The museum, showcasing Russian art of the XVIII-XX centuries, is housed in a beautiful neoclassical building. This elegant mansion was built in 1851 as the Palace of the Assembly of Deputies, where meetings of the nobility, city authorities, and district authorities were held for more than 50 years. Concerts, balls, performances, and meetings of scholarly societies were also held here. And in 1862, Emperor Alexander II and his family were even received here.
In Soviet times, the palace was radically rebuilt, and its pre-revolutionary facade decorations were removed - district coats of arms, ornate pediments, and stucco. Today, only 8 tall white columns remain of the decor.
The museum, whose collection includes paintings by Aivazovsky, Bryullov, Rokotov, Repin, and other great Russian artists, opened in 2001. In addition to painting, sculpture and graphic art are also displayed here. Also very interesting is the collection of portrait miniatures, where you can see both celebrities and "ordinary mortals," whose likenesses were painted by famous portraitists.
In addition, various themed exhibitions are constantly held on the third floor of the Museum of Fine Arts.
