Things to do in , Central Russia: The Best Art Museums

Private museum in historical mansion displaying old porcelain (mostly Russian and Soviet), art iron casting pieces, silver pieces.

The Moscow Region State-Financed Organization Of Culture “The Sergiev Posad State History and Art Museum” The unique collections of Old Russian and folk art are worldly famous. They demonstrate the development of Russian art till the 21st century and correlation of folk and professional art. Academician D.S. Likhachev called the Sergiev Posad Museum “Hermitage of Russian Culture”. “The Museum Yesterday, Today and Always” The historical center of the ancient town Sergiev Posad in the vicinity of Moscow is the architectural ensembleof the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, founded by Venerable Sergius of Radonezh and the town’s main sight is the Sergiev Posad Museum-Rezerve. The Museum was established on April, 20 on the basis of the historical and artistic treasures of the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, which was in time supplemented by the most interesting collections of folk and contemporary applied and decorative art. The Museum collection include over 189 000 items, permitting 10 permanent displays and temporary exhibitions. In 1992 the Museum was declared a specially significant unit of the national cultural heritage of the Russian Federation. At present the Museum, situated in the historical part of the town, is represented by 4 sections: The Sacristy of the Trinity-St. Sergius Monastery, The Museum Complex “Konny Dvor”, The Main Building, The Local History Department. The exhibition complexes are completed with commentaries on the town history, archeological finds and art collections. The Sergiev Posad State History and Art Museum-Reserve is waiting for everybody who is interested in history and culture of Russia! You are welcome to get in touch with the great historical heritage! The Main Exhibitions and Displays The Museum Complex “Konny Dvor” * “The Ancient Past of the Sergiev Posad District” The collections of the historical and archeological monuments of the 6th century B.C. – 14th century, found on the territory of the Sergiev Posad district. * “The Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra”: Architectural Ensemble, Pages of History (14th – 18th cc)” The only exhibition in Russia illustrating the history of the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, steps of the Monastery construction and its participation in the events of Russian history. It presents collections of Russian and West-European arms and armor of the 16th – 17th cc. and rarities of the age of Enlightenment used in the Monastery, in the town and its environs. * “St. Sergius of Radonezh – an Assistant to the Entire State and to the Tsars of Russia” The exhibition combines for the first time the 15th – early 20th century works of art, dedicated to Venerable Sergius of Radonezh. Most exhibits are connected with the names of the famous state and church persons, with memorial and occasionally dramatic events or record the names of the craftsmen, owners and donators, indicate the date of production and the reason for the donation to the Monastery. The Exhibition presents works of jewelry art, icons, embroideries in silk, golden and silver threads, books, documents, reconstruction models, archeological finds, paintings, engravings, works of the famous folk handicrafts centers. * “The World of a Russian Village” The exhibition presents rich collection of pottery, carved and painted woodworks, printed textiles, embroidery, weaving, folk costumes of the 18th – 20th cc., gives an idea of the traditional Russian feasts: Christmas, Shrovetide, Trinity Sunday. * “Russian Applied and Decorative Art of the 18th – 21st cc.” The exhibition presents traditional Russian handicrafts and productions. They are world-famous centers of carving in wood and bone, lacquer painting on papier- mache and metal, clay toys, printed and embroidered in gold kerchiefs, glass, porcelain, faience. * “The Museum of Russian Matryoshka” The exhibition illustrates the main steps in the development of matryoshka doll. It demonstrates works of all traditional matryoshka centers situated in the Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Vyatka regions and also such a bright phenomenon of contemporary artistic life as “art” matryoshka. The Main Building includes the exhibition hall organizing displays of paintings, engravings, works of applied and decorative art produced by artists of Sergiev Posad, Moscow and other towns of Russia. The Local History Department is housed in a little cozy mansion in the middle of the park with age-old trees. Its exhibits illustrate the late 19th – 20th century history of Sergiev Posad; convey the atmosphere of the provincial town at the turn of the century; depict sever life and hard work of the citizens during the Great Patriotic War, give an opportunity to find oneself in the sweet 1950s. The Sacristy of the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra of the 14th – 19th cc. At present this Museum complex is under restoration. Some items from the collection are displayed at the Exhibition “St. Sergius – An Assistant to the Entire State and to the Tsars of Russia” in the Museum Complex “Konny Dvor”.