Being a restorer: What hidden contributions they make to culture

But his fame rests mostly on his restoration work. Were it not for him, we would probably have lost Andrei Rublev's legendary "Trinity" icon.

Igor Grabar was an artist who took part in exhibitions of the Mir Iskusstva (World of Art) art group. He was also an art researcher, working as a trustee at the Tretyakov Gallery from 1913. // Portrait of Igor Grabar by Boris Kustodiev, 1915

He took part in the restoration of the ancient Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius in Sergiev Posad, Russia’s “religious capital” not far from Moscow.

In 1918 Grabar opened the Grabar Art Conversation Center, which still operates to this day. The Center is active in the preservation of museums, organizes restoration workshops and is a key player in the field of scientific restoration. // Igor Grabar. Untidy desk

Monumental painting, facades and architectural stucco are some of the Center’s priorities. // Meletovo church, archive photo

This year, the Grabar Center is busy raising funds for the restoration of another church in a bad condition - the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin in the village of Meletovo near Pskov. The church is in dire need of restoration.

But Russia is home to one famous individual who helped preserve several antique buildings and art works, giving us a glimpse into how they looked before time took its toll. // Frescoof Meletovo church

“Meletovo. Time of Decisions” is the title of the exhibition that the Center will present on Aug. 10-12 at the International Exhibition on the Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Shanghai, an important professional forum for restorers and museum staff from around the world.