The museum is an excellent representative of the Russian culture of the end of the XVIII century. It was mainly created by the serf and that is what it is famous for. In 1989 the restoration of the museum began. In 1992 it was opened for visitors. Originally a wooden church of the Life-Giving Trinity was built on that place in XVII by the owners of the mansion princes Cherkasskys. A stone brick-red five-headed cathedral trimmed with white fretted stone and coloured tiles was erected there. In 1743 the mansion came into the possession of the count Sheremetiev – one of the most educated aristocrats of the XVIII century. He was known for his great love for art, sciences, literature and especially theater. That passion of his pushed him forward to the creation of that magnificent palace ensemble, which united under the same roof a theater, a library, an art gallery, an armoury and scientific rooms. Famous architects I. Starov, V. Brenna, F. Kamporezi, and the serf architects I. P. Argunov, A. F. Mironov, G. E. Dikushin made the projects of the palace (by the way entirely built of wood). The theater, opened in 1795, stood in the compositional centre of the palace. Praskovia Zhemchugova – the serf star of the theater – later became count Sheremetiev’s wife. The performances were usually followed by balls. After that the public went to the pavilions and then for a walk about the picturesque park. After N. P. Sheremetiev died in 1809, life in Ostankino came to a standstill. The history of the homestead shrouded in mystery, but that attracted visitors even more. By the end of the century the palace had become a private museum. Nowadays the Ostankinsky palace is the only Russian and one of the few European theater buildings of the end of the XVIII century with an undestroyed stage, hall, foyers, make-up rooms and equipment of the upper engine-room. Carved golden furniture, Russian and European sculpture, porcelain, West-European painting, graphics, a collection of musical instruments including Praskovia Zhemchugova’s harp and numerous plans of the palace are exhibited in the museum. Concerts of ancient chamber music, opera performances from the repertoire of the Sheremetiev’s company take place in the Ostankinsky Theater today too.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT MUSEUM:
* Underground: VDNKh
* Address: 5, 1st Ostankinskaya ul.
