Ryabushinsky Museum of Icons and Paintings, Religious art museum in central Moscow, Russia
The Ryabushinsky Museum is a religious art museum in Moscow that houses a collection of sacred and artistic works from various periods. It displays over 2,000 pieces, including medieval paintings from Western Europe and traditional Orthodox religious icons spanning different centuries.
The museum opened in 2009 and presented an exhibition titled Godlessness documenting the early Communist period through photographs of damaged religious buildings. This inaugural exhibition aimed to show the impact of political upheaval on places of worship.
The collection displays works from multiple European artistic centers, showing how different cultures expressed religious themes through their own artistic traditions. Visitors can observe the similarities and differences in how Russia, Italy, Spain, and Flemish territories approached religious subject matter.
The building has been closed for reconstruction since June 2013, but the institution continues its educational and research activities through various platforms. Visitors should check current exhibition schedules and programs before planning a visit.
The museum originated from an exhibition in Amersfoort, Netherlands, organized by Russian entrepreneur Igor Vozyakov who donated ancient religious artifacts. This unexpected connection between a Dutch city and a Moscow collection shows how artistic traditions converged across borders.
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