Moscow
has a lot of museums. Moscow has a lot of art museums. Moscow has a
lot of big art museums. I decided to use this Wednesday afternoon to
visit one of them: the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts.
Despite
the name, the museum doesn't actually have anything to do with
Alexander Pushkin, the poet. It wasn't even the first name of the
museum, his name only ended up on the museum in 1937, on the 100th
anniversary of his death.
The
museum owns a LOT of art, over 700,000 pieces. I assume they're not
all on display, which means the museum also has storage buildings.
There are early Italian paintings, Byzantine mosaics, sculptures,
etc...
When I
got to the ticket desk I was greeted with several different ticket
options. I told the lady I just wanted to see the museum, so I don't
know which one I got.
After thinking about it, I think there is a
separate price for the regular museum, as well as an option for
whateva special exhibit is taking place as an add on, or just by
itself.
The
special exhibit during my visit was a lot of prints from a Japanese
Edo collection. I went through that exhibit first, and quite enjoyed
it.
Though
I visited on a Wednesday afternoon, the museum was busy. I wonder if
there is any time of the week or year that it isn't quite so busy.
There were old folks and students, even some young sailors!
It
took me over three hours to go through the museum. I'm pretty sure I
missed a few rooms, but by the time I left I was arted out, and ready
to leave. When it gets to that point there is no point in trying to
see more, as I know I won't appreciate it the way it should be
appreciated.
Exhibit
halls were sometimes just as impressive as the displays themselves.
I
imagine going back to the museum again, but probably not soon. Too
many other art museums to see, just in Moscow :)
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