Description of the attraction
The Andrei Rublev Central Museum of Old Russian Culture and Art is located in the Spaso-Andronikov Monastery. The monastery was founded in the middle of the 14th century by Metropolitan Alexy. The Spassky Cathedral (1420) of the monastery is the oldest architectural monument in Moscow.
The great icon painter of Ancient Russia Andrei Rublev lived (was a monk) and worked in the Spaso-Andronikov Monastery. He was buried there in 1430. In the window openings of the altar of the main Spassky Cathedral, frescoes by Andrei Rublev have been preserved.
The Andrei Rublev Museum is the only museum in Russia whose exposition is dedicated to medieval Russian art culture. The decision to create the Andrei Rublev Museum was made in 1947 after he was recognized as a great Russian artist. The Soviet government issued a decree on the creation of the museum for the anniversary - the celebration of the 800th anniversary of Moscow.
The monastery, in which it was decided to organize a museum, was completely destroyed. The collection of museum funds was difficult, bit by bit. Many of the exhibits required serious restoration work. Restorers have been working on some of the exhibits for years. Preparations for the opening of the museum took 13 years. The museum was opened in September 1960.
The first director of the museum was D. Arsenishvili, an outstanding specialist in museum affairs. N. Demina, a recognized expert on the work of Andrei Rublev, was a research assistant. Their services in organizing the museum were recognized in 2001. Memorial plaques by Tsereteli and Suvorov were installed in the museum.
Nowadays there are more than five thousand icons in the funds of the museum. Among them are icons by Dionysius. It houses a large collection of icon frames, handwritten and printed books dedicated to the conduct of divine services and singing rites. There are many rare liturgical items in the museum's collection.
The current exposition of the museum is located in all the restored and accessible premises of the Church of the Archangel Michael and the refectory chamber. The exhibition hall is located in the abbot building of the monastery.
