31 May – 16 October 2022

'Tsaritsyno' Museum and Heritage Site

Organized by

'Tsaritsyno' Museum and Heritage Site

Participants:

State Museum and Heritage Site 'Borodino', State Historical Museum, A.S. Pushkin State Museum, State Museum of Architecture named after A.V. Shchusev, State Museum of Fine Arts named after A.S. Pushkin, 'Arkhangelskoye' State Estate Museum, State Memorial Museum named after A.V. Suvorov, State Russian Museum, State Tretyakov Gallery, The Moscow Kremlin Museums, Tropinin Museum, 'Tsaritsyno' Museum and Heritage Site, Dmitrov Kremlin Museum and Heritage Site, 'Kuskovo' Estate Museum, 'Ostankino' Estate Museum, Novgorod Museum and Heritage Site, Russian State Library, Russian State Military and Historical Archive, Russian Museum of Ethnography, etc.

 

The Moscow Kremlin Museums participate in the exhibition dedicated to the history of Moscow during the reign of Emperor Alexander I. This large-scale exhibition project organized by the 'Tsaritsyno' Museum and Heritage Site aims to familiarize visitors with the appearance of the Russian capital of that time, its peculiar patriarchal way of life and spiritual atmosphere. Several sections of display cover the pre-fire Moscow, the events of the Patriotic War and the restoration of the ancient capital after the fire of 1812. Fine arts and crafts, archival documents and eye-witness’ accounts reflect the significant events of Moscow life in the first quarter of the 19th century and the changes that took place then.

Among other objects visitors will be able to see two unique pieces from the collection of the Moscow Kremlin Museums – a bell which belonged to Emperor Alexander I and the painting "Napoleon in burning Moscow" by the German artist Albrecht Adam. The gilt-bronze bell was among the items from Emperor Alexander I’s study in the Small Nicholas Palace. In 1831 Emperor Nicholas I ordered for the study items which were the possessions of his elder brother, including the bell, to be transferred to the Armoury Chamber and later represented in the first showcases of the museum, thus opening the display.

The Bavarian painter and engraver Albrecht Adam, famous for battle and equestrian scenes, took part in Napoleon's campaign in Russia in 1812 as a military painter. By sketching scenes of army life and battles, he left valuable artistic chronicles, which he later used for his paintings, lithographs and engravings related to the French Emperor's military campaigns. Nicholas I purchased some art pieces on this subject from Albrecht Adam. Several canvases by the German artist remained in the imperial study in the Grand Kremlin Palace, and after the revolutionary events of 1917 they were transferred to the Armoury Chamber.