Yuryev-Polish Historical, Architectural and Art Museum

The Polish Historical, Architectural and Art Museum is one of the most famous provincial museums of the “Small Golden Ring” of Russia. What preceded its creation, what are the reasons for its appearance, museum archives open to us. The document, dated January 6, 1920, states that the Board for Museum Affairs, Protection of Art and Monuments of Antiquities listened to the report of A.I. Romanov on his trip to Vladimir on Museum Affairs. As a result, a resolution was issued: “...to ask the Executive Committee to urgently provide space for the museum...”, with the aim of implementing the resolution of the provincial congress of July 6-10, 1919. The opening of the museum was timed to the day of celebration of the October Revolution on November 7, 1920.
The first head of the Yuriev-Polish Art-Historical Museum becomes the 37-year-old teacher of the IZO Romanov Afanasy Ivanovich, after graduating from the Stroganov School, who worked in the 1st Soviet school of the 2nd stage. In the dining room and the adjacent room of this school, it was decided to place a museum. A year later, all the museum property was moved to the building of the former rooms of the Khlebnikov merchants. The first exhibits included nationalized values from the estates of landowners, merchants, princes Golitsyn and Saltykov, from private collections of manufacturers Ganshin and Ovsyannikov, churches and monasteries. Two years later, the museum’s collection grew considerably and did not fit in small merchant rooms. In 1922-1923, with the assistance of P.D. Baranovsky, 1325 museum items were already inhabited by the former Mikhailo-Arkhangelsk monastery. The idea of creating a museum on the basis of the monastery Baranovsky put forward in order to preserve this highly artistic architectural complex of the XVI – XIX centuries, located in the very center of the city. At this time, the museum funds were partially replenished at the expense of the monastery property. On the basis of the collected material, expositions were opened. Let us cite the literal text of the document: "... the cultural and historical department is being prepared for opening in it are collected objects of Finnish and Slavic culture of the X-XI centuries, obtained by random excavations on the territory of the Yurievsky district, a collection of ancient weapons of the XI-XII centuries, a collection of coins of the XY-XYIII centuries, objects of religious worship of the XVII-XIX centuries, various atlases, maps. There were 574 items in the first section. The art department contains paintings, etudes, engravings in the amount of 372 items. The third department is household, the most rich and diverse exhibits. It contains crystal, porcelain XVIII-XIX centuries, caskets, caskets, hats and lace, purses and wallets, statuettes and vases. A total of 673 items. The fourth department is natural science, only nascent, it contains the remains of bones of extinct animals found within the county, objects of marine flora and fauna taken from the Crimea and donated to the museum. As you can see from the text, most of the items were random. Therefore, the first expositions demonstrated everything that was in the museum collection at that time and had a kunstchamber character. In these years, the museum is transferred to the St. George Cathedral of the XIII century. In parallel, under the leadership of P.D. Baranovsky, work is underway to liberate the cathedral from later extensions. On September 8, 1929, Afanasy Ivanovich Romanov handed over museum objects to the newly appointed director I.I. Kadikov, a former researcher of the museum. The dismissal of A.I. Romanov was connected with his moving to Moscow for permanent residence. Initially, our colleagues did not succeed, there was no one to learn new things from. The archive preserved a resolution to the report of I.I. Kadikov, indicating shortcomings in the museum work. The development of the museum business required financial investments, but the new state has not yet been formed, and only fragments in the form of surviving values remained from the old regime. It was difficult for the first museum workers, even documents, orders, memos were written on the back of the ancient family archives of the XIX century. From year to year, there is an improvement in work, there is confidence in the actions of management and employees. It is clear from the documentary materials that in 1929 the museum was on a confident course to its tasks. From 1 to 6 December 1930, the first museum congress was held in Moscow. The congress demanded a decisive turn of museums to the pressing problems of the day, a radical restructuring of museum methodology on a Marxist-Leninist basis. The remaining plans of the following years focused on anti-religious propaganda. This is evident from the original documents, the 2nd Stage school, for example, requests that a priest and two monks be given out of the museum’s collection for an anti-religious evening, which they pledge to return at the end of the event. During this period, museum funds lost a huge number of monuments of church art, which were mercilessly destroyed or used for other purposes. After 4 years, Kadikova I.I. is replaced by Mikhail Ivanovich Orlov. The newly appointed director becomes an active collector of archaeological and geological collections. 1920-1930 years is the time when on the territory of the Yuryev-Polish district was active scientific society for the study of the local region, later called the district bureau of local history. Mikhail Ivanovich becomes its chairman. Almost all studies on local history in the area were conducted with his participation. The subject of local studies was very diverse. The geological material was studied. All results were recorded in field diaries. This was reflected in the local press. Samples of the found materials were transferred to the exposition for display to the population. The museum has preserved a document in which Mikhail Ivanovich described the most difficult conditions he had to work in, in brief we will place his sorrowful confession: "... the budget of the museum consists only of funds from renting out the premises of the monastery. The income of the museum does not exceed 200 rubles per month, these funds are enough only for the salary of the watchman and household expenses. There are no funds for scientific and local studies, for hiring and paying researchers. The Executive Committee refused to pay for the work of the only employee (he means himself) and the head of the museum has not received a salary since March. Orlov M.I. conducted excursions, cleaned the area in front of the museum from manure and garbage, harvested firewood for the winter. The museum is on the verge of closing, thanks to the incredible efforts of Mikhail Ivanovich, the museum was preserved. Being a member of many societies that arose in the area, he was an active propagandist of culture, art, lecturer. Argued, happened, quarreled with the authorities, protecting the museum and its collections. Perhaps that is why he was repressed in 1936. During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, the expositions were curtailed, but not for long. At the end of 1942, the museum reopened, some expositions were restored, the next year, due to lack of fuel, the museum worked only 5 months. During this time, 4,800 students, adults and military personnel visited the museum. Since 1936 and the entire war period, the museum was headed by Fedor Nikolaevich Poluyanov. Nothing new happened in the work of the museum during this period, but the most global task was fulfilled, which is the preservation of the museum fund. Despite the terrible military events, museum objects were protected from theft and complete destruction. Since 1953, there is a revival in museum activities. The state turns its face to museums, the term tourist groups, routes appears. The museum is expanding. In addition to the director, two research associates of Dolotova Valentina Ivanovna and Ananyina Elizaveta Georgievna work. At this time, St. George’s Cathedral was shown to tourists, work was started on the formation of a collection of white stone. Georgy Karlovich Wagner, who worked here in the 1960s in his book “Masters of Old Russian Sculpture”, writes that it was the works of F.N. Poluyanov and P.D. Baranovsky that collected a collection of carved stones and arranged a lapidarium inside the St. George Cathedral. The reports of F.N. Poluyanov are full of enthusiasm, firm confidence in the future, we will cite a short quote from the annual report for 1954. Taking into account that the new day in our lives gives new successes and achievements not only throughout the country, but in their area, the museum employees, collecting new material, made thematic and exposition plans “Pre-revolutionary past of our region”, “Russian culture of the nineteenth century, “Participation of the region in the Crimean War”. On March 28, 1966, by the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR for merits in the field of cultural and educational work, Fyodor Poluyanov was awarded the honorary title of Honored Worker of Culture of the RSFSR. In 1968, after the retirement of Fedor Nikolaevich was replaced by Kalabina Zinaida Ilyinichna, who worked as a researcher. At this time, a restoration site is being created in the city. The museum receives assistance from local enterprises of the Avangard factory, the Promsvyaz plant. The restoration of the collection of paintings and icons was actively carried out. The city bureau of travel and excursions opened, which contributed to the attraction of tourists to the city from the Baltic cities, Leningrad, Kiev, Brest, Tashkent. Often 10-15 groups came to the museum every day. By the end of the sixties, a new section “Aid to the Regional Museum” appeared in museum reports. Therefore, the creation of the unified state Vladimir-Suzdal Museum of the reserve was not an accidental or spontaneous decision. On May 29, 1974, the Executive Committee of the Vladimir Regional Council of Workers’ Deputies decided to create a large museum association consisting of branches of which became museums of district cities of the Vladimir region. Where the Yuriev-Polish Museum of Local Lore entered. This period was a renaissance for our museum, two expositions created at that time still exist today. Then, responsible researchers from the head museum and professional artists from Moscow or Yaroslavl were assigned to each exposition. In 1989, on February 3, the Executive Committee of the Vladimir Regional Council of People's Deputies makes a decision on the transformation of the Vladimir-Suzdal Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve into the Vladimir Association of Museums, including the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve with a branch-museum of crystal and as independent museums former branches of the united museum, including Yuriev-Polish. The following year, on April 29, 1990, by the order of the Executive Committee of the Regional Council of People's Deputies, our museum was named "Yuriev-Polish Historical, Architectural and Artistic". Since then, our country has changed beyond recognition, significant quantitative and qualitative changes have taken place in the museum. The scope of the museum’s activities has expanded, its tasks have become more complicated.