Vassily Surikov Museum Estate
The childhood home, and later the workshop, of the Russian historical painter Vassily Surikov (1848-1916).
Similar studio museums...
- Ivan Shishkin Memorial House Museum, Russia - childhood home of Surikov's fellow 'Wanderer', the landscape painter Ivan Shishkin (1832-1898)
- Julius Kronberg Studio, Sweden - the home and studio of Julius Kronberg (1850-1921)
Vassily (sometimes spelt 'Vasilii') Surikov was born in Krasnoyarsk as the son of a regional administrator. He grew up in this two-storey house, originally built in the 1830s, before moving to St Petersburg in 1869. He studied at the Academy of Arts between 1869 and 1875, and soon became famous for his large-scale historical paintings, often drawn from classical themes, reflecting his interest in ancient Egypt, Rome and early Christianity. Based in Moscow from 1877, Surikov executed a series of paintings for the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour before commencing what would become his most famous work, The Morning of Streltsy's Execution (1881, Tretyakov Gallery). This was displayed at the ninth Peredvizhnik ('Wanderers') Exhibition, marking Surikov's association with fellow 'Wanderers' including Ilya Repin (1844-1930) and Ivan Shishkin (1832-1898).
Surikov retained a lifelong pride in his Siberian heritage. His childhood home was given to the city of Krasnoyarsk in the 1930s by his daughter Olga. Today, the Vassily Surikov Museum houses a selection of the artist's works, the Surikov archives and Surikov's studio, preserved for visitors.
