29 until Sept. 23-27. "With support from The City of Boise and Central District Health, postponing the festival is the best option for the Treasure Valley, the far-reaching Treefort community and the individuals and organizations that support Treefort Music Fest," the fest wrote. Among the acts on this year's lineup are: Japanese Breakfast, Chromatics, Grouplove, Tennis, Calexico and Built to Spill.TMZ reported that the final live auditions in Charlotte on Friday (March 13) and New York on March 21 for the reboot of Making the Band have been canceled. "As a precautionary measure to ensure the health of our production crew, talent and aspiring artists, all public auditions for MTV’s Making the Band in Charlotte, NC on March 13-14 and New York City on March 21-22 have been canceled," read a statement. "Safety remains our utmost priority, and we’re continuing to defer to health officials and the CDC for guidance." The show is still accepting auditions online.Reunited riot grrrl band Bikini Kill have postponed their planned tour of the the northwest, which was slated to kick off on Friday (March 13) with a two-night stand in Olympia, Washington. "We take the health and safety of our supporters, crew and opening bands very seriously, and given the situation in Seattle as well as the lack of information about the actual infection rate of the surrounding areas, it doesn’t make sense for us to go forward with any of the shows in the region,” the band tweeted. Though the shows will not go on for now, the band asked fans to donate to the Interfaith Works Emergency Overnight Shelter, which was to be the beneficiary of their Olympia shows.Niall Horan's Helpful Honda SoundSpace show performance on Friday (March 13) has been canceled.March 10 - Miley Cyrus canceled her trip to Australia for the World Tour Bushfire Relief concert, due to concerns relating to the coronavirus outbreak. Lil Nas X, The Veronicas and Seb Fontaine were also booked for the now-canceled concert, originally scheduled for Friday (March 13) in Melbourne.RuPaul's DragCon LA announced that the planned convention set to take place on May 1, 2 and 3 has been canceled. In a statement posted on their website, DragCon made clear that the cancellation was due directly to the outbreak of COVID-19, and that the "health and safety" of fans and queens must come first.Pentatonix announced that their world tour, scheduled to kick off on March 16 in Warsaw, Poland, will no longer happen. "Despite our best efforts and intentions, it is, simply, no longer possible for us to execute this tour the way we want to: safely, confidently and completely," their statement read. The group went on to note that they are working on rescheduling dates.Zac Brown Band announced via Instagram that they are postponing The Owl tour. "This was an extremely difficult decision, but the well-being of our fans is always our top priority," they wrote.Carlos Santana, who was ready to launch his Miraculous 2020 world tour on March 17 in Krakow, Poland, postponed his tour dates.Planned Parenthood of Greater New York was scheduled to join The Feminist Institute in a "Bans Off My Body" benefit concert on March 14, for gender equality and access to sexual and reproductive health care. However, due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus, the event has been canceled.It's Official: Coachella & Stagecoach Have Been RescheduledThough they didn't mention COVID-19, EDM duo Disclosure announced the postponement of their intimate U.S. DJ tour just two days after rolling out the dates due to "unforeseen circumstances." "We feel it's for the best to reschedule all of these club sets when we can play them all properly," they wrote.Sammy Hagar posts a video message to fans announcing the cancelation of his South American tour with The Circle.March 9 - Madonna's Madame X Tour has come to an abrupt halt due to new restrictions on public gatherings implemented in France amid the COVID-19 virus spread."Following official notification from the Office of the Police this morning prohibiting all events with an audience attendance of over 1000, Live Nation regrets to announce the final two Madame X performances previously re-scheduled to 10-March and 11-March are forced to be cancelled," reads a note on Madonna's site.Pearl Jam was scheduled to kick off its North American tour on March 18, but the four-month long run is postponed amid coronavirus fears.The 2020 editions of Coachella and Stagecoach will need to be moved to later this year, or canceled altogether, admit organizers Goldenvoice.Though they are forging ahead with their End of the Road tour, Kiss manager Doc McGhee tells Blabbermouth that the band's members have been advised to temporarily scrap all fan backstage meet-and-greet events.Coachella & Stagecoach in Talks to Move to October Due to CoronavirusPoison singer Brett Michaels, 56, has pulled out of The 80s Cruise, on which he was slated to play on March 13 and 14. "As of Sunday March 8, 2020 it has been advised by the Centers for Disease Control that cruise ship travel be deferred for those with compromised immune systems," read a statement on the singer's site. "Bret Michaels, a lifelong type 1 Diabetic, falls under the category of those that run the extreme high risk of contracting this illness. Even if this illness is not contracted by Bret, he runs the risk of being quarantined on the ship with fellow music fans that might fall ill."Marc Anthony and Henry Cárdenas’s annual Maestro Cares fundraising gala has been postponed. The “Changing Lives, Building Dreams” gala, which was celebrating its ninth annual event March 12 in New York City, has been postponed. A new date is expected to be announced soon.The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers has canceled this year’s 15th annual ASCAP Experience music conference over concerns about the spreading coronavirus. “Out of consideration for the health and safety of our members and all other participants, and due to rising concerns about the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), the determination has been made to cancel the 2020 ASCAP Experience,” said the organization in a statement.Ultra Abu Dhabi -- the Middle Eastern edition of the Miami-based festival -- has been canceled. It was set to happen March 5-6.Mariah Carey has postponed her Honolulu date until November. "I was so excited to come back to Hawaii on my 'anniversary month' but evolving international travel restrictions force us to consider everyone's safety and well being," Carey wrote on Instagram.British singer Yungblud called off a tour slated to kick off in South Korea, as well as shows in Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Singapore, according to NME. “At first I was going to say, ‘F--k it’ and come, but we have been advised again to seriously not,” the singer reportedly explained in an Instagram story.March 8 - Richard Marx rescheduled his first European tour in nearly a decade, pushing it from the spring to the fall due to the global health crisis. “We all decided that it was for everyone’s own good, it was for the best interest of the health of everyone I’m counting on to come see me play," he said in a video announcing the news. "I’m super bummed, selfishly. I was really, really excited about this tour…Every show was sold out. I haven’t played in Europe in eight or nine years at least. The fact you guys supported this tour the way you did made me even more excited to play."Miley Cyrus Cancels Bushfire Benefit Concert Due to Coronavirus ConcernsMarch 7 - 1980s "Take On Me" band A-ha canceled its Japanese tour, saying it will be rescheduled at a later date. "We were really looking forward to seeing our fans & friends in Asia, but the safety of our fans has to come first of course," they write. The affected dates include early March gigs in Tokyo, Fukuoka and Nagoya.Ciara postponed a performance at the USO Fort Hood slated for March 19. The 34-year-old singer, who is pregnant, said, "With the continued spread of the coronavirus throughout the U.S., as a pregnant woman, my doctors have advised me to limit travel and large group gatherings,” in a statement according to the Associated Press. “I am disappointed I won’t be able to return this month to the place where I was born, Ft. Hood Texas, and put on the amazing show we had planned.” The show is now slated to take place later this year.Country band Old Dominion pulled out of their planned appearances at the Country Country festivals in the UK. "After much consideration, we have decided to withdraw from our upcoming performances as part of the @c2cfestival in Berlin, Amsterdam, Dublin, London, and Glasgow,” the band wrote. "We are so sorry to disappoint our fans overseas; however, with the growing uncertainty and unpredictable nature of the virus that is spreading throughout the world, the safety and security of our entire team is the top priority."March 6 - In a major blow to the Austin, Texas music community, the 2020 SXSW festival hascanceled its entire event. The loss of the interactive, film and music events with an estimated $356 million economic impact on the city comes after Austin's Mayor, Steve Adler, declared a local disaster due to COVID-19 fears. It marks the first cancelation of the entire event in its 34-year history.March 5 - Louis Tomlinson tweeted to fans that the President of the Council of Ministers had decreed that his March 11 show at the Fabrique in Milan has been called off.Queen and Adam Lambert notified fans that the group's planned May 26 show at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris has been postponed "following a government decree in France to cancel all indoor events over 5,000 capacity in France until 31st May in an effort to contain the spread of Coronavirus." The band said they are working with the promoter to reschedule the date and will announce a new one soon.Organizers of Tomorrowland Winter in France announced that they have canceled the 2020 winter edition of the electronic dance music festival due to health concerns connected with the spread of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus. Tomorrowland Winter 2020 was set to run March 14-21 at the French alpine ski resort of Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine Ski.March 4 - Ultra Music Festival's flagship Miami festival scheduled for March 20-22 has been called off, according to city officials.Slipknot postponed a planned Asian tour slated to kick off on March 20 with the two-night Knotfest, while fellow hard rockers Whitesnake, Sons of Apollo and the Michael Schenker Fest all canceled dates too.As a result of Apple pulling out of this year's SXSW festival -- along with Twitter, Amazon, TikTok, Facebook and other major companies -- Spike Jonze's Beastie Boys Story documentary is not slated to premiere at the event. Nine Inch Nails has also dropped out of the film portion of the annual fest in Austin, Texas, tweeting, "We're sorry we won't be giving our Watchmen keynote at SXSW this year (because we had some surprises in store!) However, it was the right decision."March 3 - Maluma has postponed his upcoming concert in Milan amid the outbreak in Italy.March 2 - Wolf Parade canceled European and U.K. dates for the tour supporting their latest album, Thin Mind. The first show was scheduled for Mar. 2 in the Netherlands.Lacuna Coil canceled their tour of Asia and Australia. "Our home region of Lombardia, Italy, is in the midst of a coronavirus outbreak," a statement reads. "Everyone’s health and safety must come first and this includes our fans."The National canceled their March 17 and 18 shows in Tokyo for "the interest of public safety." In an online statement, The National said, "We look forward to returning in the future and performing for our friends in Japan." The group was set to see support from Phoebe Bridgers.Portugal's Talkfest Forum and Iberian Festival Awards Postponed Over CoronavirusMarch 1 - Set It Off called off dates in Asia on Sunday, "due to unforeseen circumstances and for everyone's safety." The band also canceled their opening slots for Jimmy Eat World on March 12 and 13 in Manilla and Singapore, respectively.Cancellations Announced in FebruaryFeb. 29 - Avril Lavigne was set to begin the Asian leg of her Head Above Water World Tour in Shenzhen, China, on April 23, but the "Sk8er Boi" singer announced the 12-date trek would not be happening. "Please everybody take care of yourselves and stay healthy," she wrote. "You're in my thoughts and prayers and we are hoping to announce rescheduled shows soon."Feb. 28 - Green Day postponed their tour of Asia "due to the health + travel concerns with coronavirus," a statement from the band reads. The Bay Area trio vow to announce new dates soon.Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals took to social media to announce the cancellation of their March 2-5 tour dates in Japan. Harper took to Twitter to say, "Most importantly we are wishing well to all those affected. We apologize to our fans in Japan for this inconvenience and we hope to reschedule soon."Feb. 27 - BTS canceled several concerts planned in Korea due to the global coronavirus outbreak, according to a post on the group's mobile fan platform Weverse (via Twitter). “It is unavoidable that the concert must be canceled without further delay,” reads the post, which was originally written in Korean and translated by Variety. “Please understand that this decision was made after extensive and careful consideration.”The National Symphony Orchestra canceled the five remaining performances in Japan of its Asian tour, originally scheduled to run to eight dates.Feb. 26 - New Order scrapped shows in Tokyo and Osaka. "With the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, we are concerned about the potential quarantine we may face affecting further shows and appearances," a statement from the British band reads. "We would also hate to risk our fan’s health or the of risk spreading the virus on our return."Feb. 25 - The Korea Times Music Festival announced that its concert scheduled for April 25 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles "has provisionally been postponed due to the increasing uncertainty threat of coronavirus." The annual musical festival, which is in its 18th year, had already announced the likes of K-pop girl group MOMOLAND, solo singer and former Wanna One member Ha Sungwoon and rock band No Brain.Testament, Exodus and Death Angel's The Bay Strikes Back show at the Trezzo Live Club in Milan, Italy has been scrapped due concerns over the coronavirus outbreak. "Regarding the epidemic situation, our personal conviction is that the infection does not stop by stopping only the entertainment, sport and culture, instead leaving free access to shopping centers, supermarkets, shops, banks, public transport and offices," a statement read. "It is a virus that has reached every corner of the globe and is transmitted even just by walking, but which fortunately has a very limited incidence of danger."Scott Rudin Slashes Ticket Prices to Hit Broadway Productions Due to CoronavirusFeb. 23 – English singer Mabel canceled her Feb. 24 concert at the Magazzini Generali venue in Milan. Mabel took to social media on Feb. 23 to state “Due to recent events concerning the Coronavirus in Italy, we’ve been advised by the Minister of Health and the President of the Lombardy region not to go ahead with tomorrow’s show in Milan.”Feb. 20 - Australian pop artist Ruel postponed the Asian leg of his Free Time World Tour to September 2020 "as a result of the coronavirus," reads a statement posted to his social media accounts.Feb. 18 - Promoter Live Nation Japan announced that Ari Lennox needed to cancel her March 3 performance at WWW X Tokyo due to travel restrictions in several Asian countries.Feb. 14 – R&B artist Khalid postponed his Asian tour dates citing concerns for “the safety of Khalid's fans, his team and everyone who has been working on these concerts.” Khalid was set to perform in Bangkok, Singapore, Jakarta, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Seoul, Mumbai and Bangalore between March 24- April 14.Feb. 13 - U.K. grime rapper Stormzy announced on Feb. 13 that he would be postponing a scheduled Asian tour due to fears over the coronavirus. The rapper had been scheduled to perform in Japan, China and Korea between March 27-29.Feb. 9 - Seventeen's high-profile Ode to You world tour has canceled all of its upcoming dates in February and March.Feb. 6 - K-pop superstar Taeyeon canceled two concerts in Bangkok over health concerns. Taeyeon had been set to perform at Thunder Dome Muang Thong Thani between Feb 22-23.Feb. 5 - The Philharmonic Society of Orange County in Southern California canceled its Feb. 5 Chinese New Year Celebration concert by the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra in light of the coronavirus epidemic citing “concerns expressed by community members.”Asian Entertainers Cancel Shows Amid Fears Over Coronavirus SpreadFeb. 4 - Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai postponed her show March 7 performance in China.The National Symphony Orchestra called off shows in Beijing on March 13 and 14, and one in Shanghai on March 17.The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra's tour to Japan and Korea has also been postponed. The tour was originally scheduled to run between March 5-13 with stops at Osaka Symphony Hall, Tokyo Suntory Hall, Deajeon Arts Center, Seoul Arts Center, Chuncheon Culture & Art Center, and Gwangju Culture & Art Center.Feb. 2 – South Korean girl group GFriend decided to hold their Feb. 3 showcase without an audience due to concerns about coronavirus. The event was instead streamed for fans on Feb. 3.Agency YG Entertainment announced the cancellation of both WINNER's Feb. 8 concert in Singapore and AKMU's Feb. 8 and 9 concert dates in Changwon.Cancellations Announced in JanuaryJan. 31 - Three stops on GOT7’s world tour “Keep Spinning” tour were postponed including their concerts in Bangkok planned for Feb. 15 and 16 at Rajamangala National Stadium and a concert in Singapore planned for Feb. 22.K-pop group TWICE’s Tokyo fan signing events set to be held on Feb. 1 and 2 were canceled.The inaugural C.E.A. (Charming Eastern Awakening) Fest at Joy Park in Chengdu in China scheduled for April 18-19 is canceled. The event was set to headlining performances from Martin Garrix and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike.Jan. 30 – NCT Dream’s promoter One Production announced the cancellation of the group’s two shows in Macau, China, on Feb. 7 and 8 and their Feb. 15 concert in Singapore.The Boston Symphony Orchestra announced the cancellation of its Asia tour. The orchestra had been scheduled to go on a four-city tour that included Seoul in South Korea, Taipei in Taiwan and Shanghai and Hong Kong in China from Feb. 6 to 16.Jan. 28 – Cantopop singer Leon Lai postponed his two shows in Macau, China. Lai’s Leon Metro Live 2.0 concerts were originally slated for Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at Studio City Event Centre.Promoter Live Nation announced the postponement of Miriam Yeung's Feb. 8 concert in Singapore. The show, which was slated to take place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, is postponed indefinitely, due to the travel and freight conditions in China.American rock band X Ambassadors took to social media to announce that their Feb. 14 and 15 shows in Shanghai and Chengdu, respectively, were canceled.Coronavirus Paralyzes China's Live Sector as Concert Cancellations and Box Office Losses MountJan. 27 – Japanese rock group Suchmos canceled a slate of dates in China that were scheduled between Feb. 7-11. The group said that they hoped to play dates in China as soon as possible.Jan. 26 - Canto-pop singer Andy Lau canceled 12 concerts scheduled throughout February at the Hong Kong Coliseum. The My Love Andy Lau World Tour Hong Kong 2020 was scheduled to start on Feb. 15 and end on Feb. 28. Lau said in a statement, “Sorry about this. I wish that everyone will remain healthy. And that we get through this difficulty together." According to the South China Morning Post, more than 100,000 fans will be impacted by the cancellations.Jan. 24 - The Chinese government has closed the Mercedes-Benz Arena indefinitely. The venue's promoter and its joint-venture partner, a media group owned by the Shanghai government, have postponed over a dozen shows until the virus is contained.