This picture I took almost an year ago during a countryside tour with my clients to Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra and Abramtsevo Estate, which is located not so far (7km south-west) from Sergiev Posad, nearby a small town Khotkovo. No doubt that Abramtsevo mansion is one of the most fascinating places in Moscow Region where represented a return to traditional Russian life, art and architecture. Its historical background and picturesque landscapes with beautiful forest attract many lovers of art, Russian history and, of course, photography.
The Abramtsevo Estate was originally owned by devout Russian writer, Sergei Aksakov, the pioneer novelist of Russian realism who used this mansion as dacha (summer house) and favored its location to the Russia's holiest site, the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra. After his death, the masion was purchased in 1870 by the powerful Russian industrialist and railroad tycoon, Savva Mamontov, who was equally passionate about Russian art and culture, founded the Russian Private Opera, organized and then supported an informal group of painters that later was called the Abramtsevo Artistic Circle. At the end of 19th century the Abramtsevo Estate became the artist's colony which is now associated with works of one the most famous Russian artists at the time of world wide influence of impressionism and foundation of modern art, as like Polenov, Repin, Vasnetsov, Korovin, Levitan, Vrubel, Serov, Nesterov and some others who lived and worked at this pleasant place.
On this picture you can see the estate's main house, which was used by the famous playwright Anton Chekhov as a model for the manor in his play The Cherry Orchard, features a plain gray and white exterior that hides a much more ornate and fascinating interior. The house's rooms vividly reflect the tastes of its former owners. After puchasing the Abramtsevo Estate, Savva Momontov strated to redecorate some part of the house in Neo-Russian and Style Moderne, but carefully preserved the midddle 19th century French Empire style of rooms made by former owner, Sergei Aksakov. Nowadays this house is opened for visitors as the main building of museum preserve in Abramtsevo.
With BEST Regards,
Arthur Lookyanov
Moscow Guide & Personal Driver
Photo Album ”Russian Countryside”
Last Edited: Jan 18th, 2008