Today we will take a short tour to one of the six museums in Russia of the most talented, world-famous writer, whose works have become classics - F. M. Dostoevsky. It is located in our northern capital.
The idea of creating such a museum for many years was hatched by the widow of Fyodor Mikhailovich - Anna Grigoryevna. She left Petrograd in 1917 and a year later died in a foreign land, all alone. When leaving the capital, she transferred all the items that were in the house where Dostoevsky lived before his death, for storage at one of the warehouses. Subsequently, they disappeared without a trace.
Museum History
In 1971, our country widely celebrated the 150th anniversary of Fyodor Mikhailovich. Another event was timed to coincide with this grand event. A new memorial and literary museum of Dostoevsky was opened in St. Petersburg. In the house where the exposition was organized, Fedor Mikhailovich spent the very last years of his life.
After the revolution (1917), the new authorities forgot about the history of this house for a long time, turning it into a communal one. Only in 1956 a memorial plaque appeared on its facade . Twelve years later, the building was decided to be repaired. Three years later (1971), the Dostoevsky Museum was opened. St. Petersburg was the writer's favorite city, and it is very strange that until then there was no such corner in the city on the Neva.
Collection of documents
It was not at all easy to find exhibits for the museum; experts collected them literally bit by bit. For example, the office of Fyodor Mikhailovich was created based on the memoirs of his contemporaries and according to a rare, miraculously preserved photo. The museum-apartment of Dostoevsky (St. Petersburg) was created according to archival documents. Employees tried to achieve full compliance, even, it would seem, in insignificant details. This is confirmed by the icon of the Virgin in the office of Dostoevsky and the medicine box, which today can be seen on his desk.
The writer’s wife, who worked under him as a secretary and stenographer, compiled a complete catalog of books that belonged to Dostoevsky. With its help, the writer’s library was precisely recreated.
Exposition
The review of the exposition begins with a unique exhibit - the map “Petersburg of Dostoevsky”. It was made by artist B. Kostygov, commissioned by the museum. The addresses of his St. Petersburg heroes are marked on it, and on the sides of the map are images of houses in an enlarged form.
The first hall, to which the Dostoevsky Museum in St. Petersburg invites, is organized in such a way that the main emphasis is placed on the biography of the writer. The exposition was created on the principle of “angles”: each new corner is a new period of the creator’s life.
The second room is completely devoted to the work of Fedor Mikhailovich and his most famous novels. You can get acquainted with the life of the writer in the period from 1865 to 1881.
Here, the atmosphere of the five most outstanding novels of Dostoevsky is reproduced in an amazing way. In this room you can see photos of those very places where the main actions of the novels unfold. Carefully and reverently selected objects and things that are described in his works. On the walls hang portraits of contemporaries of the author, who became the prototypes of his heroes.
The Dostoevsky Museum in St. Petersburg presents to its guests the office of the owner of the house, the living room, the room of the wife of Anna Grigoryevna, the nursery, the dining room and the entrance hall for inspection.
In February 2009, a literary exposition began to work here, which additionally acquaints visitors with the writer's work.
The basis of the museum’s exposition was a valuable collection, which was carefully collected by the writer’s grandson, Andrei Fedorovich Dostoevsky. The unique relics of the writer’s family were donated to the museum by his grand-niece. Here is a collection of posters and programs for performances staged at one time based on the works of the great writer, you can watch films made based on his creations.
The museum-apartment of Dostoevsky regularly hosts exhibitions, literary evenings, conferences dedicated to the memory of Fyodor Mikhailovich. A completely unforgettable, special atmosphere reigns here.
Theater Hall
Not everyone knows that the Dostoevsky Museum in St. Petersburg has its own theater hall, where you can watch interesting performances, attend fascinating literary evenings dedicated to the work of Fyodor Mikhailovich.
In November, the birthday of a brilliant writer is annually celebrated. The exhibition halls host thematic exhibitions of contemporary talented artists.
Dostoevsky was very fond of the theater, was a regular of the prime minister, and was friends with many actors. In his journalistic notes there are reviews, the heroes of his works often become participants in home theater productions.
Perhaps someone will be surprised, but puppet theater performances in the theater hall, whose actors play the works of a brilliant writer, have become regular. So, with the help of original dolls you can see “Crime and Punishment”, “Notes from the Dead House”. You can find out about the upcoming events planned for the near future in the theater hall on the museum website. Performances can be seen every day.
Dostoevsky Museum in St. Petersburg: visitor reviews
According to the guests of the museum, its organizers did a tremendous job of collecting the necessary information. One feels the competence of the staff and its reverent attitude to the work of a brilliant writer.
Dostoevsky Museum in St. Petersburg: address
To everyone who wants to visit this amazing museum, we are informing you that it is located at Kuznechny Lane, 5/2. It is very close to the metro stations Dostoevskaya and Vladimirskaya.