Gerasimov Estate Museum

Tambov Oblast
88, Gerasimov Str., Michurinsk, Tambov region
Phones: +7 (47545) 5-42-46
Web site: www.amgerasimovmuseum.ru

Alexander Gerasimov Estate Museum is located in a two-storey brick house built in 1886 by the artist’s father. There Alexander Gerasimov spent his childhood as well as the period of 1918-1925. To enter the museum one should pass through a low garden gate in the stone fence with four columns. The fence surrounds a small garden filled with peony and rose fragrances in summer. They are the artist’s favourite flowers. No wonder he painted them so often. A stone path in the centre of the garden takes a visitor to the workshop. To the left from the workshop there is a tiny wooden house with an open terrace.

The future chairman of the Academy of Arts of the USSR was born in Koslov in 1881 to a family of a cattle trader. And, as it often happens, little Alexander didn’t want to follow his father’s footsteps – he was keen on drawing instead. Here is how Gerasimov senior commented on his son’s idea of becoming an artist: “What artists! Artists are poor people. They starve! If you want to study, at least study to become an engineer or a doctor”. But Sergey Krivolutsky, Gerasimov’s first teacher, told the young artist something that had much stronger effect on him: “Stop doing nonsense! Go to Moscow and enter the school of painting, sculpture and architecture”. Alexander Gerasimov followed his wise teacher’s advice and left for Moscow. Nevertheless, he never forgot his native land and painted his best landscapes picturing his life in Koslov.

The objects in the museum are all authentic. The guides will be happy to tell the tourists everything about each exhibit in details. The small house with low ceilings and narrow staircases looks so cozy as if its residents have just left it for a walk in the garden and will be back any minute.

The pearl of the museum is a modern exposition hall where one can enjoy the largest collection of the artist’s works in Russia.

Favoured by the power elite, Gerasimov painted the portraits of the leaders like Lenin, Stalin as well as the portraits of numerous high-rank officers. Here one can enjoy the originals of the famous portraits of Michurin, Marshak, the poet. The museum uncovers the artist’s creative development.

Alexander Gerasimov is a full member of the USSR Academy of Arts. Honored Artist (1936). People's Artist of the USSR. Laureate of the Stalin Prizes (1941, 1943, 1945, 1949). For "Group portrait of the oldest artists" and "Portrait of A.F. Gedike "(1956) was awarded the gold medal of the World Exhibition in Brussels (1958).
Born on August 12, 1881 in Kozlov (now Michurinsk, Tambov region). Studied at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture from 1903 at the Department of Painting under A.E. Arkhipova, N.A. Kasatkina, KA. Korovin, from 1910 to 1915 - on the architectural. At the beginning of his work, he depicted folk life, Russian nature. After 1917 he worked in the genre of portrait, still life, painted pictures on historical and revolutionary themes, acted as an illustrator. His works are distinguished by an assertive, major tone. Doctor of Art History (1951). Laureate of the USSR State Prizes.
His works are in the Tretyakov Gallery, the State Russian Museum, museums in Astrakhan, Barnaul, Irkutsk, Kemerovo, Kirov, Kursk, N. Tagil, Novosibirsk, Orel, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, Smolensk, Stavropol, Tver, Tula, Tyumen, Chelyabinsk and other cities.

Plein airs are held in the estate, excursions to the Bogolyubsky Cathedral in Michurinsk are organized.