Bakhrushinsky Museum on Paveletskaya: exhibitions, reviews, photos

Bakhrushinsky Museum at Paveletskaya (GTSTM) is considered one of the largest cultural institutions of its kind in the world. In addition to the main building, it has nine branches, most of which in themselves are of great interest and are visited annually by tens of thousands of tourists from all over Russia and from other countries.

Alexey Alexandrovich Bakhrushin: a short biographical sketch

The future founder of the GCTM was born in 1865 in a rich merchant family, all members of which loved and understood art. His grandfather and father were known as generous patrons and inveterate theatergoers. Their love of the theatrical art, they gave and little Alyosha, who from 6 years regularly visited the Bolshoi Theater. After the end of the private grammar school, A. Bakhrushin joined the family business, but after a while he left the business and completely devoted himself to collecting. The death of his elder brother forced the patron to lead the Association of Leather and Cloth Manufacture, created by his father, and for numerous achievements in his entrepreneurial activity, he repeatedly received high government awards. In parallel, Bakhrushin, like other members of his family, actively engaged in charity and was appointed head of 12 People's Houses - prototypes of the House of Culture of the Soviet period.

Collecting activities

As already mentioned, Alexey Alexandrovich Bakhrushin was interested in theater from a very young age. Initially, he was engaged in collecting "eastern rarities". However, one day in a company of young people the collector heard from his cousin that he had profitablely purchased antique posters and theater souvenirs from antique dealers. This information interested the young entrepreneur, and he began to devote all his free time to collecting personal belongings and objects related to famous actors and actresses. Very soon the collection became so extensive that in 1894 Bakhrushin decided to present it to the general public.

Private museum

A new cultural institution dedicated to the history of the Russian theater quickly gained fame, and in 1905 even took part in the Berlin exhibition. There the museum was a huge success and received laudatory reviews in the European press. During this period, Bakhrushin managed to bring to Russia personal belongings of the world famous actress Mars, rare musical instruments of the ancient masters, as well as a collection of traditional masks of the Italian comedy theater. In 1913, the Bakhrushin Museum was transferred by its founder to the Imperial Academy of Sciences and became known as Theatrical Literary.

History of the SCTM in the Soviet period

After the revolution, the museum managed to preserve. And at his helm, at the insistence of VI Lenin, AA Bakhrushin himself arose. Although the philanthropist lost his capital and virtually all movable and immovable property, he kept in touch with antique dealers and theatrical figures around the world and did a lot to make the process of replenishment of the CGTM collection not stop. In addition, Bakhrushin was able to achieve the transfer of the museum many valuable exhibits from the nationalized private collections. Thus, he made a great contribution to the preservation of the cultural heritage of the Russian Empire for future generations.

After the death of AA Bakhrushin in 1929, he created a close-knit team of like-minded people to continue his work, and by 1990 his collection numbered about one million art objects, personal things of actors, documents, photographs and rare domestic and foreign publications. Despite the fact that the next decade was a rather difficult time, the CGTM adequately passed all the tests after the perestroika period.

Museum today

At the moment, SCMM has in its funds more than 1.5 million exhibits, including many rarities that are truly unique and of great historical and cultural value. Their significant part was acquired at auctions held in European capitals, or presented by the descendants of famous artists. Thanks to this, the Bakhrushinsky Theater Museum today is considered to be one of the largest in the world, and sketches of scenery, made by famous Russian artists, costumes of outstanding actors, their photos and portraits, rare editions, programs and playbills, and many others attract theatergoers and researchers from different countries.

The collection includes theatrical works by Golovin, Bakst, Kustodiev, Yuon, Dobuzhinsky, Korovin, Exter, Roerich, Tatlin, Popova, Rodchenko and other famous masters.

The permanent exposition of the CCPM occupies several rooms and starts in the lobby - in one of the few rooms where the original interior of the end of the 19th - the beginning of the 20th century was preserved. There in two large showcases exhibited items belonging to the former masters of the mansion - Bakhrushin. Among the most valuable exhibits can be noted a watercolor sketch of the house of the brush of architect K. Gippius, photographs of A. A. Bakhrushin, newspaper clippings with an article dated 1913, the donation of the museum of the Imperial Academy of Sciences. There, in the lobby, you can see colorful stained-glass windows in the Gothic style. Of great interest is the tour of AA Bakhrushin's office, where some of the personal belongings of the patron and members of his family are presented.

Bakhrushinsky Museum: exhibitions and creative evenings

Today, only a small part of the extensive collection of GCTM is represented in the permanent exposition. To the viewer could get acquainted with other interesting exhibits, the Bakhrushin Museum regularly arranges exhibitions, and also takes part in various events organized in other cities of our country and abroad. In particular, on June 12, a project dedicated to theatrical costumes, created since 1990 to the present day, was launched, and a few days earlier in the building of the museum depository at the address: Tverskoy boulevard, 11, page 2, an exhibition was opened on which one could see the evolution Theatrical poster for the last two centuries.

The most valuable collections

The Bakhrushin Museum is proud of its collections of theatrical and decorative arts (late 18th - late 20th century) and hand-written materials devoted to the history of Russian theater of the same period. The archives of the Bakhrushins, SI Zimin, Kshesinsky, Mamontov, MI Petipa, T. L. Shchepkina-Kupernik, Chamber Theater, GOSET, and a collection of documents of the GosTIM them. Sun. Meyerhold.

The museum is always ready to provide all possible assistance to researchers. In particular, those who study the history of art can use the information stored in its funds. For this it is necessary to write an official letter addressed to the head of the museum and indicate the direction of his searches and their purpose. Also, for a fee, you can order a reshoot of the museum's exhibits.

Branches

The exhibition grounds of the Bakhrushin Museum are not limited to the main building alone, designed by the architect Karl Gippius in 1896. As already mentioned, it has nine branches, including the home museums of Shchepkin, Ermolova, Ostrovsky, as well as Meyerhold's apartment museums, the Mironov family and Menaker, Ulanova, Pluchek, and others.

Reviews

The Bakhrushin AA Museum is a place that is definitely worth a visit. This is confirmed by numerous reviews. In particular, those who have already visited the museum, note that they were amazed by the incredible combination of modern interior and elements of Gothic. Visitors were satisfied with how the guides presented information concerning the Bakhrushin family and the history of the Russian theater. Especially a lot of positive feedback can be heard about the staff who conduct a program for children, consisting of an excursion and an interactive presentation.

As for negative impressions, most of all the complaints are caused by the spiteful attitude of the museum attendants to visitors who make remarks in crude form and rush them, not allowing them to calmly examine the exhibits.

Bakhrushinsky Museum: how to get there

The address of the institution: Moscow, Bakhrushin street, 31/12. The main building is located near the Paveletskaya metro station, on the roundabout, so it is easily accessible from any part of the capital. For example, from Leninsky Prospekt there is a tram number 39, from the metro station "Serpukhovskaya" - bus number 25, and from the station "Kitay-Gorod" - bus number 158.

Festival

Bakhrushin Museum, the photo of which is presented above, is not limited only to the display of rarities. In particular, since 2002, he has been organizing the Charity Festival, which has already become traditional. Usually it takes place in the second half of May - in the first week of June in one of the cities, in some way connected with the names of famous Russian patrons of the past centuries. The festival aims to revive the traditions of Russian charity, including in the outback.

Mode of operation, excursions and ticket prices

Bakhrushin Museum is open from 12:00 to 19:00 on all days of the week, except Monday. The final (sanitary) is the last Friday of every month. In the summer the museum does not work also on Tuesdays.

Free visits are possible on March 18 and 27, as well as on April 18, as on these dates there is a celebration of the Day of Museums, Theater and Monument Protection. In the rest of the time the full admission ticket costs 200 rubles. There are also preferential courses, which will cost students and pensioners 100 rubles. To enter the museum you should buy shoe covers worth 10 rubles. It is possible to book excursions for large groups and family groups for 2-5 people.

Now you know what the Bakhrushin Museum is famous for (address: Bakhrushin St., 31/12), which exhibitions are organized there and how to get there from different parts of the capital.