Museums in Smolensk.

Museums in Smolensk.

Of course, as in any ancient Russian city (and Smolensk was first mentioned in the chronicle in 862), there are many museums in Smolensk, whose expositions reflect the history of the city and Russia as a whole.

Art gallery. The gallery building is an architectural monument of the XIX century, the former Alexander real school. It, which has a palace representation, is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful and spectacular in Smolensk. The building was designed by architects M.F. Meischer and O.F. Harten. The gallery building is luxurious both outside and inside: a unique grand staircase with openwork cast-iron steps has been preserved to this day. The exhibition of the Art Gallery is very extensive and diverse. One of the main sections is the collection of ancient Russian art of Princess M.K. Tenisheva, represented by icons of the XV – XIX centuries. The pride of the collection is the works of I.K. Aivazovsky, A.I. Kuindzhi, V.A. Tropinin, I.E. Repin, K.A. Korovin, A.N. Benua, V.A. Serova, L.S. Popova and other masters. Amateurs will appreciate the domestic painting and sculpture of the XX century. Smolensk artists are also represented. There is an extensive collection of Western European artists: Italian, German, French, Dutch, Flemish, Dutch school of painting: Bernardo Strozzi, Giovanni Pellegrini, Simon Lutiheis, Jan Asselain and others, as well as paintings by Spanish artists of the XVII century, one of which belongs to the brush of Francisco de Zurbaran.

S.T.Konenkov Sculpture Museum.

The Museum of Sculpture of Sergey Timofeevich Konenkov is dedicated to the artist, whose name is known to all connoisseurs of art both in Russia and abroad. The museum was opened in Smolensk on April 30, 1973 on the initiative of the sculptor himself, a native of the Smolensk region. The beginning of the exhibition was 41 works by Konenkov, transferred from the artist’s workshop in Moscow. The collection now includes over 90 works. Particular attention and love are the famous fabulous sculptures. Close to fabulous sculptures and furniture made of stumps, driftwood, tree branches. Each of Konenkov’s sculptures is his idea of the beauty of the world. Also presented are portraits of geniuses of Russian literature, art, composers and performers: L.N. Tolstoy, A.M. Gorky, V.V. Mayakovsky, T.G. Shevchenko, compositions dedicated to A.S. Pushkin and F.M. Dostoevsky, portraits of M.P. Mussorgsky, D.D. Shostakovich, A.B. Goldenweiser, N.V. Plevitskaya, the marvelous torso Isadora Duncan and others. One of the central themes in the work of S.T. Konenkov is Christian. The work “Son of Man” – the embodiment of the image of Jesus Christ, the composition “The Prophet” – is imbued with a sense of true faith. In all the works of the sculptor, the main motive is the hymn to beauty, faith, freedom, and love for the Motherland.

Smolensk flax museum.

The exposition of the museum, so beloved by all residents and guests of Smolensk, is devoted to the cultivation of flax, its processing, weaving - a craft that has been engaged in the Smolensk land since ancient times. This is the first flax museum in Russia, which is called the "hymn to northern silk".

Museum "In the World of Fairy Tales"

Museum for the youngest residents and guests of Smolensk - its exhibits immerse kids in scenes from Russian folk and favorite Pushkin fairy tales.

Museum of Smolensk during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.

This is one of the most visited museums of Smolensk; it is interesting for children, young people, people of the older generation. The museum presents authentic photographs and documents of the war, the period of occupation in the Smolensk region, the partisan movement, the liberation of the Smolensk region, the participation of the Smolensk people in the liberation of Europe. Here are collected samples of weapons of the Red Army and Hitlerite Germany; orders, medals, personal belongings of participants in the battles for Smolensk and Smolensk region, awards of Marshal of the Soviet Union S.K. Tymoshenko, Generals M.F. Lukin and I.N. Russianov; military uniforms and awards of French pilots of the Normandy-Neman regiment; combat banners of military units; trophies of defeated fascist Germany. The museum has an exhibition of military equipment - samples of artillery weapons, armored vehicles from the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, as well as post-war conflicts: the legendary Katyusha, the Shilka anti-aircraft installation, T-34 and IS-2 tanks, the ZIS-5 car, the MiG-23M fighter and much more!

Museum "Smolensk - shield of Russia" (Tower of Thunder).

The museum is located in one of the most beautiful towers of the Smolensk Kremlin - Thunder Tower. Visitors have the opportunity to see the unique interior of the tower, walk along its steep stairs, admire the wooden tent from the inside. On the second tier of the Gromovaya Tower there is an exposition telling about the construction of the Smolensk fortress wall and the heroic defense of the city during the Time of Troubles of 1609-16011. The third tier of the tower is occupied by the exhibition “Soldier of 1812”, exhibits of which are presented by collectors, searchers and reenactors. On the fourth tier under the dome of the tower you can admire the beautiful views of Smolensk. Visitors can walk along the spindle-place of the wall set aside for tourist walks.

Historical Museum in Smolensk.

The historical museum is the oldest in Smolensk: it was opened in 1888 by Smolensk local historian S.D. Pisarev in the building of the City Duma as a historical and archaeological museum. Since then, changing addresses and names, the museum acquaints visitors with the rich history of Smolensk region. Sections "The oldest history of the Smolensk land" (100 thousand). years ago - the beginning of the IX century AD) and "Smolensk as part of the Old Russian state in the IX - early XIII centuries" - among the exhibits: flint tools of hunting of ancient people, bronze jewelry and objects of worship, as well as models, reconstruction. The decoration of the exhibition is a genuine preserved skeleton of a mammoth. Also, visitors can see the legendary archaeological monuments of the Gnezdov complex (IX-X centuries, rare gold coins – solids of the Byzantine emperors Alexander and Theophilus, silver Arabic dirham coins, bronze and brass jewelry. In the exposition of the museum you can see the images of the inhabitants of the Gnezdovsky settlement reconstructed by anthropologists and their authentic costumes. The exposition of the museum also presents unique archaeological monuments of ancient Smolensk (XI-XIII centuries). New section of the Historical Museum - "History and culture of Smolensk in the XIII-XVIII centuries". The large exposition, filled with unique objects and relics, reflects the bright moments of Smolensk history: the Mongol-Tatar invasion of the XIII century, the relationship with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the XIII-XV centuries, the return of Smolensk to the Russian state in 1514, the construction of the Smolensk fortress in 1596-1602, the heroic defense of Smolensk from the Polish invaders in 1609-1611, the final liberation of the Smolensk land in 1654, the reforms of Peter I of the beginning of the XVIII century, the participation of the Smolensk region in the 1700-1700 war, the Smolensk provincial development. In the halls of the exposition there are more than two thousand museum exhibits.