Ryabushinsky's mansion is, one might say, a modern architectural monument in the Art Nouveau style, attracting tourists from all over the country to this part of Moscow. It was built not so long ago, at the beginning of the 20th century, and since then it has been pleasing to the eyes of passers-by and visitors with its exquisite beauty. However, contrary to this fact, this house was famous not because of its grandeur.
Ryabushinsky's mansion as a partial reflection of the inner world of Maxim Gorky
The fact is that earlier this estate was the home of Maxim Gorky, a classic of Russian literature, whose works educate the younger generation and shock adults with its depth and morality. Ryabushinsky’s mansion also differs in that it is completely open to the public, so anyone can buy a ticket and view the museum-apartment not only in the photographs in the booklet, but also live. Despite the enormous size of Moscow, in the capital of Russia you can find very few similar houses accessible to the eyes of a curious tourist from the inside, and this further fuels interest in this mansion.
Beauty for everyone
Ryabushinsky’s mansion is also interesting because it is a real museum. Many houses of the city of Moscow in the Art Nouveau style sheltered the embassies of foreign states within their walls, and therefore the entrance to them is not so free, although no one forbids viewing them from the street.
However, some special architecture buffs lack such a superficial inspection, so they have to wait for the right moment to inspect the building from the inside.
In the same private building is the first-class Gorky Museum. Ryabushinsky’s mansion is interesting not only because a classic writer once lived in its walls, but also because of its unusual and very beautiful architectural design. It is located on Malaya Nikitskaya, nearby you can find the metro station. Locals are well aware of the location of this monument of architecture and culture, so at any time you can ask the passerby for the road and be sure that he will tell her correctly.
Cozy refuge for the believer
Many are interested in, why is Ryabushinsky’s mansion so interesting? The official site, offering professional excursions inside this private house, says that it was designed and built under the supervision of architect F.O. Shekhtel. Initially, the latter simply fulfilled the personal order of Stepan Pavlovich Ryabushinsky, who could afford it, being a millionaire, a successful banker and manufacturer with a prominent position in society.
Ryabushinsky is known for collecting icons all his life - he was a holy believer. His personality is also interesting in that he was one of the first to try to restore old damaged images. He fought for their cultural and historical significance and could not allow the damaged masterpieces to be disposed of, and therefore began to engage in this noble activity. However, Ryabushinsky’s mansion in Moscow attracts tourists precisely because of the fact that Maxim Gorky lives there.
Asymmetry and originality
Even modern architects emphasize the very colorful design of the building. It is believed that every dash of the pattern decorating the mansion is unique and individual. Residential buildings that are being built today are oriented more toward convenience than aesthetics, so this approach to the housing issue may seem somewhat wild to a modern person. However, before architects regarded their work exclusively as creativity, therefore, each structure they created should have been a real work of art.
It can be said that Ryabushinsky’s mansion is distinguished by somewhat sharp, asymmetric protrusions of the walls, which, oddly enough, do not spoil its appearance at all. Stylized floral motifs are very delicate and elegant, and each of them is also exclusively original. Any skeptic who would have cast only one attentive glance at the exterior of this mansion would have begun to bow before the talent of F.O. Shekhtel.
An unforgettable experience for little money
Not many tourists in Moscow are attracted by unsolved mysteries and the general atmosphere of some mysticism as much as Ryabushinsky’s mansion does. Opening hours are standard: from 11 to 17 pm. At the same time, most of the historical museums in Europe were opened.
A ticket to inspect the mansion from the inside costs quite a bit - only 200 rubles per adult. Tourists begin their tour with a back door, which adds to its greater flavor. Of course, not all interior items from the time of Gorky's stay here have been preserved, many have been replaced. The general interior repeats the standard design of an apartment of the 30s.
It is very interesting that the museum carefully maintains the so-called “visitors diary”, where the names of absolutely everyone who wants to go on an excursion are entered. Needless to say, this diary is by no means a school notebook in a cage with 24 sheets, but a real book of a rather serious kind.
Suitable place to be alone with yourself
The mansion of S.P. Ryabushinsky is interesting not only because it very accurately recreates the atmosphere in which the Russian classic lived, but also because it retained a whole personal library of the famous writer. It is of particular value, so visitors can only glance at it, but sitting and reading old books will not work here.
If you are lucky enough to visit the museum-apartment in the evening or in cloudy weather, you can see the unique floral patterns in the chapel, which dimly but very beautifully glow in the dark. Visitors can enjoy almost this magical look as much as they like (of course, until the museum-apartment closes).
Since it is not customary to talk loudly in museums, it will turn out to be alone with yourself and, perhaps, to experience exactly the emotions that the Russian classic Maxim Gorky once lived here.
Savior of the Ryabushinsky mansion, Maxim Gorky
Visitors must bear in mind that Maxim Gorky himself lived only on the first floor of the mansion, and his family once huddled on the second floor of the museum-apartment. Of course, due to the fact that the mansion changed owners several times, the situation in it was constantly changing. But visitors can optionally see the original interior of the building in numerous photographs. Here, visitors will see a lot of pictures that depict the former owners of the mansion and some scenes from their lives. We can say that Gorky once saved the building from complete destruction, and yet this sad fate befell many private Moscow houses of that time.
