Pushkin Museum

The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts (Russian: Музей изобразительных искусств им. А.С. Пушкина) is the largest museum of European art in Moscow, located in Volkhonka street, just opposite the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.

The museum's name is misleading, as it has nothing to do with the famous Russian poet. It would be more fitting if the museum were named for its real founder, professor Ivan Tsvetaev (father of the poet Marina Tsvetaeva). Tsvetaev persuaded the young millionaire Yuriy Nechaev-Maltsov and the fashionable architect Roman Klein of the urgent need to give Moscow a fine arts museum.

Designed by Klein and Shukhov, financed by Maltsov, the museum building was constructed from 1898 to 1912. Tsvetaev's dream was realised in May 1912, when the museum opened its doors to the public. The museum was originally named after Alexander III, although the government provided only 200,000 rubles toward its construction, in comparison with over 2 million from Nechaev-Maltsev. Its first exhibits were copies of ancient statuary, thought indispensable for the education of art students. The only genuinely ancient items - Moscow Mathematical Papyrus and Story of Wenamun - had been contributed by Vladimir Golenishchev three years earlier.

After the Russian capital was moved to Moscow in 1918, the Soviet government decided to transfer thousands of works from St Petersburg's Hermitage Museum to the new capital. These paintings formed a nucleus of the Pushkin museum's collections of Western art. But the most important paintings were added later from the State Museum of New Western Art. These comprised Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artwork, including top works by Van Gogh, Gauguin, Picasso, Dufrénoy and Matisse. In 1937, Pushkin's name was appended to the museum, because the Soviet Union marked the centenary of the poet's death that year.

After the World War II the evacuated Dresden Gallery had been stored in Moscow for 10 years. The Dresden collection was finally returned to East Germany, despite strong opposition from the museum officials, notably Irina Antonova, who has been running the museum since February 1961. The Pushkin Museum is still a main depositary of Troy's fabulous gold unearthed by Heinrich Schliemann and taken by the Soviet Army (Red Army) from the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.

The International musical festival Svyatoslav Richter's December nights has been held in the Pushkin museum since 1981.

See also

Museum Roumjantsev

The Morozov/Shchukin's collections

References

External links

Шаблон:Commonscat

Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
Tanya V
12 June 2016
A beautiful museum with a wide selection of works of art. Check out its impressionists collection
Lenur Yusupov
21 August 2014
Curious case of modern art in Russia. Although the number of paintings is quite limited, the originals are unique and I am doubtful I would ever learn of their existence with out this forgotten pearl.
Victor Chu
26 August 2017
It seems to be that the Russian authorities are claiming the rightful heir of the Ancient Greek civilization.
Aeroexpress
3 September 2013
One of the largest art collections in Russia of foreign art from ancient times to the present day. We recommend to visit the exhibition " Titian . Of museums in Italy "Travel to the station.
Garegin Avagyan
27 November 2018
Different countries, times and stylistic periods, from ancient to modern times, have found shelter under this roof. Alongside permanent exhibitions, the museum is a home for art courses and classes.
Olga Ramer
20 April 2017
One of the best collections of impressionist art outside of Orsay in Paris. It has great Sezanne, Van Gogh, Gogen, Matisse. Fabulous!
Load more comments
foursquare.com

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
Hyatt Regency Moscow Petrovsky Park

starting $256

Hotel National a Luxury Collection Hotel Moscow

starting $293

The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow

starting $1950

Four Seasons Hotel Moscow

starting $755

Veliy Hotel Mokhovaya Moscow

starting $102

Landmark Hostel Arbat

starting $10

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Галерея искусства стран Европы и Америки XIX—XX веков

Галере́я иску́сства стра́н Евро́пы и Аме́рики XIX—XX веко́в — картин

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Музей Рерихов

Музей Рерихов (филиал Государственного

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Moskva bildgalerio de Ilja Glazunov

Московская государственная картинная галерея Ильи Глазунова — художест

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Музей личных коллекций

Музей личных коллекций ГМИИ имени А. С. Пушкина — московский х

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Галерея Александра Шилова

Галерея Александра Шилова is a tourist attraction, one of the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (русский. Храм Христа Спа

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Пашков дом

Пашко́в дом, Дом Пашко́ва — одно из самых знаменитых классицистич

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge

Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge (русский. Большой Каменный мост

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Palace of Culture (Iaşi)

The Palace of Culture (Romanian: Palatul Culturii) is an edifice

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Mauritshuis

The Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis (English: 'Maurice House') is an

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Palazzo Pitti

The Palazzo Pitti (pa.ˈla.ttso ˈpi.tti), in English sometimes called t

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Louvre

The Musée du Louvre (Шаблон:IPA-fr), or officially Grand Louvre — in E

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), located in the Houston Museum

See all similar places