From 1986 the All-Union (since 1994 – All-Russia) Association of the State Tretyakov Gallery has included the Vasnetsov House Museum on Vasnetsov Pereulok (formerly Trety Troitsky Pereulok). It was opened in 1953. Today its collection comprises 25,000 exhibits helping us to find out more about the life and creative work of the famous artist.
The house and studio where Victor Vasnetsov lived between 1894-1926 was built according to his own design, which he drew and sketched himself between 1893-1894. The design is a wonderful example of the Neo-Russian style. His love for old Russian architecture blend with the influence of the then, developing Art Nouveau. The multi-dimensional architectural construction with its high roof, wooden wing, decorative window frames and spray glazed tiles encompass the artist’s beliefs about charming and harmonious living space.
The interior has been decorated in the same spirit of National Romantic. The first floor suite of rooms connects the sitting and dining rooms with his wife and children’s living quarters. In the sitting and dining rooms the log walls match the furniture which were made from old Russian examples at the Abramtsevo and Stroganov workshops, as well as in Vyatka from sketches drawn by V.Vasnetsov and his brother Arkady. The interior decoration in the dining room is in the style of a peasant log cabin. Moscow intellectuals met in the sitting-room on Wednesdays. Vasnetsov’s visitors included P.Tretyakov, I.Repin, V.Surikov, V.Polenov, F.Shalyapin, V.Serov and S.Mamontov…
The artist’s studio is on the second floor. Many outstanding works were created here (including the famous Warrior Knights, 1881-1898). The paintings on display in the studio were produced in the 1900s. Almost all of them were inspired by images taken from Russian folklore. They include seven paintings which the artist called the "poem of seven fairy tales", and among them The Sad Princess, The Frog Princess, Flying Carpet, 1919-1926. Vasnetsov favourite epic "warrior" theme continued in "The Battle of Prince Ivan with the Three-Headed Serpent" and The Battle of Dobrynya Nikitich with Seven-Headed Firedrake, 1918.
A large part of the artist’s creative work was concentrated in monumental works, which include the mosaics in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in St.Petersburg (1883-1901), and the frescoes in St Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev (1885-1896). Many of his sketches and studies are stored in the museum.
Vasnetsov’s last work was the portrait of his friend M.V.Nesterov.
The museum allows visitors to appreciate the value and diversity in Victor Vasnetsov’s creative heritage. The artist attempted to create an integral style encompassing different kinds of art based on medieval Russian national and folklore traditions. In addition, the museum is a living testimony to the artist’s unique work and the unusual atmosphere he created when he designed the house for himself and his family
