Serpukhov historical-art museum, Art and history museum in Serpukhov, Russia.
Serpukhov Historical-Art Museum occupies a former merchant mansion and displays works by Russian and Western European artists spanning multiple centuries. Its collection ranges from medieval pieces to 20th-century creations organized across the preserved rooms.
The museum was founded in 1918 and initially displayed a wealthy merchant's private collection. It grew as the state transferred artworks from its holdings and confiscated estates from wealthy families.
The mansion belonged to Anna Marayeva, a textile manufacturer's widow from a peasant family who bought 377 paintings and graphic works from the ruined nobleman Yu. V. Merlin, a deal that led to the museum. Next to the mansion stands the Pokrov Old Believer church, built by M. G. Piotrovich and the only altarless church in southern Moscow region.
The museum is at 87 Chekhov Street, in the former Marayeva mansion. The start of the 20th-century painting and sculpture collection is on the second floor, while the former dining and White Halls on the main floor hold salon-academic painting and marinist works. The building stands beside the Old Believer Church of the Intercession, built by M. G. Piotrovich.
The Western European section rests on 377 paintings and graphic works bought from the ruined nobleman Yu. V. Merlin, who had assembled them over nearly 25 years on the Moscow antiques market. Anna Marayeva purchased the lot while a lawsuit with her late husband's brother over the inheritance was under way. Among the French works is Charles Le Brun's "The Sacrifice of Jephthah".
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