It is believed that until the 17th century Russia had had no state emblem and coats of arms had mainly been used. The first time flags began to be displayed was on ships.

Historically, the white-blue-red flag was used since the late 17th century by Tsarist Russia until it was banned in the Soviet Union after the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, but was still used by Russian ...

Then, In the 17th century, Russia started buying ships from the Netherlands. But Russia didn’t have a naval flag so they just borrowed one from the Dutch, and re-arranged the order of the colors.

Although made in 1883, the 12-foot-wide tableau is a romanticized vision of the boyars, Russia’s 17th-century elite. It was painted by a favorite of Czar Alexander II.

The exhibition will feature 39 works of the 17th century. This is one of the most controversial periods in icon painting which witnessed the shift from old Russian traditions to the realistic art.