Museum-estate of Muravyov-Apostles, Moscow: description, history and interesting facts

The estate of the Muravyov-Apostles in Moscow on Staraya Basmannaya Street is one of the jewels of the capital. The Museum of the Decembrists, opened in an old mansion, acquaints guests with the tragic history that happened on the Senate Square, with the life of the Moscow nobility. In addition to the main exposition, exhibitions and music evenings are held here, lectures are given.

History

In the 18th century, the house was located in a suburb of Moscow, next to a textile factory that belonged, like the house, to the merchant Babushkin. The memory of the industrialist lasted in this part of the city until 1964, and the neighboring alley to them. A. Lukyanov wore the name of the manufacturer of Babushkin. In 1795 the house passed into the possession of Prince Volkonsky, for whom the merchant gave his daughter. The dignitary rebuilds the mansion, but soon sells it to the retired military man Yakovlev. The new owner is rebuilding the country estate, giving it a late classic style.

Who was the author of the project, is for certain unknown, but on the plans of the house there is the signature of architect I. D. Zhukov. Afterwards, the house repeatedly changed owners, among them were Countess Saltykova EA, Count Vorontsov RA Around 1815, this suburban real estate was bought into the property of Praskovia Ivanovna Grushevskaya, who became the second wife of Ivan Matveyevich Muravyov-Apostle.

The ruined nest

Within the precincts of this mansion was a secular life, guests were invited, balls were given, and many were welcomed by the influential senator Ivan Matveyevich Muravyov-Apostol. The estate saw celebrities, for example, the poet Batiushkov lodged in the family in 1816. There are suggestions that AS Pushkin visited the guests.

The house was crowded, sons often visited their parents: Ippolit, Sergei and Matvey. Life was prosperous, but for this period the time of the birth of the Decembrist movement takes place, with active participation of the three sons of the family. After suppressing the uprising, Ippolit Murav'ev-Apostol, not wanting to get under arrest, committed suicide. Sergei was publicly hanged, and Matvei was sent to Siberia for hard labor. In 1822 the manor was sold.

The Museum of the Decembrists

After the Muravyov-Apostles, the house was resold several times, until in the 1840s the Alexandro-Mariinsky orphanage for orphans was opened in the mansion. The second and mezzanine floors were given to the shelter, and on the ground floor and in the wing were rented premises for housing, shops, craft workshops. The estate of the Muravyov-Apostles was a shelter for orphans until 1917.

In 1925, the Soviet People's Commissar Lunacharsky planned to open a museum of the Decembrists and timed this event to the centennial anniversary of the uprising, but the idea did not find any real continuation. Instead of museum halls, the mansion was adapted to a communal apartment, which contributed to a rapid deterioration. The idea of the foundation of the museum was floating in the air, but it was realized only in 1986. The building was in an emergency condition, and when in 1991 the front staircase collapsed, it was closed for restoration. Perestroika and confusion contributed to further destruction - there was no financing, restoration work was stopped.

Revival

In Moscow, many historical monuments are lost, many reasons. The mansion could also sink into oblivion, if it were not for the heir of the genus Christopher Muraviev-Apostle. Ancestral manor made a great impression on him. The authorities went to meet his desire to revive the estate, and the premises were leased for 49 years. Restoration work was carried out using the latest technologies, which allowed to preserve the whole frame of the mansion. To see the old walls, in the open halls are left open fragments of the wooden frame.

In the courtyard, where carriages used to come in, restoration work was carried out. Artifacts found around the building are on display at the museum's stands. During the entire existence of the house around the basement, many layers have accumulated, and therefore, despite the presence of windows, it was hidden from the sun. From the front side, it is impossible to remove the layer of land to its original level, and from the side of the courtyard it was possible to clear the territory to the historical layer, and now the basement is open. In the lower rooms of the mansion there used to be a kitchen, a well-preserved wine cellar, and utility rooms.

In the museum-estate the preservation of the historical heritage is carried out by modern methods: a constant temperature is maintained and the humidity regime is controlled.

Architecture

The estate of the Muraviev-Apostles in Moscow is a wooden frame in three floors, erected on a plinth of white brick. The facade of the building is made in the style of late Moscow classicism. High windows of the second floor are hidden behind the Greek portico, decorated with Corinthian columns. Above the windows are bas-reliefs of fine work with images of antique subjects. The left side of the building that faces the intersection ends in a light, semicircular rotunda full of light.

The halls of the second floor are connected by an enfilade, where the cabinet is located, the main bedroom, a ballroom, two living rooms and a half-ton room. There is one feature in the mansion - the ceilings in all rooms have different heights. The Muravyov-Apostol Museum-Estate is a restored space where everything that was possible was carefully preserved. According to the director of the museum Tatiana Makeeva, the restorers showed all the professionalism and knowledge of their business. "Under the ceiling - preserved reliefs, we just washed them off with oil paint. In general, everything that could be saved, we saved, "- says Makeyeva.

The modern museum

The estate of the Muravyov-Apostles today is a museum space of the first two floors, the last and mezzanine floor - living quarters. The permanent exposition of the museum is dedicated to the family of the Decembrists. Here is stored the last letter of Sergei's son, sent from the Peter and Paul Fortress to his father. In it, he begs for forgiveness for the grief that his death will bring to the family, and asks not to leave his two sons without guardianship. This letter is a relic that the heirs of the family brought with them to Russia. For him, there is a special room, where only one exhibit is exhibited.

The suite of rooms on the second floor is devoted to the history of the Decembrist movement. Here are collected personal items, albums, reproductions, artifacts belonging to the family and close people. Getting into the museum space, visitors find themselves in the atmosphere of the 19th century. Already on the front staircase everyone meets the owner of the house Ivan Matveyevich, or rather, his cardboard image. In the rooms of the mansion you can find almost revived images of all family members in the ballroom closets of the century before last.

The basement is fully provided for the art space, where cultural events are constantly taking place. The vaulted ceiling and extensive square refer to the times when the Muravyov-Apostol's estate was here. An exhibition, lecture, presentation, musical evening or any other social event is welcomed within the walls of the restored home. In 2012, the memorable date of the Christie's auction house was noted here, in early 2016 and until the middle of the summer there was a photo exhibition "Genesis" dedicated to the beauty of nature. The author of the works is the famous photo artist Sebastio Salgado. In addition to significant events in the museum, more chamber events are held. The patio is also open to visitors and guests.