Museum and Workshop of People's Artist of the USSR D. A. Nalbandian

In the cultural space of Moscow there are places that are not so widely known and popular: these are museums-apartments, museums-workshops of artists. Meanwhile, in these museums you can find interesting and rare exhibits, works of art, documents related to the life and work of famous masters, reflecting the time in which they lived. Among them is the “Museum-workshop of the People’s Artist of the USSR D. A. Nalbandyan”, located on the 9th floor of the famous Moscow house in the heart of the city – on Tverskaya Street, 8, Corp. 2., directly opposite the monument to Yuri Dolgorukov. Currently, this museum-workshop is a structural subdivision of the Museum and Exhibition Association "Capital" (GBUK "MVO "Capital"). At the end of 1992, D.A. Nalbandian, an epochal figure in the art of the twentieth century, donated part of his collection to the city of Moscow. The Moscow government decided to create on the basis of the collection of author’s paintings “Museum-workshop of People’s Artist of the USSR D. A. Nalbandian”. Subsequently, this collection was replenished with numerous drawings, picturesque sketches, which were presented to the museum by Dmitry Arkadyevich’s sister Margarita Arkadyevna Nalbandyan. The work of Nalbandian belongs to the classics of the national artistic culture. It's massive and multifaceted. At the mention of this artist in the imagination most often arise large thematic paintings on the historical-revolutionary, Leninist theme, images of prominent state and party figures, major military leaders. This master was treated as one of the brightest representatives of the official art of the Soviet era, the art of socialist realism. He was called the “first brush of the Politburo”, he was the only one who painted a portrait of the “leader of all peoples” from life, he was commissioned by portraits of foreign political leaders. Many of Nalbandian’s works, dedicated to displaying the historical events of our country, have not lost their significance today: they are part of our history, they convey the atmosphere of time. In the exposition presented in the museum-workshop on Tverskaya, the viewer will not see large thematic paintings (they are the property of the largest museums of the country and are presented here in photos). Muscovites and guests of the capital will be able to get acquainted with the more chamber side of the artist’s work, see paintings – landscapes, still lifes, portraits, genre paintings created by the author at different stages of his creative path. The museum-workshop also presents materials from the home archive, photographs, books, samples of furniture, decorative and applied arts. A beautiful master of landscape, Nalbandian was able to convey all the colorful richness of nature in his landscape paintings. Wherever the artist was, he worked enthusiastically in the open air, trying to convey the volatile, bizarre nature. He wrote all the seasons – the glow of the sun, the whiteness of snow, the golden flame of autumn foliage, the bright blue shadows of the first March days. In landscape works, the character of the master was clearly manifested, passionate about his pictorial task, but not losing the main - poetic content. Very often the author acts as a genreist and landscape painter at the same time, able to express the harmonious unity of man and the surrounding world. The exposition presents works reflecting the breadth of vision, the artist’s coloristic gift – “Crimean Corner”, “Ishachi Bridge. Tbilisi”, “Gurzuf. Crimea”, “Motherhood”. Armenia, Bakhchisarai, Church in Ubory, etc. Throughout his life, Nalbandian selflessly wrote still lifes. His temperamental brush masterfully conveyed the lush flowering of roses, and the friendly beauty of field chamomiles, and the morning freshness of thick lilac. The museum presents a number of memorable still lifes – “Camel”, “Carnations”, “Still life with pears”. Abundance, "Flowers on a blue tablecloth" and many others. Showing the plastic and colorful richness of surrounding objects, Nalbandian gave an opportunity to feel the beauty of the objective world, asserting the full-blooded joy of being. An extensive area of creative activity of the artist was the portrait. The portraits created by Nalbandian are diverse both in their internal content and artistic decision. Along with well-known portraits of political and statesmen, prominent commanders and marshals, Nalbandian willingly posed for art colleagues, musicians, artists, writers, scientists, ordinary people. The exposition of the museum included several self-portraits of the artist, created in different years, portraits of loved ones and relatives. Portraits of Valentina Mikhailovna, the artist’s wife and son Arkady are marked by special warmth, subtle lyricism and sincerity. As you know, “Self-portrait” of Nalbandian in 1982 is located in the famous Uffizi Gallery in Florence. An interesting section of the exposition, where Nalbandian’s drawings are presented. He was an excellent master of drawing, which was both independent and auxiliary for him. Some of them are finished, others are sketches. When creating drawings, Nalbandian used various techniques - sangina, pencil, marker, pen. Since the 1930s, the artist has made hundreds of portrait sketches from life, which today have great documentary value. These are portraits of participants of party congresses, state and political figures. The museum has pencil portraits of Stalin, Kalinin, Kirov, Voroshilov, Khrushchev, Brezhnev, Mao Dze Tung, which are distinguished by a keenly grasped similarity, the ability to convey the main traits of character. The exposition also presents friendly cartoons depicting artists and colleagues. Created during meetings of the Presidium of the Academy of Arts of the USSR, creative evenings, scientific conferences, sessions, these quick, instant sketches amaze with the expressiveness and accuracy of individual characteristics. The viewer will see portraits of remarkable masters of fine arts - N. Ryndin, Z. Vilensky, B. Ioganson, A. Gerasimov, N. Sokolov, T. Zalkalns, etc. Not to mention the work done during numerous foreign trips. These are drawings, sketches, sketches. They capture the peculiar nature of different countries, people, their everyday life. Here are some of the works of the foreign series presented in the museum: “Weaver from Jaipur”. India, Grape harvesting. Bulgaria, Abovyan Square. Armenia, Railway Complex. Bulgaria. Varna, View of Seville. Spain, also attracts attention genre sketches of Tbilisi life. Of undoubted interest is the photographic material, revealing vivid episodes and events from the life of the artist, capturing his meetings with famous people of the twentieth century. We will be glad to see everyone who wants to get acquainted with a part of the creative heritage of the largest painter of the twentieth century Dmitry Arkadyevich Nalbandyan, to see the world through the eyes of a great artist.