In the 1540s, Queen Tinatin, wife of King Levan of Kakheti (1520-1574), established the monastery of Akhali Shuamta. Akhali in Georgian means “new,” and the place was referred to in this way so as to distinguish it from Dzveli (“old”) Shuamta, a renowned early Medieval monastery located two kilometers away, which was closed and abandoned at Tinatin’s order.

Several influential figures spring to mind when considering Georgian fine art in the contemporary era, and Dimitri Eristavi is undoubtedly among them. Nearly 70 years since his first emergence on the artistic scene, we are even more aware of the significance of his painting.Dimitri Eristavi was born in Tbilisi in 1931. He dedicated his whole creative energy to the capital city, seeing it as the source of his inspiration.

Sericulture in Georgia has a long-standing tradition. In the nineteenth century, recognizing the economic importance of the industry, Russian authorities took steps to promote its development. In the early 1880s, the idea arose to establish a silk farming station in Tbilisi. In 1886, the plan was finalized. The organization of the station was entrusted to biologist Nikolay Shavrov, who went on to lead it for many years.