The Bakhrushin Theater Museum in Moscow

In the house of theater history, thousands of interesting, unexpected and beautiful things. The Bakhrushin Museum is the largest theater collection in Europe. His masterpieces begin with a print of the make-up of Tommaso Salvini on the glove of Maria Ermolova and end with a piano accompanied by Fedor Shalyapin. Alexey Alexandrovich Bakhrushin was not just a hospitable owner of the house, but also the owner of the gallery.

Alexey Bakhrushin's Mansion

Famous builder Karl Gilpius, from under the drawings of which the Moscow Zoo and the Chinese facade of the Pearlov tea house on Myasnitskaya Street came out, was also the family architect of the Bakhrushins. He built not just a house - Bakhrushin's museum, but he himself did not know it. 1895-1896 years. Gippius worked independently on the design of the pseudo-gothic two-story mansion on Zatsepsky Val Street, 12.

In addition to English Gothic, it was a combination of two more styles: Russian and Moorish. Because of the splendor and luxury of the house, he was called Versailles. And since the mansion is located on Zatsepskiy Val, it was called Versailles on Zatsep.

In the 50-60s of the last century, because of the repair, a part of the interior interior suffered, but the front door remained the same as it was originally.

The mansion for the young Bakhrushin, who had just married, was not Gippius's only work for the family.

Dynasty of philanthropists Bakhrushin

Now the average Russian does not know much about the dynasty of the merchant's Moscow family, except for the phrase "The Theater Museum." Bakhrushin. " But before 1917 they were known as benefactors.

The first mention of the future family of patrons was back in the 17th century. A man named Bakhrush was baptized, and in the church to his name was attributed the name Bakhrushin. The founder of the Moscow line was Alexei Fyodorovich with his wife Katerina Ivanovna. The family moved to Moscow without money. Within a few years they opened a factory, which required colossal funds.

In 1848, Alexei Fedorovich dies and leaves his wife and three sons with a lot of unpaid debts. Children decide to develop their father's business and in 1860 Bakhrushiny expand family production. With incomes, they allocate funds for medicine, culture.

In 1887 the family is building a hospital for the poor. The quality of medicine was so high that even the rich were treated there (but, unlike beggars, for money). Then they build an orphanage, where you can get an education. And in 1895 - a home for widows and orphans with medical, cultural and educational centers. Then 6 more schools, 8 churches and 3 theaters, total more than 100 buildings.

The third generation was glorified by Alexey Petrovich and Alexey Alexandrovich. The first collected Russian antiques, the second - the theater requisites. It was from his collection that the museum of Bakhrushin grew up.

The founder and pride of the museum

Bakhrushin Alexey Alexandrovich was born on January 31, 1865 in Moscow, in a well-to-do but modest family. From childhood, he was instilled with a love of art. His grandfather wrote poetry, and all the relatives collected something. From the age of six the boy went to the Bolshoi and Maly theaters. Himself participated in the performances. In his younger years he studied the family business, but as a result, the hobby ousted all other occupations.

But not immediately Alexey Alexandrovich began collecting specimens, which later entered the museum of Bakhrushin. At first he was carried away by rare things from the East. Then he collected everything connected with Napoleon.

Interests stretched out over the centuries

There is a legend that the impetus to collecting theatrical antiquities was a dispute with the merchant-collector NA Kupriyanov. He boasted to Bakhrushin a collection of theatrical posters, to which the second said that his meeting would be broader. Then Alex won not only a dispute, but a hobby for life. And since 1890 various theatrical subjects began to flow into the mansion of Bakhrushin.

In the beginning, his fascination mixed all of Moscow. Fedor Chaliapin even once left an autograph on a napkin and said that he would forward it to Bakhrushin.

And he continued to collect things from Moscow, St. Petersburg and Parisian theaters.

May 30, 1894 Bakhrushin first showed his collection to colleagues and friends. And on October 29 he presented the meeting to the public. Then the museum of Bakhrushin was born in Moscow. After this, the composition was replenished with gifts from actors who supported his hobby.

Collector by inheritance

According to one of the versions, it was the cousin Aleksei Petrovich Bakhrushin who inspired Alexey Alexandrovich for a hobby. He gave useful advice on collecting. Advised not to spend money in expensive stores, but to buy copies in the markets and in Sukharevka.

First, the exhibits were only in the basement of the house, but eventually spread to the upper rooms. The collection increased. So the future leading state central theater museum named after Bakhrushin was formed.

Museum as a gift

When there were only three rooms free of the theater in the mansion, Alexei Alexandrovich decided to transfer the gallery free of charge and completely under the tutelage of the state.

Apparently, for another cousin's advice, he gives his treasure. The council sounded like this: "Do not transfer the collection to children, because they will not appreciate the work and will unravel the museum."

He appeals to the State Duma, but there he is denied, based on the lack of funds in the budget of the city.

The museum took under its wing Konstantin Romanov (president of the Academy of Sciences). According to his decision, the gallery passed under the control of the Academy. This happened on November 25, 1913.

Even after the revolution, the Theater Museum. Bakhrushin wore his "bourgeois name."

With the arrival of new authorities, life has deteriorated. The family worked hard to warm up the rooms with the exhibits.

The benefactor died on June 7, 1929, at the Small Hills in the Moscow estate . He was buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery. Alexey Alexandrovich remained the head of the museum until the last day.

A journey through Alexey Bakhrushin's mansion

The Moscow Museum named after Bakhrushin is proud of its collection.

One of the outstanding exhibits is the portrait of Fyodor Chaliapin, which was written in 1909. This is the master of Russian opera. At one time he was a soloist of the Metropolitan Opera, the Bolshoi and the Mariinsky Theaters. Has his star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood. Portrait - the work of Alexander Yakovlevich Golovin, artist, stage designer and artist. Chaliapin in the image of Mephistopheles.

This portrait hangs in front of the office of Alexei Alexandrovich, the other - at the exit from the museum. This time in the image of Boris Godunov. The author of the painting is Nikolai Vasilevich Kharitonov.

Fyodor Ivanovich himself was a frequent guest of the gallery and friend of the owner, so a certain share of the story about him was left by himself.

Founder's Cabinet

Museum Bakhrushin in Moscow has in its ranks and personal belongings of the greatest admirer. In the center of the cabinet is his portrait and his desk. Like any creative person, the table is filled with thousands of little things. Each has its own story. Among them there is a cast of silver fist. There is a theory that the actors of the Maly Theater poured it out for the official and thus asked him to weaken his control over them.

In the office - the work of AL Roller, OA Kiprensky, IE Repin, KP Bryullov, Sorin, ZE Serebryakova, AV Fonvizin and many others.

The collection of posters made by famous masters is unique: AM and VM Vasnetsov, A. Ya. Golovin, S. Yu. Sudeykin, I. Ya. Bilibin, LS Bakst.

There is a showcase that is dedicated to ballet. The collection of ballet slippers shows the evolution of this art.

Theater's Birth Hall

The house of Bakhrushin tells the story of the Melpomene church. In the exhibition hall, all excursions begin with a portrait of Fyodor Volkov, who created the permanent Russian theater and is considered its founder. In the collection there is an official decree of 1758 by Elizabeth II on the creation of the first state art. Also there is a real noble charter, which he received from Queen Catherine II.

The museum named after Bakhrushin is also rich in unusual collections, for example, such as the requisites from the Countess Sheremetyev's feudal theater and puppet arena denotes. There is a hall dedicated to the first half of the 19th century, where the corner is reserved for Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. The exhibition is rich in poet's letters, portraits of actors of that century, their personal belongings.

A lot of territory is allotted for samples from Melpomene's favorite temple of the founder - the Maly Theater. There is a model of the building in 1840.

Part of the things are thanks to the actors from the fans. Emotional letters, personal gifts are full of Bakhrushin's museum. Exhibitions of stage costumes, manuscripts of dramas, autographs of performers are all in the mansion.

Road of exhibits to the museum

Often Alexey Alexandrovich was cunning. Invited the actor, led him to the showcase with the name of the guest, having previously removed some interesting specimens from the shelf, and complained about the poverty of the performance. And the theater-goers immediately showered him with their personal things, which can be useful to the collection. So the museum of Bakhrushin was replenished.

He bought a lot in the markets. It was on Sukharevka that he bought, for 50 rubles, 22 portraits of serf actors of the Sheremetevsky Theater. Later it turned out that the pictures were stolen. Also there he learned to bargain. I was looking for an interesting thing and asked about the price of the neighbor. The seller, carried away by the client, praised the goods and stuffed the price. Bakhrushin, as if by accident, asked for the price of a nearby product, the seller, not paying attention, called a low amount. Then the man bought the right thing on the cheap.

An anecdote was circulating in Moscow about the fact that Bakhrushin is faster than gravediggers. After all, as soon as a famous actor departs to the next world , a man takes his things to his collection. Instances were given to him with a calm soul, because they knew how carefully this man treats them.

To date, the gallery includes nine branches - memorial houses, apartments of famous figures of the Russian theater, as well as an exhibition hall.

Many people want to join the art world. From time to time in this institution there are free vacancies. The Museum of Bakhrushin is glad to receive in his team a person who appreciates and respects the history of the theater.