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Fine Arts Museum
From 2odessa.com The most comprehensive guide to Odessa, Ukraine
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| Fine Arts Museum (Художественный) Sofievskaya 5A (Софиевская 5A)
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History: The palace was built between 1805-1810 in Russian classic style by an unknown architect. It was once owned by S. Potoksky. The plaque on the front of the palace states that: "This palace was donated to Odessa in 1889 by Grigori Marazili a well known arts-patron, to build the fine arts museum" The musem was opened in 1899.
The original art collection consisted of a small educational collection of pictures of the Odessa drawing school. Over seventy paintings were donated by the St. Petersburg museum of Arts.
Before the Soviet Revolution the exposition contained many canvases by Western European masters, but almost no works of Ukrainian art. After the revolution, seized private Odessa collections were also incorporated into the museum.
During World War Two, most of the exhibits were evacuated to the rear of the building.
Since Ukrainian independence, many of the pictures glorifying the Soviet Union have since been removed.
Architecture: The palace has a six column Corynthian portico, bas-relief frieze, and lateral wings forming a deep semicircular court. The many spacious halls of the palace have painted and molded ceiling decorations, fine marble mantle pieces, and patterned parquet floors. --Information gathered partially from the very patriotic "Odessa State Art Gallery" Brochure, written by Y.A. Galker during the Soviet Union
On the east wall, under the bust of a woman, and above the wreath, the memorial plaque states:
- KAS’KO Natalia Iosypivna, Honored worker of culture in Ukraine, Director of Museum, 1980-1995
Today the museum's twenty-six halls display a rich collection of paintings. There is also a collection of 15th-16th century Russian icons.
Photos
Fine Arts Museum |
External links
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