Old Russian Art
in section
Collection history
The Russian Museum holds one of the largest collections of early Russian icon painting in the country, comprising more than 5,000 icons dating from the twelfth to the early twentieth century. The collection began to take shape in 1898, with works transferred from the Imperial Academy of Arts, and soon expanded through acquisitions from monasteries and private collections. A major milestone came in 1913 with the acquisition of historian Nikolai Likhachev’s collection of some 1,500 icons. By 1914, the holdings were extensive enough for the museum to open a dedicated museum of icon painting and ecclesiastical antiquities.
After the 1917 Revolution, the Russian Museum received works from churches and monasteries that had been closed or destroyed. Following the Second World War, the collection continued to grow through museum expeditions, which were particularly active in the 1960s. Today the collection represents the major artistic centres of medieval Rus’, including Novgorod, Moscow, Pskov, Yaroslavl, Vologda and Tver. Among its highlights are The Angel with Golden Hair, dating from the turn of the thirteenth century; icons associated with Andrei Rublev and Dionysius; and works by painters of the Stroganov school and Simon Ushakov.
The full text of the article is available only in Russian.
Media resources
Virtual tour of the exhibition, held in the Russian Museum from 21 February to 13 May 2019.
The film tells us about one of the depositories of the Russian museum which holds Old Russian Art.
This documentary film tells about creation of the main building of The State Russian museum - The Mikhailovsky Palace.
The Art collection of the State Russian museum has developed through many phases and expansions. This collection has been forming since the opening of the State Russian museum in 1898
Film tells about the prominent Russian dynasty of the Stroganovs. Wealthy family of merchants and art amateur.
This film tells about major icon types of St. Nicholas of Myra - one of the most respectable saints of Russia. You will see the masterpieces of Orthodox Russian Art, wood sculptures, examples of old-Russian embroidering, statuaries.
In March 1998 the centenary of the State Russian Museum – the first state museum of Russia containing the national art collection – was celebrated. This program represents the outstanding works of national painting, graphics and sculpture, it the history of the museum and its collections and shows the palaces belonging to the united museum complex.
Divisions: “Masterpieces”, “The Mikhailovsky Palace”, “The Marble Palace”, “The Stroganov Palace”, “The St.Michael’s Castle”, “History in Photographs” and “Jubilee Celebrations”
