Pushkin Museum

The State Museum of Fine Arts named after A. S. Pushkin (Pushkin Museum) is one of the largest art treasuries in Russia. Every year, more than a million visitors come here to immerse themselves in the world of art — from ancient Egyptian artifacts to masterpieces of European Impressionism. Each hall of the museum complex reveals new facets of humanity’s creative heritage.

History of the Museum Complex

The idea of creating a Museum of Fine Arts belonged to Professor Ivan Vladimirovich Tsvetaev of Moscow University, the father of the poet Marina Tsvetaeva. He dreamed of an educational center where students and the general public could study the history of world art through originals and high-quality copies of great works. Construction began in 1898 after an architectural competition was announced. The winner was Roman Ivanovich Klein, who proposed a neoclassical building reminiscent of an ancient temple. The engineering solutions were developed by Ivan Rerberg and Vladimir Shukhov, who created unique translucent glass ceilings. The grand opening took place on June 13, 1912, in the presence of Emperor Nicholas II and his family. Initially, the institution was named “The Museum of Fine Arts named after Emperor Alexander III at the Imperial Moscow University.” The collection was formed through private donations, state purchases, and contributions from patrons.

Post-Revolutionary Period of Development

After the October Revolution, the museum temporarily suspended its work. Exhibition activities resumed in 1920 with the “Liberated Labor” exhibition, attended by Vladimir Lenin. In 1923, the institution was separated from the university and became an independent organization. A significant event occurred in 1937 when the museum was named after Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin — to mark the centenary of the poet’s death. During the Great Patriotic War, the collections were evacuated to Novosibirsk and Solikamsk, preserving priceless exhibits from destruction. Restoration of the building and resumption of exhibitions began in 1946.

Architectural Features of the Main Building

The central building of the museum impresses with its majestic architecture. The facade is decorated with an Ionic colonnade characteristic of ancient Greek temples. The upper part of the building features friezes depicting the Olympic Games, giving it an antique appearance. A distinctive feature of the design is the glass roof instead of a traditional one. The architect ensured natural lighting in the halls, allowing exhibits to be viewed without distortion from artificial light. This engineering innovation creates a special atmosphere for viewing works of art.

Exhibitions on the First Floor

Italian Courtyard

Visitors enter a space filled with majestic copies of Renaissance sculptures. Here stands the famous life-size statue of David by Michelangelo, which has become a symbol of the museum. Nearby rises a bronze equestrian statue of a condottiere, impressive in both scale and realism.

Ancient Egyptian Collection

The Ancient Egyptian art hall presents artifacts related to religious rituals and burial cults. Particular attention is drawn to ushabti figurines — statuettes of servants placed in tombs to serve the deceased in the afterlife. The exhibition includes statuettes of priests, models of ritual boats, and well-preserved ancient reliefs. The jewel of the Egyptian collection is a cosmetic spoon made of ivory. The elegant vessel is shaped like a girl holding a lidded container resembling a lotus flower. This piece demonstrates the highest craftsmanship of ancient Egyptian artisans.

Greek Courtyard and Classical Antiquity

The Greek Courtyard amazes with its scale of ancient sculpture replicas. A three-meter statue of Melpomene — the muse of tragedy and patroness of theater — greets visitors. A portico of caryatids 5.8 meters tall and an 18.5-meter fragment of the Parthenon recreate the atmosphere of ancient Athens. Of special value is an authentic column base from the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, 1.8 meters high. This temple was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Nearby are statues of lions from the Roman sanctuary of Isis and Serapis, a model of the Acropolis, and a statue of the goddess Athena.

Trojan Collection

The exhibition of archaeological finds from the excavations of Troy includes over 250 genuine items. Among them are gold diadems, chains, ritual vessels, decorative figurines, and rock crystal artifacts. These objects reveal the level of craftsmanship in the legendary ancient city.

Ancient Greek and Cypriot Ceramics

The halls of Ancient Greece and Cyprus display exclusively original works. The collection includes shaped vessels of red and black ceramics, showcasing various painting techniques. The Uvarov Sarcophagus exemplifies ancient funerary art. Particular attention is given to the Fayum portraits — funerary images created in the 1st–3rd centuries AD. The museum holds 22 such portraits, which make up a significant portion of the roughly eight hundred known worldwide. These works are remarkable for their realism and preservation.

European Painting of the 13th–18th Centuries

The first floor features collections of Italian, German, and Dutch masters of the 13th–16th centuries. Several halls are dedicated to European painters of the 17th–18th centuries. Here visitors can see works from various schools and movements of the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

Exhibitions on the Second Floor

A large part of the second floor is devoted to temporary exhibitions of modern and classical artists. Current information about ongoing shows and opening dates for new exhibitions can be found on the museum’s official website in the events section.

Gallery of European and American Art of the 19th–20th Centuries

A separate building of the museum complex houses 26 halls featuring works by European and American masters. The exhibition covers diverse artistic directions and genres — from Romanticism to the avant-garde — including landscapes, portraits, historical compositions, and still lifes.

Masterpieces of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism

The collection includes world-famous paintings assembled by Russian patrons Sergei Shchukin and Ivan Morozov. Among them:

• “Portrait of Actress Jeanne Samary” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir — an airy depiction of a young actress in a free painterly manner
• “Luncheon on the Grass” by Claude Monet — a study for a monumental composition by the founder of Impressionism
• “Blue Dancers” by Edgar Degas — a delicate pastel regarded as the finest embodiment of dance in the artist’s work
• “Bois de Boulogne” by Henri Matisse — a vivid work in which the French painter creates his own reality through color
• “Red Fish” by Henri Matisse — a contemplative composition inspired by his travels in Morocco

Works of 20th-Century Avant-Garde

The gallery presents works by artists who revolutionized the art of the past century:

• “Portrait of Ambroise Vollard” by Pablo Picasso — a Cubist depiction of the famous Parisian art dealer
• “Girl on a Ball” by Pablo Picasso — a work from his “rose period,” with a touching contrast between a fragile acrobat and a powerful athlete
• “Jaguar Attacking a Horse” by Henri Rousseau — a dynamic composition by the French naïve artist

Department of Private Collections

The museum holds over 30 private collections, comprising more than seven thousand works of art. The unique approach lies in preserving each collection’s integrity instead of distributing items among traditional museum departments. Staff aim to maintain the author’s intent and individuality of each collection, emphasizing the collector’s personality. The collection of Russian realist painting from the 19th–20th centuries by S. V. Solovyov was created following the example of Pavel Tretyakov, founder of the famous gallery. Of special importance is the collection of Ilya Samoilovich Zilbershtein. The scholar and public figure initiated the creation of this department and was the first to donate two thousand paintings and graphic works to the museum. Many collectors bequeath their collections to this department, trusting its careful preservation of artistic values and collectors’ legacies.

Educational Art Museum named after I. V. Tsvetaev

The exhibition includes more than seven hundred replicas of ancient art monuments. The originals are kept in major museums in England, Spain, France, and Germany. The exhibits do not duplicate the Main Building’s collection but complement the overall picture of world art development. The Educational Museum fulfills Ivan Vladimirovich Tsvetaev’s original idea of linking museum exhibitions with the educational process. Art and art history students use the collection to study art history and develop professional skills.

Memorial Apartment of Svyatoslav Teofilovich Richter

The residence of the great pianist has been turned into a cultural space that hosts exhibitions, concerts, and creative meetings. During Richter’s lifetime, Moscow’s intelligentsia gathered here for opera rehearsals and film viewings. The musician organized exhibitions of his favorite artists, turning the apartment walls into galleries for young talents. Richter was passionate about painting; one of the rooms in the memorial space preserves his collection of pastels. Event schedules are posted on the museum’s official website.

Composition of the Museum Collection

The collection of the State Museum of Fine Arts includes more than 670,000 exhibits. The exhibition comprises four main categories of works:

1. Copies of original sculptures of the Ancient World and the Middle Ages, made from molds of originals
2. Authentic artifacts of ancient civilizations from archaeological expeditions
3. An art gallery of European paintings from the 8th–20th centuries
4. Works by European and American masters of the 19th – early 20th centuries

The museum complex ranks among the hundred most visited art institutions in the world. Every year, over a million people tour its halls, exploring both permanent exhibitions and temporary displays.

Location and Accessibility

The museum complex occupies several buildings on Volkhonka Street in central Moscow. The main building is located at 12 Volkhonka Street. Nearby are the Gallery of European and American Art (14 Volkhonka Street) and the Private Collections Building (10 Volkhonka Street).

How to Get There by Public Transport

The easiest way to reach the museum is by metro. From “Kropotkinskaya” station, it’s about a five-minute walk to the main entrance. From “Borovitskaya” station, the walk takes around ten minutes. The museum complex is located opposite the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. A walk from Red Square, Alexander Garden, or Arbat Street takes 10–15 minutes, offering views of Moscow’s historic center.

Nearby Accommodation Options

Tourists planning to visit the museum may find it convenient to stay in the Khamovniki district or near Arbat Street. These central areas of Moscow provide walking access to the museum complex and other cultural attractions of the capital, including Red Square. Note that accommodation in the center is more expensive than in the outer districts.

Opening Hours

The museum is open to visitors six days a week:

• Tuesday and Wednesday: 11:00 – 20:00
• Thursday and Friday: 11:00 – 21:00
• Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 – 20:00
• Monday: closed

Admission ends one hour before closing. During holidays, the schedule may vary; up-to-date information is available on the official website. Memorial apartments and studios operate on special schedules, which are recommended to check in advance.

Ticket Purchase

Tickets to the museum complex are available at the ticket offices and online through the official website. Admission prices depend on the visitor’s age and eligibility for discounts. Children under six enter free. Discounted rates are available for schoolchildren, students, pensioners, and members of creative unions. Various ticket categories are offered: for the permanent exhibition, temporary exhibitions, or combined access to several buildings. Special conditions apply for holders of the “Pushkin Card.” Detailed information about rates and benefits is available on the museum’s website.

Additional Opportunities for Visitors

Educational Programs

The museum complex offers a variety of educational events. Regular thematic tours are held for both permanent and temporary exhibitions. Visitors can attend art history lectures, creative workshops, and classical music concerts. Since 2017, the educational project “Pushkin XXI” has been dedicated to contemporary Russian and international art. The program includes meetings with artists, historians, and curators from around the world.

Virtual Tours

For those unable to visit in person, virtual tours and online lectures are available on the official website. Digital collections allow visitors to examine exhibits in detail and learn their history from anywhere in the world.

The Museum’s Role in Cultural Life

The State Museum of Fine Arts named after A. S. Pushkin (Pushkin Museum) is one of the most important centers for studying and promoting world art. Its rich collections span several millennia of human creativity — from ancient Egyptian artifacts to avant-garde paintings of the 20th century. Visiting the exhibitions offers an opportunity to relax from everyday concerns, immerse oneself in beauty, and experience aesthetic pleasure. Encountering great works of art fills one with energy, inspiration, and a broader cultural outlook. The State Museum of Fine Arts named after A. S. Pushkin continues to fulfill the educational mission envisioned by its founder, Ivan Vladimirovich Tsvetaev, more than a century ago.