The history of the city of Irkutsk is closely connected with the name of its mayor Sukachev Vladimir Platonovich. He held this position for 13 years - from 1885 to 1893. Being a philanthropist and philanthropist, he greatly contributed to the development of the city, giving it all his strength. Today in Irkutsk there is an art museum named after V. P. Sukachev, which will be discussed.
Biography Facts
Before starting the story about the museum-estate of V. P. Sukachev, here are some facts from his biography. Sukachev V. P. was born in Irkutsk on July 14, 1849 in a family where the father was an important official in Eastern Siberia, and the mother belonged to a rich merchant family.
In Irkutsk, he graduated from high school. After that, he entered the Faculty of Law at St. Petersburg University, but then transferred to Kyiv University. He graduated in 1971 with a degree in biology.
Purchase of land
In Kyiv, Sukachev met N. V. Dolzhenkov, who became his wife. In Ukraine they were borntwo sons. In the 80s. XIX century, he returned to his small homeland. Here the Sukachev family acquired a large plot of land on which a manor was built.
It had: houses for masters and servants, a separate building for an art gallery with a winter garden, many outbuildings. In the Sukachev estate, the photo of which is posted in the article, a park was laid out, where festivities were held in the summer for students of the Institute of Noble Maidens.
About the family and activities of the mayor
Today this is a family nest - the Art Museum. V. P. Sukachev, who founded the art gallery. It is a branch of the Regional Art Museum. Today, two expositions are constantly working here. One of them is dedicated to the fate of the founder, and the second - to his contemporaries. There are 4 sections in the first exposition.
The first section of the exposition is dedicated to the ancestors of Vladimir Platonovich, his family tree. It contains personal belongings of the father, documents, photographs.
The second section talks about Sukachev's public service. In 1882 he was elected to the city duma, in 1883 he received the title of member of the Russian Geographical Society (East Siberian Department), in 1885 he became the mayor. For 13 years of work in this post under his leadership, the city, which was badly damaged in 1879 after a fire, was restored. In Irkutsk, for the first time, streets were paved, a pontoon bridge was built across the Angara, telephone communications and electricity were installed.
About the benefactor and art collector
The third section introduces visitors to Sukachev's estate-museum in Irkutsk with his charitable activities. Having received a large inheritance, he generously spent it on city needs. He opened five schools for the children of the poor, which he maintained, a school for the blind, a shelter for juvenile delinquents, and an almshouse. And also Vladimir Platonovich financed scientific expeditions, donated funds for the construction of a theater in Irkutsk, the building of a scientific museum.
The fourth section, located in the guest house, is dedicated to Sukachev as a collector of an art gallery, the first beyond the Urals. A century later, paintings by such artists as Aivazovsky, Polonsky, Bakalovich and others returned to the estate.
There are several more sections of the Sukachev estate exhibition. They are dedicated to the activities of his wife, Nadezhda Vladimirovna, who was his like-minded person.
Gallery Creator
Despite the fact that Sukachev's public interests were wide and varied, he is best known to the people of Irkutsk as the creator of an art gallery. It was his longtime dream to open a temple of art accessible to all in his hometown.
Vladimir Platonovich was very close to the work of Russian painters, especially those that reflected the life of ordinary people. For this reason, he acquired paintings by Vereshchagin, Aivazovsky, Repin, Makovsky, Platonov for the art gallery.
However, in addition to domestic artists, Sukachev also wanted to show the Siberian audience the canvases of the masters of world painting. He ordered inmuseums in Munich and Florence to make copies of the paintings available there. Thus, copies of paintings by Rubens, Raphael, Correggio, Murillo got into his collection.
From the history of V. P. Sukacheva
The very first greenhouse was built on the acquired land. Subsequently, it was completed and became the main building in the estate, where the art gallery was located. There was also Vladimir Platonovich's office, a billiard room, a library and a ballroom.
In the art gallery, 12 rooms were reserved for paintings, sculptures, and other art objects. It was open to all visitors any day of the week (by arrangement with the owner) for a nominal fee, and children were admitted free.
The construction of the estate as a whole was completed in the 80s of the nineteenth century. It was done at the highest professional level, very high quality. However, the name of the architect who created the monument of Irkutsk architecture has not yet been established.
After the departure of the hosts
The family left for St. Petersburg in 1898. Further, the fate of the Sukachev estate in Irkutsk was not easy. At first, it was controlled by proxies, and after the revolution of 1917 it was nationalized and transferred to the department of public education.
In the building where the art gallery was previously located, in the 20s there was a commune school, and then a children's home. In the 1950s, a kindergarten was placed here. The service premises included a laundry, a catering department, and housing.
Gradually the buildings dilapidated, they were taken apart for firewood. Part of the garden was left behind children's institutions, and a large area was given over to the park of culture. Trees that Sukachev brought from different parts of the world - cypresses, lilacs, cedars - were mercilessly cut down to equip attractions and a dance floor.
Restoration work
In 1986, the Sukachev estate was transferred to the museum. After that, design, as well as conservation and restoration work began to be carried out. But financial difficulties prevented this, so the work was suspended for several years. In 1995, the estate became a monument of federal significance. And in 1998, restoration work was restored.
The restorers handed over the first restored object to the museum in 2000. It was a guest house. In 2001, an exhibition dedicated to V. P. Sukachev - a public figure and philanthropist. In 2002, an outbuilding called "Services with a stable" became available to visitors, and in 2004 - "Servant's House with a kitchen." In these buildings, museum employees tried to recreate the life of a noble family.
Museum Structure
The exposition dedicated to the life and work of the Irkutsk mayor and his family is located in the art gallery. This is a two-storey house, which is the main building in the manor complex.
Here are things that were the property of the owner and his family. These are furniture, porcelain, musical instruments, watches, photographs, documents, books.
The exhibits also include works of art collected by Vladimir Platonovich. Among them are Russian andWestern European painting, sculpture, other subjects. Part of the exposition is a unique winter garden, identical to the one that existed in the house during the lifetime of the owners. It was recreated from documents and photographs.
Exciting excursions, musical and literary evenings, lectures on the history of culture, master classes, balls and performances are held at the Sukachev estate in Irkutsk.
Interesting facts
From the structures described above in the museum-estate of Sukachev, today everything is on display, except for three objects. This is the house where the owners lived, a school for girls and a carriage house. If the last two buildings are to be restored, then the situation is more complicated with the house.
Specialists working in the Irkutsk Center for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage, until today, cannot decide where he actually stood. Unfortunately, there are no photographs left, and the maps relating to those times do not give a complete picture. On one of them, the building is not yet marked, and on the other, it is no longer marked.
Judging by individual documents and testimonies, we can conclude that the building did exist. In order to find out with certainty exactly where it was, it is necessary to conduct archaeological research, which is not possible, since the few data available to historians indicate that the house stood where another historical monument is located today. This is a tank called "Irkutsk Komsomolets".
Garden of Eden
Describing Sukachev's estate, it is impossible to ignore his garden. He made it truly heavenly, as he lovedplants. The following trees and shrubs grew in the garden:
- Pine trees.
- Cedars.
- Birches.
- Oaks.
- Barberries.
- Tui.
- Manchurian walnut.
- Ussuri pear.
- Hawthorn.
- Cotoneaster.
- Yellow acacia.
- Hungarian lilac.
The festive atmosphere in the garden was created by beautiful flowers, among which were:
- Roses.
- Asters.
- Violets.
- Tulips.
- Goldenrods.
- Delphiniums.
Gardeners took care of the plants. Photographs have been preserved in which they cover trees for the winter with straw mats. After the revolutionary events, the plants died out. Therefore, today you cannot see the trees that grew during the life of the owner.
But museum workers are trying to restore the former plant diversity. So, today young oaks, acacias, hawthorn, lilacs, Manchurian walnuts already grow on the territory. Flowers are planted during the summer.
As for the winter garden, it has been completely restored. At one time, the mayor collected unusual plants growing in the southern latitudes here. These are ficuses, pandanuses, oleanders, fan and date palms.
The plants were not only in the winter garden, but also in the ballroom. Today, they appear before museum visitors strictly in accordance with the times in which the garden was created. There is a historical and biological exhibition.
How to get there
Museum address: 66400, Russia,Irkutsk, st. December Events, No. 112. You can get to it by the following modes of transport:
- By bus No. 3, 26K, 42, 43, 45, 78, 80, 90, 480.
- On the trolley bus number 4.
- On the shuttle bus No. 20, 98, 99.
In all three cases, you need to get off at the Sukachev Estate stop.
You can also take tram number 1, 2, 3, 5. Then you need to get off at the 1st Sovetskaya stop.
Visitor reviews
Tourists who have visited Sukachev's estate note its advantages:
- A wide range of services are provided. Here you can admire the appearance of buildings with a variety of architectural decorations, and see an exhibition of paintings, museum displays, and take a walk in the beautiful garden.
- The care of employees about visitors is felt everywhere. The homestead is very clean, a lively spirit is preserved here, you want to live in the house. Everything is arranged with grace and delicate taste.
- The garden is beautiful, like in a fairy tale. There are many gazebos, quiet cozy corners, benches, pebble paths. Couples have the opportunity to plant rose bushes here.
- Interesting excursions are held, the story about the fate of such a worthy person as V. P. is very touching. Sukachev.
- Getting to the place is quite easy, as there are transport stops nearby.
- Tickets at affordable prices. An adult costs 400 rubles, a child - 50, for pensioners - 70, and for students - 150 rubles.
Recent years
The merits of Sukachev as mayor were duly appreciatedemperor. By his decree, Vladimir Platonovich was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Irkutsk. The document said that the basis for conferring the title was assistance in the development of urban public education, personal work and donations in favor of the city.
In the last years of his life, V. P. Sukachev lived in St. Petersburg. He was active in publishing. He issued a series of postcards with images of Siberian cities, published a book about Irkutsk and its place in the history, culture and development of Eastern Siberia. In addition, he participated in the publication of the newspaper "Eastern Review" and the magazine "Siberian Questions".
He was among the organizers of the Society for the Promotion of St. Petersburg Students Who Came from Siberia.
The financial situation of the Sukachev family was undermined by the events of the First World War. The outbreak of the revolution, followed by the civil war, forced them to flee from hungry Petrograd to the southern regions, to Bakhchisaray. December 21, 1919, according to the old style, at the age of 71, V. P. Sukachev died in the arms of his wife and daughter Anna. He was buried in Bakhchisarai at the Orthodox cemetery. To date, the place of his burial is unknown, but his search is underway.
In 1990, the Regional Art Museum in Irkutsk was named after Vladimir Platonovich Sukachev, who stood at its origins.
