Penza Regional Art Gallery named after K. A. Savitsky is the most visited cultural place of the city. His name is well known to connoisseurs outside the city.
How was created
The art gallery (Penza) began to be created at the very end of the 19th century. Its founder was the current governor Nikolai Dmitrievich Seliverstov. After his death, he bequeathed his canvases to the creation of the museum. The collection was displayed at a local craft school. It was there that the first art gallery was created. Penza honored the memory of the governor, naming the exhibition by the name of Seliverstov.
In addition to paintings, Nikolai Dmitrievich also bequeathed a significant amount of money, which were used according to his will. Five years later, a separate building was built for the city art school. In the same room was an art gallery. Penza and its inhabitants, as well as students studying at the school, made every effort to equip and fill the museum's collections.
Not even ten years after the death of Governor Seliverstov, the newly created school was already able to boast of an art collection that has grown to three departments.
The total number of copies exceeded two hundred exhibits. At that time, three gallery departments were distinguished, containing works by artists from the Dutch and Italian schools, foreign masters and the Russian department.
Contribution of K. A. Savitsky
K. A. Savitsky headed the school immediately after its opening. It was at his insistence that the general (male and female) education of students was organized. Thanks specifically to his contribution, separate art workshops were set up.
Many famous artists presented their paintings to the museum. After all, their goal was one with Savitsky - the best art gallery. Penza and its entire province was driven out by Savitsky. He collected various rare pieces of art and life into the collection. Konstantin Appolonovich set himself a serious task - to maximize the exposure.
The entire Penza participated in the filling of the museum. The art gallery, whose exhibitions glorified the city to the whole region, was replenished by donations from patrons. For example, during his lifetime, General Bogolyubov handed over more than thirty works of art to the collection, and after his death he bequeathed almost two hundred more artworks.
Savitsky’s contribution to the development and preservation of the cultural heritage of the city was assessed much later. Only in 1955 his brainchild was honored to bear the name of Konstantin Appolonovich.
After the Russian Empire
After the revolution and the change of power in the city, the gallery and the school were separated from each other. The first was combined with the already existing museum of local lore.
Only 10 years later, the gallery was restored to its independence, which she preserved until our days.
Gallery today
Today's collection of works consists of a huge number of exhibits, the number of which exceeds 10 thousand paintings.
The permanent exhibition is very interesting and diverse. Even the most picky connoisseur of painting will be able to satisfy the feeling of beauty by visiting it. In the permanent exhibition you can explore more than 1, 000 of the best works from the gallery collection.
Significantly distinguishes the current permanent exhibition of the museum that it was introduced into the community of three memorial museums in the city, telling guests about the life and work of scientists and painters, whose names are closely related to the Penza region.
