Museum-apartment of Pushkin A. S. on the Moika (St. Petersburg)

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:44

Probably, there is no person who, having arrived in St. Petersburg, would not visit the house number 12 on the Moika. It became the last refuge of the great writer Pushkin A. S. The Pushkin Museum-Apartment is part of the All-Russian complex of museums that are dedicated to the life and work of the brilliant poet. There are several more similar apartments, each of which is the property of the Russian people. But it is the museum-apartment of A. S. Pushkin on the Moika that attracts the attention of visitors. Here he spent the last days of his life, and it was here that the most famous people gathered to honor the memory of the great man.

History Pages

Museum-apartment on the Moika is a very old building. The house was erected in the Catherine era. The architect of this building was Giuseppe Trisini. Since 1727, the house belonged to Baron I. A. Cherkasov. Homeowners changed regularly, the building itself was rebuilt several times. In 1806, the princes Volkonsky settled on the Moika. Pushkin never had his own home, especially in the capital. Only very rich Petersburgers could afford it.

But wherever the poet rents an apartment, she alwayscorresponded to his status as a great man. This is confirmed by the museum-apartment of Pushkin, the photo of which is presented below.

The life of a poet in St. Petersburg

A. S. Pushkin had a lot to do with St. Petersburg. He came here with his uncle when he was 12 years old. Here he lived until the end of the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum. On the Moika, he met with his contemporaries. The Pushkin Museum-Apartment on the Moika is located near the Winter Palace. This allowed Alexander Sergeevich to come to the service every day as a chamber junker. Therefore, in September 1896, the Pushkin family rented an apartment in St. Petersburg at Moika 12. The poet planned to live here for 2-3 years. But a few months later Pushkin was wounded in a duel. In 1837, on January 29, the poet died.

Pushkin did not live long in the house on the Moika, but this place became known throughout Russia. However, this house did not immediately become a museum. It is known that in 1910 the mansion was rebuilt into an apartment building. And after the revolution there were communal apartments. Only in 1924, the Pushkin circle of the "Old Petersburg" society bought out that part of the house in which Alexander Sergeevich lived and worked. The most difficult work began on the reconstruction of the premises, the collection of things that were distributed after the death of the poet. The sources of reconstruction were different: letters from relatives and friends, memoirs of the poet's contemporaries. A letter from V. A. Zhukovsky to Pushkin’s father, where the plan of the poet’s apartment was described, was of great help.

Turning an apartment into a museum

In 1925 (February 10) wasthe poet's office was restored, a meeting was held here, which was dedicated to the first year of the death of A. S. Pushkin. But the largest restoration work began in 1937. They were timed to coincide with the centenary of the death of the poet. The entire Volkonsky house was restored. In front of the house, in the courtyard, there is a beautiful monument dedicated to Pushkin. Subsequently, the pantry and dining room, bedrooms, and the main staircase were restored. Everything has been recreated down to the smallest detail. This is how the Pushkin Museum-Apartment on the Moika appeared.

The entire exposition of the museum consists of two departments. The first tells about the history of the mansion and the life of Pushkin. The second is the poet's apartment, personal items, books, portraits. A special place in the museum-apartment is occupied by the poet's office. This is a spacious, bright room where there is no luxury. Everything is extremely simple and has to work. In the center of the room there is a genuine writing desk, on which stands an inkstand with a figurine of an Arab girl. This is a gift from P. V. Nashchekin. The main part of the room is occupied by books, both new literature and old editions. Among them is Byron, whom Pushkin idolized.

Museum exhibitions

The sofa on which the poet died is of particular value in the museum's exposition. After his death, he was sent to the village of Mikhailovskoye. In 1936, with the assistance of Pushkin's relatives, the sofa was returned to the apartment on the Moika. In 2009, when comparing DNA samples from blood stains on the sofa and on the vest, the authenticity of the sofa, which was the deathbed of A. S. Pushkin, was established. Here are alsothings related to his death: a lock of hair, a mask, a vest in which the poet was on the day of the duel. Where there used to be utility rooms, now there are two halls in which paintings of the Pushkin era are presented. These are portraits of Pushkin's friends. Today, the museum's fund contains many authentic items, including: the poet's favorite Voltaire chair, canes and smoking pipes, the famous Pushkin pen with an inkwell. The museum is always crowded. The tour lasts only half an hour, but in this short time visitors move to another time and experience the tragic moments associated with the life and death of the great poet. Creative evenings, literary readings dedicated to A. S. Pushkin are held in the halls of the museum. Here, young poets read poetry, receiving parting words in the world of poetry.

Conclusion

St. Petersburg is especially proud of this place. The museum-apartment of Pushkin A. S. is known not only in Russia, but also abroad. All over the world, the memory of the poet is highly revered. All because Pushkin is a genius out of time and out of politics. This is a poet for all time. Alive and imperishable are his creations, which leave a deep imprint in the soul of every person.