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St. Isaac's Cathedral: A History

K. Bryullov. Mother of God in Glory. Between 1843 and 1847. Oil on canvas.
22 August 2018—7 October 2018
The creation of one of the most impressive St. Petersburg landmarks, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, is full of mysteries that visitors are hardly aware of. Travel guides often mention that the interior of the cathedral was to be decorated by such prominent masters as Karl Bryullov, Fyodor Bruni, and others. However, in the middle of the 19th century, all the paintings were replaced by mosaics by other artists, making it practically impossible to imagine what St. Isaac’s Cathedral would look like if the initial project had remained intact until the present day.

Luckily, many drawings and cartoons by Bryullov, Bruni, and other well-known artists were preserved at the Russian Museum. Enormous in size (sometimes up to 400 x 300 cm), they have never been on display in the permanent exhibition.

The exhibition at the Benois Wing presents these rare large-scale works, along with many drawings, sketches, and cartoons by K. P. Bryullov, F. A. Bruni, P. V. Basin, and a variety of sculptures, including those on religious subjects and sculptural portraits of the great artists who contributed to the interior décor of St. Isaac’s Cathedral.

The exhibition makes it possible to see the breathtaking project of St. Isaac’s Cathedral as it was conceived, although never realized. 

With the support of Charitable Foundation Lukoil

K. P. Bryullov. Apostle Peter. Cartoon. 1843-1844. K. Bryullov and P. Basin. Ecce Homo. Cartoon. 1843-1850 K. P. Bryullov. Man's Head (John the Baptist). Oil on canvas. 1843-1847 F. A. Bruni. Sun, Moon, and Stars with Groups of Angels (First Day of Creation). Cartoon. 1844-1845

Exhibitions
Anna Golubkina (1864–1927).160th Anniversary of the Artist's Birth

Anna Golubkina (1864–1927).160th Anniversary of the Artist's Birth

21 February—31 March 2024

28 January 2024 marks the 160th anniversary of Anna Golubkina’s birth, an outstanding Russian sculptor. The jubilee exhibition presents typical works of the sculptor from different years.

We Never Forget! On the 80th Anniversary of Complete Liberation of Leningrad from the Nazi Siege

We Never Forget! On the 80th Anniversary of Complete Liberation of Leningrad from the Nazi Siege

27 January—7 April 2024

Unique in its scope and diversity of genres, the exhibition is dedicated to the heroic feat of Leningrad defenders and residents during the siege. The exhibition includes over 200 works of painting, graphic art and sculpture, mainly created in the besieged Leningrad and shown for the first time.

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Virtual tour of the museum complex. 2009 (Rus., Eng., Ger., Fin.)

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