Kharkov Art Museum

The collection of works of fine and applied art of the Kharkov State Museum is one of the most complete and valuable in Ukraine. Its funds number about 25 thousand copies of graphics, painting, arts and crafts and sculpture. The museum hosts thematic excursions, lectures, as well as interactive classes for children.

The collection of works of fine and applied art of the Kharkov State Museum is one of the most complete and valuable in Ukraine. Its funds number about 25 thousand copies ofgraphics, painting, arts and crafts and sculpture. The museum hosts thematic excursions, lectures, as well as interactive classes for children.

History of the Kharkov Art Museum

The history of the museum originates from 1805, when Kharkov University acquired about 2,5 thousand graphic works of Western European masters. Another predecessor of the museum was the Kharkov City Art and Industrial Museum, founded in 1886. It was one of the first public museums of those times. His work was mainly related to the work of Russian and Ukrainian artists.

Over the years, the museum has repeatedly changed its name, and its collections are increasingly expanded. In the 30s of the 20th century it was closed to visitors. Reviving from the ashes and ruins of the Great Patriotic War, since 1944 the Kharkov Museum of Arts has begun a new life. Since that period and to this day the museum is located in a historical building of classical style with baroque elements, built by the outstanding Ukrainian architect A. N. Beketov. In the post-war years, the museum activates exhibition and exhibition, scientific, educational and collecting activities.

Museum collection

We can talk endlessly about the richness and diversity of the Kharkov collection of arts. Currently, in 25 rooms of the museum areworks of Russian and Ukrainian art of pre-revolutionary and Soviet periods, Western European art, as well as arts and crafts of 16-20 centuries. The expositions include the works of outstanding Russian artists such as IK Aivazovsky, I. I. Shishkin, V. L. Borovikovsky, D. G. Levitsky, K. P. Bryullov and many other painters. It is in the Kharkov Museum that the largest collection of 11 paintings by Ilya Repin is exhibited in Ukraine. Among them is one of his most famous works: "The Zaporozhians are writing a letter to the Turkish sultan." According to the composition of the artistic collections of Ukraine, the Kharkov Art Museum is one of the richest. Also in the collection are collections of works by famous Western European artists of the 16th and 18th centuries and paintings that the museum (then still a university) received from its graduates. Today these works are represented by the department of foreign art.

The Museum of Folk Art of Slobozhanshchina today is the department of the Kharkov Art Museum, ceramics, rare examples of embroidery, carving and folk art are preserved here.

The museum works every day (except Tuesday) from 10:00 to 18:00.