Description of the attraction
One of the most famous collections of Russian art in the world is the State Russian Museum. Moreover, this collection is the largest of all the existing ones (we are talking about collections of works by Russian authors).
The total area of the museum, located in the center of the northern Russian capital, is truly huge. The museum consists of several buildings, which in themselves are monuments of history and architecture; there are also two gardens on the territory of the museum. The collection of the museum is four hundred and ten thousand nine hundred and forty-five storage units: this is painting and graphics, numismatic exposition and sculpture, works of decorative and applied art and masterpieces of folk art, as well as a number of archival materials.
The birth of the Russian Museum
An imperial decree establishing the museum was issued in the mid-90s of the XIX century … According to the regulations on the museum, the items included in its collection could no longer be transferred to any other institution, remaining forever the property of the museum. The rules for selecting storage units were very strict. This strictness especially concerned the works of authors of the late 19th century (that is, who lived and worked during the opening of the museum). The manager of the new museum was bound to belong to the imperial family. All these rules emphasized the special, exceptionally high status of the museum.
Its official opening actually took place on the border of two centuries (at the end of the 90s of the XIX century). At the same time, the museum received several hundred paintings. AND Imperial Academy of Arts transferred one hundred twenty-two pictures; from The Hermitage received eighty paintings; Winter Palace and two suburban palaces rendered ninety-five paintings. The museum also received several works from private collections; one of the donors was the princess Maria Tenisheva, who donated magnificent watercolors and drawings to the museum. This was the beginning of the famous collection of one of the most famous museums in the world.
Collection history
The collection grew rapidly. Within ten years of the museum's existence, it has doubled. The works were purchased with funds from the state budget specially allocated for this purpose. The museum also accepted financial donations, which, according to the imperial decree, were spent on replenishing the collection.
In the post-revolutionary period, the collection of the museum began to grow even faster. It received a large number of nationalized works of art … In the 20s of the XX century, a new exhibition was opened, which included the works of the authors of that period of time.
In the mid-20s, the museum collection already numbered three thousand six hundred forty eight paintings … The rapid growth of the collection did not end there: works of art in huge numbers continued to enter the museum. There was a need to expand the exhibition space, which was done in the 30s of the XX century.
In the early 40s, during wartime, most of the museum collection was evacuated to Permian (then this city was called Molotov). More than seven and a half thousand exhibits, which were the most valuable part of the museum collection, were removed. The remaining works of art were carefully packed and placed in the basement of the building. None of these exhibits were damaged. The evacuated works of art were also safely returned to the museum at the end of the war. In the first post-war year, several new exhibitions were opened. Since the mid-50s of the XX century, the replenishment of the museum collection began to be carried out in accordance with a certain plan, it lost all spontaneity and chaos, becoming more purposeful.
At the beginning of the XXI century, the territory of the museum expanded again: Summer garden together with the buildings and marble statues in it (there are more than ninety sculptures in the garden).
What to look for
What works does the famous museum collection consist of, what masterpieces are exhibited in the museum? Let's talk about some of them.
In the museum you can see magnificent samples of ancient Russian art … These are icons, the oldest of which date back to the 12th century. All works in this collection were created no later than the 15th century. Among their authors are renowned, even legendary icon painters: Dionisy, Simon (Pimen) Ushakov and, of course, Andrei Rublev.
But in the collection of the museum there are not only ancient Russian images: they are exhibited in its halls and icons, written at a later time, and even the works of icon painters of the early XX century. The collection of the museum includes about five thousand different icons.
But, of course, the museum collection is not limited to icons. Those interested in Russian art late 18th century and early 19th century, they will see such a magnificent exposition here, which is not, perhaps, in any other museum in the world. The best works of famous Russian painters of that time period adorn the walls of museum halls. If we compare the various collections of the museum, then this one is undoubtedly the most complete and one of the most interesting.
Those who are interested in works second half of the 19th centurywill also enjoy visiting the museum. The collection of masterpieces of this time period is somewhat inferior in its richness to the one mentioned in the previous paragraph, but nevertheless it is also magnificent and invariably makes a great impression on visitors.
It arouses no less admiration among the townspeople and guests of the city collection of Soviet art, also does not leave visitors indifferent and the collection of works of the late XIX century and early XX century.
Separately, a few words must be said about the new works, experimental artspresented in the museum. In order to include them in the museum collection, a special department was created in the 80s of the XX century, dealing with contemporary trends in art. Today in the museum halls you can see not only the masterpieces of Russian classics, but also many installations, assemblages and other works of contemporary art.
Museum territory
As mentioned above, the buildings of the museum in themselves are monuments of history and architecture. Let's tell you more about some of them:
- One of the buildings in which the main exposition of the museum is located is Mikhailovsky Palace … It was built in the mid-20s of the 19th century. The author of the building project is Karl Rossi. In the mid-90s of the XIX century, the palace was transferred to the museum. The reconstruction of the building began at about the same time. It was necessary for the palace, which became one of the exhibition areas, to fully comply with its new purpose. The total area of the palace is over twenty four thousand square meters. At the beginning of the 20th century, a new building was added to it, named after the architect Leonty Benois (the author of the project).
- Another building that houses part of the main museum exposition is Engineering castle, also known as Mikhailovsky. It was built at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. For some time it was the residence of Paul I; it was there that the emperor was killed. Later in the building, somewhat altered, there were apartments, then a school was opened here that trained engineers. In the post-revolutionary period, various organizations were located in the castle. Only in the 90s of the XX century, the building was transferred to the museum. Its total area is about twenty two thousand square meters.
- Marble palace - one of five buildings, which houses the most interesting and visited part of the museum exposition. The building was built in the second half of the 18th century. After the revolution, it was nationalized. Donated to the museum only in the 90s of the XX century. At the same time, large-scale restoration work began in the palace. The total area of the building is approximately ten and a half thousand square meters.
- Another interesting museum building - Stroganov Palace … Its name comes from the surname of the barons who owned the palace. Its construction began in the first half of the 18th century. In the second half of the same century, it was rebuilt under the supervision of Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli. In the post-revolutionary period, the building was nationalized. For some time it was a branch of the Hermitage. At the end of the 80s of the XX century, the building was transferred to the Russian Museum. Its total area is approximately five and a half thousand square meters.
- Another building that needs to be mentioned - Summer palace the first Russian emperor. The building was built at the beginning of the 18th century. The author of the project is Domenico Andrea Trezzini. The total area of the palace premises is approximately six hundred and seventy-six square meters.
On a note
- Location: St. Petersburg, Engineering street, building 4; phone: +7 (812) 595-42-48.
- The nearest metro station: "Nevsky Prospect".
- Official website:
- Opening hours: from 10:00 to 18:00. The exception is Thursday, when the museum opens at 13:00 and closes at 21:00. On Monday, the Mikhailovsky Palace is open two hours longer than the rest of the exhibition. An important point: ticket offices close half an hour before the end of the museum's working day. The day off is Tuesday. Summer and Mikhailovsky Gardens in the warm season (from May to September inclusive) are open to visitors from 10:00 to 22:00. From October to March they close two hours earlier. Gardens are usually closed for drying in April.
- Tickets: from 250 to 800 rubles (the price depends on which expositions you are going to see). Preferential categories of citizens can purchase tickets at a reduced cost; some of these visitors have the right to view the exposition free of charge (these are people with disabilities of groups I and II, large families, etc.).
