Borodino panorama - a famous monument to the heroism of Russian soldiers in the Patriotic War of 1812

The famous museum on Kutuzov Avenue, in which the panorama "The Borodino Battle" is located, is one of the main cultural symbols not only of Moscow, but of our entire country as a whole. It is worth noting at least the fact that this is the only museum complex in the world, devoted exclusively to the Patriotic War of 1812 and its culmination - the battle near the village of Borodino.

The Borodino panorama was conceived by the famous artist F. Roubaud as a monument to the centenary of the terrible events of 1812. By the time he was already famous for writing two similar battle paintings - "The Defense of Sevastopol", dedicated to the events of the Crimean War, and "Assault of the village of Akhulgo."

The idea of creating a grand panorama of the battle of Borodino was expressed by the artist in late 1909 and almost immediately found support from the authorities and the public. In the following months, the artist was engaged in a thorough collection of material, consultations with military experts and historians, repeated trips to the place of former battle. Nicholas II also introduced his amendments to the work, who insisted that the picture show the situation in the village of Semenovskaya at about 12.30.

The result of all this work was the majestic Borodino panorama, opened on the eve of the centenary, which aroused genuine enthusiasm among contemporaries. The canvas for public display was exhibited in a specially built for this case building on Chistoprudniy Boulevard. It depicted a magnificent panorama of the battle of Borodino, the central place in which was occupied by the attack of the French on the Semenov flush, accompanied by retaliatory active actions of Russian troops.

In 1918, the Borodino panorama was withdrawn, since the pavilion in which it was exhibited was completely useless. For a long thirty years the picture fell out of the field of view not only of ordinary spectators, but also of specialists. Only after the end of the Great Patriotic War the canvas was finally given to the restorers, who in two years gave it the original look.

For all to see, the Borodino panorama was once again exhibited in 1962 in honor of the 150th anniversary of the great feat of the Russian people. By this significant date, a new building was built on Kutuzov Avenue, not far from the place where the great commander kept his famous advice. However, on this misadventure the picture did not end: not even five years later, she almost died in the fire, which destroyed more than half of the original. Restorers have performed a real miracle, having presented in a few years to the viewers a panorama that almost does not differ from the original.

Currently, the complex-museum "Borodino Panorama" is a modern cultural facility, which is visited daily by thousands of tourists. Before the building of the museum they are met by the majestic figure of Field Marshal Kutuzov, who, with his own appearance, inspires confidence in the inevitable victory of Russian weapons. Next to the commander-in-chief are his closest associates - Barclay, Bagration, Platov, who, together with the soldiers, symbolize the unity of the Russian people in the face of the enemy.

Actually, the "Borodino Panorama" occupies the entire second floor of the museum. Composed not only from the picture, but also from individual material objects, it emphasizes the heroism of Russian soldiers and conveys the unforgettable atmosphere of one of the greatest battles in the history of mankind.