International Center of the Roerichs: address, exhibitions, excursions

In the center of Moscow, walking along the alleys near Kropotkinskaya, you can accidentally come across an unusual building with an ornate portico. Next to it is a dark monument. A noble lady with a flower in her hand and a stern man with a broad beard rest on a thick folio. These people are Elena and Nicholas Roerich, and the building is called the International Center of the Roerichs. The family, each member of which possessed an extraordinary talent, made an invaluable contribution to the research and development of Russian culture. In this small Moscow house they preserve and preserve its outstanding heritage.

Nicholas Roerich: brief biography

The future head of the family was born in 1874 in St. Petersburg. He was interested in history, archeology, painting from childhood, and this determined his future life. Nicholas Roerich graduated from high school, then entered St. Petersburg University, and later - the Academy of Arts. In 1895, Roerich began to study painting from Arkhip Ivanovich Kuindzhi. After graduating from the Academy of Arts, a young man begins a career in the Society for the Encouragement of Artists and, at the same time, in the editorial office of the magazine Mir Iskusstva.

With his future wife, Elena Shaposhnikova, Nikolai Roerich met in 1899. The affinity of views and beliefs, deep mutual sympathy at once were obvious. Young people were married two years after they met. In trips and expeditions they went together. So, in 1903-1904 they traveled more than 40 Russian cities in search of the sources of Russian culture.

Between the expeditions Roerich managed to engage in literary and artistic creation. He collaborated with Diaghilev and designed theatrical productions for him, performed mosaic canvases for churches and, of course, painted pictures. In his paintings, the artist was inspired by ancient Russian subjects, and later - by a mysterious India.

During the revolution of 1917, the family found themselves in Finland and could not return to St. Petersburg. Thus began the long years of emigration. The Roerichs succeeded several Scandinavian countries, lived in London and America. Nikolay and Elena dreamed of visiting Central Asia, and in 1923 the dream was destined to come true. The five-year-old Asian expedition of the Roerichs to this day remains one of the most grandiose world studies. Its value is difficult to overestimate for both culture and geography. Discovered new peaks and passes, collected a rare scientific material, found unique manuscripts and archaeological sites. All this could remain a dream, if not for Nicholas Roerich. Etudes and paintings created by the artist in this expedition are one of the pearls of Russian fine art.

At the end of 1928, the Roerichs settled in India, in the Kullu valley. Here the artist was destined to end his years. The family never lived too luxuriantly, and long-distance expeditions to Central Asia, India and Tibet accustomed its members to Spartan conditions. Time has never passed in idleness. Each of the family members was busy with their own affairs, and in the evenings everyone gathered at a common table and discussed the achievements of the day. The Roerichs' way of life has always been measured and labor. In India, Roerich founded the Institute of Himalayan Studies, but later was lost because of the unscrupulous machinations of his confidant. Betrayal did not destroy the artist. He took part in several more expeditions, continued to write pictures and work on books, developed the ideas of Living Ethics.

During the Great Patriotic War, the artist lists proceeds from the sale of his paintings for the needs of the Red Army. He calls for peace and unity of mankind through newspaper articles and paintings. Being away from home, he remained a patriot. Having visited most of the countries of Europe and Asia, having traveled all over America, Roerich had only Russian citizenship. After the war, he applied for a visa to go to his homeland, but died before he knew that the visa was denied.

Elena Roerich

The artist's wife was an outstanding woman. As a girl, she was interested in philosophy and literature. Elena was preparing for a career as a pianist, but life brought it together with the young artist Nikolai Roerich. After the wedding, she did not turn into a domestic hen, remaining a muse and best friend for her husband, "other", as he called her. Together with him, she went on an expedition, reconciling herself with the simple conditions of her life in the field.

Elena Ivanovna mastered the art of restoration and photography. Uncommon artistic flair manifested itself in the creation of a magnificent collection of art objects, which was later donated to the Hermitage. Knowing her husband's employment, that he often does not have enough time to read, Elena Ivanovna turned into his eyes: she got acquainted with the book and told her husband what she considered most important.

Family life

The Roerichs were always surrounded by rumors and legends. The mysterious life of the family has often become a topic for discussion of the Moscow intelligentsia. Although in the Soviet Union for one mention of them you could easily go to the camp. The paradox, but with all the interest, the legacy of the family remained not fully understood.

The history of the Roerichs began in late October 1901. Like any new family, the apartment issue immediately arose. A lot of addresses were changed by the newlyweds before they settled near the Moika in 1906. Many sad minutes were brought to the couple and financial difficulties. A modest salary of the Secretary of the Society for the Encouragement of Artists would not have sufficed for decent urban life and expeditions at the same time. Fortunately, Nicholas Roerich also received royalties for his paintings and literary works.

All the friends who came to the house noted with affection that they had not met such a harmonious family yet. Relations between Elena and Nicholas were further strengthened after the birth of the sons of Yuri and Svyatoslav in 1902 and 1904.

Children of the Roerichs

Since the first years, boys have been treated as full members of the family. They were taken on trips, the opinions of the children were always considered. Brothers grew different from each other. Yuri was interested in history, Asia and Egypt. Svyatoslav, or, as he was affectionately called, Svetka, was fascinated by natural sciences, modeling, drawing. Elena Ivanovna did not like the soul in children, Nikolay Roerich himself took part in the upbringing. The children received an excellent education in the Sorbonne and Harvard. Becoming adults, they remembered their parents with great warmth and love, considering themselves all indebted to their upbringing and example. Yuriy Nikolayevich devoted his life to scientific work. He headed the Himalayan Institute "Urusvati" in India, and when he returned to his homeland, he worked at the Institute of Oriental Studies.

Svyatoslav Roerich followed in the footsteps of his father and became an artist. He was engaged in educational work and directed the School of Arts. It was he who initiated the creation of the Soviet Roerich Foundation in 1989.

International Center of the Roerichs

Svyatoslav Nikolaevich handed over to the Soviet Roerich Foundation (SFR) archives of parents kept in India. For their storage, the government provided the Lopukhins' estate. In 1991, the FIS was reorganized into the International Center of the Roerichs (ICR). Since its foundation until now, the center's right to the artist's legacy is being challenged in court. In turn, the center makes a claim to the Museum of the East, which holds part of the paintings. To this he probably has the right, since the Roerich Museum, to which the Lopukhins' mansion was handed over for use, was founded as a branch of the Museum of the Peoples of the East.

Since 2008 there has been a scandalous trial, as a result of which the ICR may lose its estate and the rights to the Roerichs' heritage. Then all the exhibits and documents will be transferred to the Museum of the East, and their future fate will be unknown.

Exposition of the museum

Despite the litigation, while the Museum of the name of Roerich continues to function. Here you can touch the amazing life of the family, understand the philosophy of these people more deeply, and understand their ideas. The exposition presents books from the library of the Roerichs, gifts of friends and teachers, their personal belongings, family relics, rare manuscripts, a collection of ancient bronze objects from the Kulu valley, where the Roerichs lived for a long time, numerous photo archives and, of course, sketches, sketches and paintings Nikolay Konstantinovich and his son.

At first, Roerich's exhibition was located in a small wing of the manor, but now the main building is located under the exposition. There are several rooms in the museum, each of which is dedicated to a certain topic. There is an Introductory Hall, St. Petersburg, Russian, the Hall of Teachers, Living Ethics, the Hall of the Banner of Peace, and others. You can familiarize yourself with them yourself, but it is much more interesting to learn something new on the tour.

Excursions

The International Center of the Roerichs itself arranges thematic and sightseeing tours of the museum. Of course, this must be agreed in advance. They will talk about the life of family members, their amazing travels, life in India, friends and teachers. You can get acquainted with the paintings of Nicholas and Svyatoslav Roerich and get exhaustive answers from an experienced museum employee. Excursion programs are available for different age categories: for both schoolchildren and adults.

If you want to move and inspect the museum at your own pace, you can buy an audio guide and immerse yourself in studying the life and paintings of the artist yourself.

Many agencies involved in walking tours around Moscow also arrange excursions, which tell about Moscow's friends Roerich and related places. As a rule, such a journey ends with an inspection of the museum.

The museum's activities

The Center actively participates in exhibition activities. He places collections of partners in his building and he himself provides paintings for exhibiting in galleries. So, in 2014 the museum took part of the works to St. Petersburg for an exhibition in the Russian Museum. In May 2016, the author's exhibition of artist Yuri Kuznetsov will open here. In addition, regularly held thematic exhibitions dedicated to certain pages of the Roerichs' life - expeditions, travel, friends.

In addition to exhibitions, musical evenings, discussions, lectures, seminars and master classes are organized here. There is an art studio, which will be interesting for both children and adults. The Center takes part in the state actions "Night at the Museum" and "Day at the Museum".

How to get there

It's very easy to get to the center. It is located in the heart of Moscow at Maly Znamensky Lane, 3/5. If you leave Kropotkinskaya at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the museum will be directly opposite, you just need to cross the Volkhonka. Its closest neighbors are the Pushkin Museum, the Gallery of European and American Art, and Glazunov Gallery.