Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
Origins, Art Collections of Sergei Shchukin,
Ivan Morozov: Highlights of Permanent Collection.
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Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts |
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Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, MoscowContents • Origins and History Further Resources • Russian
Art (c.30,000 BCE - 1920) |
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The main Pushkin
building was constructed between 1898 and 1912 on a site previously occupied
by a prison. It was formally opened in May 1912 and became part of the centenary
celebrations of Napoleon's defeat. The last Tsar of Russia, Nikolia II was
in attendance. The collection grew significantly after the Bolshevik Revolution
when many private collections became nationalized into state property. Such
private collections included those of Sergei
Shchukin (1854-1936) and Ivan
Morozov (1871-1921), two of the greatest Russian art
collectors along with Pavel
Tretyakov (1832-1898). More artworks were added over time through donations,
purchases and confiscations, including the 'Troy treasure', appropriated
from Berlin's museums at the end of World War II. In 1937 it officially
became know as the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in honour of the centenary
of the poet's death. The Collections The Art of Ancient Egypt The museum has over 6,000 items of Egyptian art, from the Predynastic (4th century BCE) to the Coptic era (4th-7th century). The collection includes examples of Fayum Mummy portraits (50 BCE-250 CE) - panel paintings which demonstrate a combination of ancient Egyptian and Hellenistic-Roman artistic traditions. These portraits were painted on wooden boards and attached to mummies. The majority were found in the necropolis of Faiyum, and were perfectly preserved by the dry Egyptian climate. Highlights • Statue of Pharaoh Amemenhet (19th century BCE). • Figures of High Priest Amenhotep and Priestess Rannai (15th century BCE). • Cosmetic Spoon (end of the 15th century BCE). The spoon is made from ivory and is modelled in the form of a nude elegant girl swimming with a lotus flower. • Portrait of a Middle Aged Man (c.100). Painted using encaustic paint which was rubbed into the wooden board with brushes and special metal palettes (cauteria). The Art of Antiquity This collection contains thousands of pieces of decorative art, ceramics, coins, jewellery, vessels and sculptures. It is constantly growing as a result of the museum's regular expeditions and archeological digs in the Black Sea area. Of particular note are: • Stele depicting Two Warriors (370 BCE) • Sarcophagus with figures of Bacchus, Ariadne and Hercules (c.210) |
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The Picture Gallery
European Paintings: 17th - 18th Century |
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