100th anniversary jubilee event of an outstanding Georgian scientist, statesman, architect and art historian, academician Vakhtang Beridze was held on May 30, 2014.
Vakhtang Beridze (1914-2000) was a full member of Georgian Academy of Science, one of the founders of the main centre of Georgian art research – the G. Chubinashvili Institute of Georgian Art History and its director in 1973-1988 and in 1996-2000.
Vakhtang Beridze, a student of George Chubinashvili, raised the science of Georgian art history, founded by his great teacher, to a new level and helped to obtain its international authority. Numerous international symposiums (1974, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1989) organized by his efforts and the books published in different languages brought Georgian art the world significance: “13-16th cc Architecture of Samtskhe” (1955); “16-18th cc Georgian Architecture” (two volumes) (1986 and 1994); “Ancient Georgian Architecture” (1977); “The Development of Georgian Domed Architecture” (1983); “The Architecture of Tao-Klarjeti” (1981); “The Architecture of Tbilisi in 1801-1917” (1960); “The History of Georgian Embroidery” (1983), monographs dedicated to L. Gudiashvili, D. Kakabadze and N. Pirosmani and many others.
Several generations of art historians brought up by V. Beridze successfully serve national deeds started by V. Beridze and his predecessors.
Vakhtang Beridze’s contribution in research of Tbilisi history and architecture is priceless. His work – “Tbilisi Architecture” is still a handbook for those who are interested in the history and antiquities of our capital city.
Vakhtang Beridze was not only an outstanding scientist, but an acknowledged statesman as well. He had a deep knowledge in different spheres of art: music, theatre, literature, poetry. He had an exceptional personality full of dignity and he created the whole epoch in Georgian art history, as well as in Georgian society.