National Art Museum of Ukraine
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The National Art Museum of Ukraine ( uk, Національний Художній Музей України) is a museum dedicated to Ukrainian art in
Kyiv Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the seventh-most populous city in Europe. Kyi ...
,
Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...
.


History

The National Art Museum of Ukraine, which was the first museum in
Kyiv Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the seventh-most populous city in Europe. Kyi ...
to be freely open to the public, was founded at the end of the 19th century by the efforts of Ukrainian intellectuals. Museum building was constructed under the project of Moscow architect Petro Boitsov in
neo-classic style Neoclassical architecture is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy and France. It became one of the most prominent architectural styles in the Western world. The prevailing style ...
. This project was updated and implemented by Polish architect
Władysław Horodecki Władysław Horodecki (born Leszek Dezydery Horodecki; russian: Владислав Владиславович Городецкий; uk, Владислав Владиславович Городецький; — January 3, 1930) was a Polish arch ...
. Sculpture decoration of the frontispiece is performed by Elio Salia. The first exhibition on the occasion of the ХІ All-Russian Archaeology Conference took place in incompleted building of Kyiv City Museum of Antiquity and Art in August 1899. Official opening and consecration of the institution called Sovereign Emperor Nikolay Aleksandrovich (Nicholas II) Kyiv Art-Industrial and Scientific Museum was held on December 30, 1904. In 1919 after the nationalization museum was called the First State, from 1924 –
Taras Shevchenko Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko ( uk, Тарас Григорович Шевченко , pronounced without the middle name; – ), also known as Kobzar Taras, or simply Kobzar (a kobzar is a bard in Ukrainian culture), was a Ukrainian poet, wr ...
All-Ukrainian Historical Museum, from 1936 – the State Ukrainian Museum, from 1939 – The State Museum of Ukrainian Art. During the Germany occupation of Kyiv in 1942 the museum was integrated with the Russian art collection under the common name the State Museum of East European Art, in 1944 the previous museum status was renewed. Changes of the museum names reflected the complicated life processes in the country and certain stages of Ukrainian museum work restoration. For example, the name changing shows the changes of museum collection's profile and separation of certain parts of this collection for establishment of other Kyiv museums. The last name of this institution is the National Art Museum of Ukraine, it arose in 1994 in the independent Ukrainian state and it proved the highest museum status as the leading collection of Ukrainian art, which still remains the spiritual treasury of our country, its pride and wealth.


Main building architecture

It is located in a building that was constructed in 1898 by architect
Władysław Horodecki Władysław Horodecki (born Leszek Dezydery Horodecki; russian: Владислав Владиславович Городецкий; uk, Владислав Владиславович Городецький; — January 3, 1930) was a Polish arch ...
for the Kyiv City Museum. It was in fact a remake of the talented Moscow architect Petr Boitsov who failed to receive a government license. The building was originally designed as a museum for the local society of patrons of arts and antique lovers. The facade of the building conveys a
neoclassical architecture Neoclassical architecture is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy and France. It became one of the most prominent architectural styles in the Western world. The prevailing style ...
form – precise reproduction of a six-column porch of
Doric order The Doric order was one of the three orders of ancient Greek and later Roman architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian. The Doric is most easily recognized by the simple circular capitals at the top of c ...
with entablature,
triglyph Triglyph is an architectural term for the vertically channeled tablets of the Doric frieze in classical architecture, so called because of the angular channels in them. The rectangular recessed spaces between the triglyphs on a Doric frieze are ...
s,
metope In classical architecture, a metope (μετόπη) is a rectangular architectural element that fills the space between two triglyphs in a Doric frieze, which is a decorative band of alternating triglyphs and metopes above the architrave of a bu ...
s and
frieze In architecture, the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain in the Ionic or Doric order, or decorated with bas-reliefs. Paterae are also usually used to decorate friezes. Even when neither columns nor ...
decoration depicting the Triumph of Arts. The architectural composition featuring figures of gryphons and large concrete lions at the top of the stairs were created by an Italian sculptor, Emilio Sala. On the construction of the building was expended 249,000 rubles with only 100,000 paid by the government of Russian Empire. Another 108,000 rubles were paid by the Tereshchenko family who also created the Museum of Western and Oriental Art in
Kyiv Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the seventh-most populous city in Europe. Kyi ...
. At first, at the first floor was located exhibition of the Russian archeologist
Vikentiy Khvoyka Vikentiy Viacheslavovych Khvoyka ( ua, Вікентій В'ячеславович Хвойка; russian: Викентий Вячеславович Хвойка; cz, Vincenc Častoslav Chvojka; born Čeněk Chvojka; 1850–1914) was a Czech-born Uk ...
who moved to Kyiv from the
Kingdom of Bohemia The Kingdom of Bohemia ( cs, České království),; la, link=no, Regnum Bohemiae sometimes in English literature referred to as the Czech Kingdom, was a medieval and early modern monarchy in Central Europe, the predecessor of the modern Czec ...
. The museum officially opened just before Christmas on December 23, 1904, as the Kyiv Industrial Arts and Science museum of Emperor Nicholas II. The first director of museum became Mykola Biliashivsky.


Collections

The National Art Museum of Ukraine has the most representative collection of Ukrainian figurative art in the world. Collection of the museum numbers almost 40 thousands exhibits, among which masterpieces of Ukrainian painting, sculpture, and graphics from Kyiv Rus age to nowadays are represented. Museum has one of the best Ukrainian icon collections which opens with the rare object of the 12th century – polychrome wooden relief "
Saint George Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin: Georgius, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christian who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to tradition he was a soldie ...
with hagiography" of
Byzantine The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
origin. Middle Ages are represented with classic examples of icon painting of 14–16th centuries from the
Western Ukraine Western Ukraine or West Ukraine ( uk, Західна Україна, Zakhidna Ukraina or , ) is the territory of Ukraine linked to the former Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia, which was part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Austria ...
, including the unique antiquities such as Holy Mother " Hodigitria" from
Volyn Volhynia (also spelled Volynia) ( ; uk, Воли́нь, Volyn' pl, Wołyń, russian: Волы́нь, Volýnʹ, ), is a historic region in Central and Eastern Europe, between south-eastern Poland, south-western Belarus, and western Ukraine. The ...
, St. George The Dragon Slayer, and The Passion of the Christ from Halychyna region. The collection of Ukrainian Baroque art is outstanding by its value. Here one can find amazing examples of Ukrainian baroque icons such as The Intercession with the Portrait of Bohdan Khmelnytskiy (first half of the 18th century, Kyiv region), pair icons Great Martyrs Anastasia and Juliania, Barbara and Catherine (18th century, Northern Left Bank), icons from
Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra or Kyivo-Pechers’ka Lavra ( uk, Києво-Печерська лавра, translit=Kyievo-Pecherska lavra, russian: Киево-Печерская лавра), also known as the Kyiv Monastery of the Caves, is a historic Ea ...
workshops from the iconostasis of Dormition Cathedral Entrance to Jerusalem and The Nativity (1729). The iconostasis from
Berezna Berezna ( uk, Березна, russian: Бере́зна) is an urban-type settlement in Chernihiv Raion, Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine. It hosts the administration of Berezna settlement hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine. Population: Berezna is ...
village (
Chernihiv region Chernihiv Oblast ( uk, Черні́гівська о́бласть, translit=Chernihivska oblast; also referred to as Chernihiv Oblast#Nomenclature, Chernihivshchyna, uk, Черні́гівщина, translit=Chernihivshchyna) is an administra ...
, 1860s) is the zest of the collection. It shows the monumental reaching and excellent artistry of the masters of Ukrainian Baroque era. The impression of this wonderful age is strengthened by the collection of 18th century Ukrainian
Portrait A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expressions are predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person. For this r ...
s which represent the first secular genre in Ukrainian painting. The collection of folk paintings "Cossack the Bandura Player" is one of the biggest in the museum and expands the secular art of the Baroque period in Ukraine. The age of the 19th century art, when St. Petersburg Academy of Arts was the trendsetter, opens with works of the famous Ukrainian portraitists, who connected their lives with the capital city of the
Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...
Dmytro Levytskiy and Volodymyr Borovykovskiy.
Taras Shevchenko Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko ( uk, Тарас Григорович Шевченко , pronounced without the middle name; – ), also known as Kobzar Taras, or simply Kobzar (a kobzar is a bard in Ukrainian culture), was a Ukrainian poet, wr ...
, the painter, occupies a special position in the history of Ukrainian art. Small collection of paintings and graphic works by Shevchenko gives a vision of his outstanding talent and shows new democratic tendencies in Ukrainian figurative art, continued by the artists of the next generation. Monographic collection of Mykola Pymonenko's works presents the following development of Ukrainian painting traditions which consisted in the increase of the genre subjects and transformation of painting manner from
realism Realism, Realistic, or Realists may refer to: In the arts *Realism (arts), the general attempt to depict subjects truthfully in different forms of the arts Arts movements related to realism include: *Classical Realism *Literary realism, a move ...
to
impressionism Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage ...
. Odessa painting school led by Kiriak Kostandi is presented in the exhibition. The impression of the development of Ukrainian art is widened with the classical portraits (works by H. Vasko, A. Mokrytskiy, O. Rokachevskiy) and landscape paintings (works by V. Shternberg, V. Orlovkiy, S. Svitoslavskiy, S. Vasylkivskiy). Monographic collection of Oleksandr Murashko, bald art reformer who worked in the beginning of the 20th century, is the most interesting. Vivid and original heritage of Ukrainian
avant-garde The avant-garde (; In 'advance guard' or ' vanguard', literally 'fore-guard') is a person or work that is experimental, radical, or unorthodox with respect to art, culture, or society.John Picchione, The New Avant-garde in Italy: Theoretical ...
represented in the museum is shown by the works of the world-wide famous sculptor Oleksandr Arkhypenko, painters Oleksandra Ekster, Oleksa Hryshchenko, Oleksandr Bohomazov, and Viktor Palmov. Unique trend in Ukrainian art of 1910s–1930s (called after its leading artist, Mykhailo Boichuk) " boichukism" is introduced in one of the exhibition halls. In soviet epoch boichukists were included into the list of repressed and prohibited painters and only nowadays their art has found a respective place in the museum exposition. The art of totalitarian age, in spite of the dramatic historical collisions, gave birth to a galaxy of creative individuals. The names of Fedir Krychevskiy, Anatol Petrytskiy, Tetiana Yablonska, Serhiy Hryhoriev, and Mykola Hlushchenko are inscribed in the golden book of Ukrainian art history. Collection of graphics and sculpture of the 20th century evokes special attention and desire to explore it. The museum collection is in formation still, and the trends of contemporary of the end of the 20th – the beginning of the 21st century find their place here.


Editions

Using the informational space for the promotion of Ukrainian artistic culture is an important goal for the National Art Museum of Ukraine. Despite the lack of own printing resources the Museum gradually establishes issuance of its own printing products. National Art Museum of Ukraine's Publishing Program has the following streams: * Popularization of retrospective museum collection of the Ukrainian art; * Scientific-monographic and self-monographic publications of the outstanding Ukrainian art persons; * Scientific catalogues to large-scale exhibitions of the National Art Museum of Ukraine; * "Muzeinyi Provulok (Museum Lane)" magazine. Publication of the "National Art Museum of Ukraine" art album of significant size and content ("Artania Nova" Publishing House) became an important museum event in 2003. This album is the first step on this long way. Covering a large volume of information on museum's past and nowadays and its collections, this album presents the Ukrainian art history in this significant manner for the first time ever. It is the result of several scientific generations’ hard work. 2004 – following publications were issued * "Ukrainian Painting of 19th – early 20th century" * "Ukrainian Icon Painting of 12th – early19th century" * " Serhiy Vasylkivskiy" From May 2004 – in the focus of attention was * "Muzeinyi Provulok (Museum Lane)" magazine 2005 – published * monographic album " Oleksandr Murashko" 2006 – issued * "Ukrainian Painting of 20th – early 21st century" * "Ukrainian Portrait of XVII-XVIII centuries" * monographs " M.Pymonenko, V.Orlovskiy" * "S.Svitoslavskiy" * "Ukrainian
Modernism Modernism is both a philosophy, philosophical and arts movement that arose from broad transformations in Western world, Western society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The movement reflected a desire for the creation of new fo ...
" * 6th number of "Muzeinyi Provulok (Museum Lane)" magazine 2007– 2008 – published * 7, 8 and 9 numbers of "Muzeinyi Provulok (Museum Lane)" magazine


Current exhibition

Today, the museum continues to expand its collection. Some new additions include a unique icon relief of St. George and works by the international Kyiv born pioneer of Geometric abstract art Kazimir Malevich. The current exhibition includes over 20 thousand pieces. Among many are works by a now world-renowned constructivist Vasiliy Yermilov, and Cubo-Futurist
Alexander Bogomazov Alexander Bogomazov or Oleksandr Bohomazov (russian: Александр Константинович Богомазов, uk, Олександр Костянтинович Богомазов; March 26, 1880 – June 3, 1930) was a Ukrainian painte ...
. The Ukrainian side is represented by works of famous Ukrainian and Russian artists such as
David Burliuk David Davidovich Burliuk (Давид Давидович Бурлюк; 21 July 1882 – 15 January 1967) was a Russian-language poet, artist and publicist associated with the Futurist and Neo-Primitivist movements. Burliuk has been described as ...
,
Aleksandra Ekster Alexandra () is the feminine form of the given name Alexander (, ). Etymologically, the name is a compound of the Greek verb (; meaning 'to defend') and (; GEN , ; meaning 'man'). Thus it may be roughly translated as "defender of man" or "pr ...
, Vadim Meller,
Kliment Red'ko Kliment Nikolaevich Red'ko or Redko (, , Klyment Mykolayovych Redko), 15 (27) October 1897 - 18 February 1956) was a Ukrainian-Russian painter-scientist, avant-garde artist ( Constructivist, Projectionist, Suprematist), graphic artist. Biograph ...
,
Solomon Nikritin Solomon Nikritin ( uk, Соломон Борисовiч Нiкрiтiн; 1898–1965) was a Ukraine, Ukrainian Painting, painter, avant-garde artist ( Neo-Primitivist, Constructivism (art), Constructivist), philosopher, and author. Biography Solom ...
,
Victor Palmov Victor Nikolaevich Palmov ( uk, Віктор Никандрович Пальмов) (10 October 1888 – 7 June 1929) was a Russian and Ukrainian painter and avant-garde artist (Futurism (art), Futurist and Neo-primitivism, Neo-primitivist) from t ...
, Maria Sinyakova,
Mykhailo Boychuk Mykhailo Boychuk ( uk, Миха́йло Льво́вич Бойчу́к, 30 October 1882 – 13 July 1937) was a Ukrainian painter, most commonly known as a monumentalist. He is considered a representative of the generation of the Executed Renaiss ...
, Mykola Pymonenko, Ilya Shtilman and many others. On April 26, 2014, Art retrieved from the ex-president Victor Yanukovich's home is being exhibited at the museum. Now Museum collects unofficial art works of totalitarian period — Ukrainian underground from the end of 1950 until 1991, articularly art woks by Feodosiy Tetianych, Mykola Trehub, Vudon Baklytskyi, Olena Golub and others.in ukr.: Petro Yakovenko. Remembering the faces of the 70's. Voice of Ukraine//№ 231, 9 .12, 201

/ref>


Gallery

File:Св.Георгій в житії. ХІІ ст..jpg, ''Saint George'', 12th century File:Покрова. ХІІ-ХІІІ ст.jpg, '' Intercession of the Theotokos, Pokrova'' (12-13th century) File:Страсті Христові. Галичина. XVI ст..jpg, ''Passion of Jesus'' (16th century) Image:Ekster Three women figures.jpg,
Aleksandra Ekster Alexandra () is the feminine form of the given name Alexander (, ). Etymologically, the name is a compound of the Greek verb (; meaning 'to defend') and (; GEN , ; meaning 'man'). Thus it may be roughly translated as "defender of man" or "pr ...
, ''Three women's figures'' (19091910), oil on canvas Image:Pymonenko_Harvester.jpg, Mykola Pymonenko, ''Harvester'' (1889), oil on canvas Image:Cossack_Badura.jpg, ''The Cossack bandura player'' (19th century), oil on canvas. Image:VaslkivskyStorozhaZaporozkihVolnostey.jpg, Serhiy Vasylkivsky, ''Cossacks in the Steppe'' (1900s), oil on canvas. File:Abraham Manievich. Self-Portrait.jpg, Abraham Manievich, ''Self-Portrait'' File:Olexandr murashko Selianska rodyna.jpg, Oleksandr Murashko, ''Selianska'' File:Vasily Tropinin Ukrán férfi 1920.jpg,
Vasily Tropinin Vasily Andreevich Tropinin (russian: Васи́лий Андре́евич Тропи́нин; – ) was a Russian Romantic painter. Much of his life was spent as a serf; he didn't attain his freedom until he was more than forty years old. ...
, ''Ukrainian man'' File:Стрітення. 1729.png, ''The Presentation of Christ in the Temple'' (1729) File:Dyadchenko Portrait divchuny.JPG, Hryhorij Djadtschenko, ''Portrait of a girl'' (1892)


References


Further reading

* * *in Ukr.: Національний художній музей України: Альбом/ Уклад., авт. ст.: Т.Рязанова, Л.Членова, О.Жбанкова та ін.- К.: Артанія Нова, 2003.- 416 с. * Kyiv Sightseeing Guide (2001) . *


External links


Information about the museum
from Kiev.info
Official website
(in Ukrainian)

at the Museums of Ukraine website (in Ukrainian) {{Authority control 1899 establishments in Ukraine Art museums established in 1899 Buildings and structures completed in 1898 Art museums and galleries in Ukraine
Art Museum An art museum or art gallery is a building or space for the display of art, usually from the museum's own collection. It might be in public or private ownership and may be accessible to all or have restrictions in place. Although primarily con ...
Museums in Kyiv Neoclassical architecture in Kyiv Hrushevsky Street (Kyiv) Architectural monuments of Ukraine of national importance in Kyiv Institutions with the title of National in Ukraine