Khanenko Museum, formerly known as the Museum of Western and Eastern Art, is located right in the center of Kiev. Now it is the largest collection of works of art in Ukraine. Read more about the history of the museum and its collection in the article.
Foundation History
Spouses Khanenko came from noble families. Bogdan Khanenko was the son of a nobleman, and Varvara was the daughter of the famous Kiev sugar factory Tereshchenko. The couple was always interested in art, and business income went to purchase antiques and paintings.
About forty years Khanenko collected works of art. Barbara was one of the first to collect Old Russian icons. The collection was also replenished with world masterpieces of painting and sculpture brought from Berlin, Vienna, Madrid and other parts of the world. Thus, Zurbaran’s still-life “Crockery and a mill for chocolate”, works by the school of Rubens, Rembrandt, the work of D. Velazquez F. Cesare and others were in the collection.
In 1913, Bogdan Khanenko bought a tenement house in order to open an exhibition of his collection in it. But during the war, most of the exhibits had to be taken to the Moscow History Museum. After the death of Bogdan Khanenko in 1917, Varvara returned the collection to Kiev. According to the will of the spouse, she opens the Khanenko Museum in the capital.
Museum building
The street on which the Khanenko Museum is located is the completion of the plan of the area near the University. House number 15 belonged to the businessman and philanthropist Tereshchenko. The author of the project was the architect Meltzer.
In 1888, the house was bought by Bogdan Khanenko and placed in it a rich collection of works of art. The new owners immediately set to work on the interior design of the house. They worked on interiors for several years. Artists and architects Vrubel, Marconi, Meltzer, Kotarbinsky and others took part in this.
Initially, it was planned to create a private closed collection. But active patronage and work on the organization of the current National Art Museum of Ukraine inspired Bogdan Khanenko to open a public museum. For this, the owners of the house decided to design each room according to the collection located in it.
The “Red Room” in the Renaissance style, the “Golden Cabinet” in the Rococo style, the “Delft Dining Room” in the Dutch style, the “Cabinet of Karelian Birch” in the style of Russian Classicism and the Gothic Green Room appeared in the building of the future museum. The lobby and front door were baroque.
By 1891, the collection expanded markedly. And the architect Krivosheev was entrusted with the work on a two-story superstructure on the mansion. On the main facade appear images of the coat of arms of the Khanenko clan.
Khanenko Museum: photos, collections
Among the exhibits collected by Varvara and Bogdan Khanenko, there are objects of ancient and Egyptian works, Japanese woodcuts, Italian majolica, Saxon and Chinese porcelain, bronze and earthenware from Iran. Khanenko Museum presents works of Italian, Flanders, Dutch, Dutch, Spanish and French art.
The entire collection is located in different rooms, depending on the topic. There is a hall of "Art of China", a hall of "Art of Buddhism", a hall dedicated to Japan, the countries of Islam, Greece, Rome, Egypt. Separately placed painting, sculpture, graphics, arts and crafts.
The most famous exhibits are the works of Paul Rubens, Leonart Brahmer, diptych "Adoration of the Magi", "Portrait of Infanta Margarita." Italian art is represented by works of the Renaissance and Baroque. Among the French works are the works of Claude Vernet, Louis Tokke, Pierre Sübleira, decorative panels by Francois Boucher.
The art of the East is represented by Chinese painting on silk, cast bronze figures, enamels and varnishes, a collection of Japanese netsuke, prints and swords. The art of Islamic countries is represented by works from Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Egypt and Turkmenistan.
Khanenko Museum: address
In the very center of Kiev, near the University. T. G. Shevchenko is the Khanenko Museum of Art. Museum address: st. Tereshchenkovskaya, 15-17, Shevchenkovsky district. The nearest metro station is Leo Tolstoy Square (blue line) or Teatralnaya metro station (red line).
Opening hours and prices
The museum is open all days except Monday and Tuesday.
It is open for visitors from 10.30 to 17.30.
On the first Wednesday of every month you can visit the museum for free, but these days the museum is open only until 14 hours.
Visits to exhibits of Western and Eastern art are paid separately. Entrance fee to each of these exhibitions is:
- 15 UAH (39 rubles) - an adult ticket;
- 8 UAH (20 rubles) - student.
A visit to two exhibits is worth:
- 25 UAH (65 rubles) - for adults;
- 12 UAH (32 rubles) - for students;
- 8 UAH (20 rubles) - for students and senior citizens.
Temporary exposure:
- 8 UAH (20 rubles) - for adults;
- 4 UAH (11 rubles) - for students;
- 3 UAH (8 rubles) - for students and senior citizens.