The theater’s history house has thousands of interesting, unexpected and beautiful things. The Bakhrushin Museum is the largest theater collection in Europe. His masterpieces begin with the imprint of makeup by Tommaso Salvini on the glove of Maria Ermolova and end with a piano, to the accompaniment of which Fedor Chaliapin sang. Alexey Alexandrovich Bakhrushin was not just a hospitable landlord, but also a gallery owner.
Mansion of Alexey Bakhrushin
The famous builder Karl Karlovich Gippius, from whose drawings the Moscow Zoo and the Chinese facade of the Perlovyh tea house on Myasnitskaya came out, was also a family architect of the Bakhrushins. He built not just a house - the Bakhrushin Museum, but he himself did not know this. 1895-1896 Gippius independently worked on a project of a pseudo-Gothic two-story mansion on 12 Zatsepsky Val Street.
In addition to English Gothic, it was a combination of two more styles: Russian and Moorish. Because of the magnificence and luxury of the house, he was called Versailles. And since the mansion is located on Zatsepsky Val, they began to call it Versailles on Zatsep.
In the 50-60s of the last century, part of the interior was damaged due to repairs, but the front door remained the same as it was originally.
The mansion for the young Bakhrushin, who had just married, was not the only work of Gippius for the family.
Dynasty of philanthropists Bakhrushin
Now the average Russian citizen knows little about the dynasty of the Moscow family of the merchant, except for the phrase "Theater Museum named after Bakhrushin. " But until 1917 they were known as benefactors.
The first mention of the future family of patrons was back in the 17th century. A man named Bakhrushin was baptized, and in the church, the name Bakhrushin was attributed to his name. The founder of the Moscow line was Alexei Fedorovich with his wife Ekaterina Ivanovna. The family moved to Moscow without money. For several years they opened a plant, which required enormous funds.
In 1848, Aleksey Fedorovich dies and leaves his wife and three sons many unpaid debts. Children decide to develop their father’s business and in 1860 Bakhrushins expand family production. With income, they allocate funds for medicine, culture.
In 1887, the family built a hospital for the poor. The quality of medicine was so high that even rich people were treated there (but, unlike the poor, for money). Then they build a shelter where they can get an education. And in 1895 - a house for widows and orphans with medical, cultural and educational centers. Then 6 more schools, 8 churches and 3 theaters, totaling more than 100 buildings.
The third generation was glorified by Alexey Petrovich and Alexey Alexandrovich. The first collected Russian antiques, the second - theatrical details. It was from his collection that the Bakhrushin Museum grew.
Museum founder and pride
Bakhrushin Alexey Alexandrovich was born on January 31, 1865 in Moscow, in a prosperous, but modest family. From childhood, he was instilled with a love of art. His grandfather wrote poetry, and all loved ones collected something. From the age of six, the boy went to the Bolshoi and Maly theaters. He participated in performances. In his young years, he studied family business, but as a result of a hobby he superseded all other activities.
But not immediately Alexei Alexandrovich began to collect copies that later entered the Bakhrushin Museum. At first, he became interested in rare things from the East. Then he collected everything related to Napoleon.
Interests spanning centuries
There is a legend that the impetus for collecting theatrical antiquity was a dispute with the merchant-gatherer N. A. Kupriyanov. He boasted to Bakhrushin a collection of theater posters, to which the second said that his meeting would be wider. Then Alex won not only an argument, but a hobby for life. And since 1890 various theatrical objects began to flock to the Bakhrushin's mansion.
In the beginning, his hobby 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 Paris theaters.
On 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 Bakhrushin Museum in Moscow was born. After that, the composition was replenished with gifts from the actors who supported his passion.
Inheritance Collector
According to one version, it was cousin Aleksey Petrovich Bakhrushin who inspired Aleksei Aleksandrovich for a hobby. He gave useful tips about collecting. He advised not to splurge in expensive stores, but to buy copies in the markets and in Sukharevka.
At first, the exhibits were only in the basement of the house, but eventually spread to the upper rooms. Collection increased. That is how the future leading State Central Theater Museum named after Bakhrushin took shape.
Museum as a gift
When only three rooms remained free from the theater in the mansion, Aleksei Aleksandrovich decides to transfer the gallery for free and completely under the care of the state.
Apparently, on another cousin's advice, he gives his treasure. The advice was: "do not pass the collection to the children, because they will not appreciate the work and dissolve the museum."
He appeals to the State Duma, but there they refuse him, based on a lack of funds in the city budget.
The museum was taken under its wing by Konstantin Konstantinovich Romanov (president of the Academy of Sciences). By his decision, the gallery came under the control of the Academy. This happened on November 25, 1913.
Even after the revolution, the Theater Museum. Bakhrushin bore his "bourgeois name".
With the advent of the new authorities, life worsened. The family worked hard to heat rooms with exhibits.
The benefactor died on June 7, 1929 in the Maly Gorki estate near Moscow. He was buried at the Vagankovsky cemetery. Alexei Alexandrovich until the last day remained the head of the museum.
Journey through the mansion of Alexei Bakhrushin
The Bakhrushin Moscow Museum is proud of its collection.
One of the outstanding exhibits is a portrait of Fedor Chaliapin, which was painted in 1909. This is a master of Russian opera. At one time he was a soloist with the Metropolitan Opera, the Bolshoi and the Mariinsky Theaters. Has his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Portrait - the work of Alexander Yakovlevich Golovin, artist, stage designer and artist. Chaliapin in the image of Mephistopheles.
This portrait hangs in front of Alexey Alexandrovich’s office, the other at the exit from the museum. This time in the image of Boris Godunov. The author of the picture is Nikolai Vasilevich Kharitonov.
Fedor Ivanovich himself was a frequent guest of the gallery and a friend of the owner, so a certain part of the story about him was left by himself.
Founder's office
The Bakhrushin Museum in Moscow has in its ranks the personal belongings of the greatest admirer. In the center of the office is his portrait and desk. Like any creative person, the table is full of thousands of little things. Each has its own story. Among them there is a fist cast from silver. There is a theory that the Maly Theater actors poured it for the official and thus asked him to weaken his control over them.
In the office are the works of A. L. Roller, O. A. Kiprensky, I. E. Repin, K. P. Bryullov, Sorin, Z. E. Serebryakova, A. V. Fonvizin and many others.
A unique collection of posters made by famous masters: A. M. and V. M. Vasnetsov, A. Ya. Golovin, S. Yu. Sudeikin, I. Ya. Bilibin, L. S. Bakst.
There is a showcase dedicated to ballet. A collection of ballet shoes shows the evolution of this art.
Theater birth hall
The house of Bakhrushin tells the story of the temple of Melpomene. In the exhibition hall, all excursions begin with a portrait of Fedor Volkov, who created the permanent Russian theater and is considered its founder. The collection has an official Decree of 1758 by Elizabeth II on the creation of the first state art. There is also a real noble letter that he received from Tsarina Catherine II.
The Bakhrushin Museum is also rich in unusual collections, for example, such as details from the Theater of serf owners of Count Sheremetyev and nativity scene of puppet arenas. There is a hall dedicated to the first half of the 19th century, where the corner is reserved for Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin. The exhibition is rich in letters of the poet, portraits of actors of that century, their personal belongings.
A lot of territory is reserved for samples from the founder’s beloved temple of Melpomene - the Maly Theater. There is a model of the building of 1840.
Part of the thing is thanks to the actors from the fans. The Museum of Bakhrushin is full of emotional letters, personal gifts. Exhibitions of stage costumes, manuscripts of dramas, autographs of performers - all this is in the mansion.
