House-Museum P.D. Korin

In the city of Paleh in 1974, the long-awaited opening of the house-museum dedicated to P.D. Korin - one of the best and most talented artists of the 20th century. Today, this house is a true example of an ancient memorial museum. It is known that one of the most important life principles of the Korin family was the deepest respect for their past. Pavel Dmitrievich Korin, together with his brothers, took care of this house, keeping the inherent atmosphere and numerous things that were used by his ancestors – the idea of creating a museum never left the artist.

It is important that not only the idea, but also the process of its implementation fell on the shoulders of P.D. Korin, after which he bequeathed the museum to his native Palekh. The purpose of the museum was to preserve the history of the patriarchal course of life, the importance of family obligations and spiritual culture, as well as the preservation of family traditions. The promotion of these values was particularly persistent, which is the main meaning of the museum.

The house consists of two parts: a merchant or city half and a peasant hut or a maid with a kitchen - the unification of parts is made using a common corridor. The kitchen furnishings fully convey the way of everyday peasant life, which lasted from the late 19th to the early 20th centuries. It is in this room, however, as in other rooms, the authentic and located in their places, as depicted in Corin's 1928 watercolor painting Our Home, Kitchen.

In the previously existing room of the Korin family in the early years of the 20th century there was a miniature home workshop, which soon turned into a completely ordinary room. Before the immediate opening of the museum, in this room they decided to equip a special documentary exhibition with stands and showcases, which was borrowed from the Golikov Museum, but still the external and internal appearance of the house was completely different.

In 1994, major construction and restoration works were carried out, as a result of which the house acquired its original appearance thanks to preserved photographs. The famous easel of Dmitry Korin is located next to the kitchen wall as a reminder of the use of this small room as a workshop. Here you can also see the authentic objects that were necessary during the process of creating icons – it is designed for primer levkas, icon boards, paints diluted in wooden spoons and numerous brushes. This room is one of the few places to which the combination of “museum exposition” will be correctly used.

During the warm season, the Korin family lived in the summer half of the house, which was completely cleaned and left in a merchant manner - there was furniture made of expensive wood, decorated with works of art. On the walls of this part of the house hang portraits of all the ancestors of Korin Pavel Dmitrievich, reminiscent of the indigenous Paleshans. Portraits and faces on them seem literally carved from a single piece of granite, which is emphasized by the integrity of characters and true seriousness. The guises retained the character of indescribable peasant tolerance and stature.

Numerous old books tell that in this family especially loved and appreciated the work of Turgenev, Gogol, Goncharov and Tolstoy. It is known that the Paleh families, for the most part, were educated, which is why there was such a strong craving for works of world art and culture. One of the most significant holidays in the Korin family was Christmas, because it was celebrated in a large circle of family and friends.

In 2012, a real Christmas tree was installed in the Koriny Museum, decorated with ancient Christmas toys, while the celebration of the Nativity of Christ took place, to which children were invited. The inhabitants of Paleh believe that the house will never die if all the things that are still in their original places live in it. Many believe that the house is protected by its former inhabitants – the Korin family.