How a Russian artist's paintings were returned from defeated Berlin

Anna Popova

Jun 16 2026

New Jerusalem Museum

Views of birch groves and Orthodox churches, the vast expanses of the Volga River, Pskov, Novgorod, St. Petersburg, the carefree Italian Riviera and Venice's Piazza San Marco – these paintings, leaning against the walls, were discovered by Soviet soldiers in a Berlin apartment in 1945.

New Jerusalem Museum

They were all painted by renowned Russian artist Konstantin Gorbatov and were found in the apartment where he lived with his wife. In 1922, Gorbatov emigrated from Russia, traveled throughout Europe and was considered one of the most successful Russian artists. His works depicting views of Capri and Amalfi were very popular. He never stopped painting Russian landscapes either.

New Jerusalem Museum

The war found him in Germany: unable to leave the country, he was forced to register with the police as a person of interest. On May 24, 1945, the artist passed away and, less than a month later, his wife also died. The fate of the paintings was determined by a letter found in the apartment. In it, Gorbatov asked for his works to be sent to his homeland.

New Jerusalem Museum

In 1946, they were transported to the Soviet Union and soon found their way into the collection of the Moscow Regional Museum of Local History (now the New Jerusalem Museum).

*You can learn more about the artist's works in the ‘(UN)famous. Konstantin Gorbatov’ exhibition, which is on display at the New Jerusalem Museum until August 30.