Old Russian art makes the foundation of the national culture and, along with the avant-garde art of the early 20th century, is Russia's main contribution to the world history of fine arts. Old Russian art is in many ways decisive to the national consciousness of the Russian society. The main mission of the Rublev Museum is to help people discover the icon as one of the greatest achievements of Russian and world art. In the thousand-year history of Russian art, the main part - seven centuries - falls on the time before the reign of Peter the First, when artistic culture was developing within the framework of a religious world view.
The preservation, collection, study, display and popularization of Russian artistic heritage are the main objectives of the Museum. The Andrei Rublev Museum of Old Russian Culture and Art is located on the territory of the Spaso-Andronikov Monastery, founded in the middle of the 14^th century and associated with the Kulikovo battle and other events of the Russian history and culture. An ancient architectural monument of Moscow, the Spassky Cathedral (the 1420s), harbours preserved frescoes by Andrei Rublev in the window openings of its altar. The great icon painter was a monk in this monastery and was laid to rest here in 1430.
In the Soviet era, until 1950, the Cathedral building was used as an archive of the Ministry of State Security. When Andrei Rublev was officially recognized as a great Russian artist, there was no better place for his museum. The decree on founding Andrei Rublev Museum was adopted by the Soviet government in 1947, for the 800th anniversary of Moscow. Initially, the museum funds had only copies and photographs. Later on the collection was enriched with icons decommissioned from the provincial funds, and frescos taken off the walls. Nowadays the museum numbers more than 5 thousand icons, including works by legendary Dionysius. In addition to the icon frames, the museum owns a collection of iconic frames, liturgical objects, handwritten and printed books (including liturgical and singing old rites). The museum exposition is located in the complex of the Michael the Archangel Ñhurch built at the end of the 17th century by order of Evdokia Lopukhina, the first wife of Peter the Great. Exhibitions dedicated to the church art of various epochs are held periodically at the Rector's Corps. The museum introduces visitors to the outstanding examples of artistic creativity of the 11th-17th centuries. Icon collection of the museum is internationally known and includes many outstanding works. Among them are the masterpieces by the artists of the circle of Andrei Rublev and Dionysius, the workshop of Metropolitan Macarius and Tsar Ivan the Terrible. The art of the 17^th century, works by icon-painters of the Armory and regional masters are particularly well represented here.
On the territory of the monastery there is Moscow’s oldest white-stone Cathedral of the Savior’s Icon Not Made by Hands (1410 and 1427). The Savior's Cathedral was painted by Andrei Rublev. The remains of his fresco paintings have been preserved inside the cathedral in the slopes of the altar windows. The Museum area is open daily from 9 am to 9 pm.
The open hours of the permanent exposition and temporary exhibitions: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 2 pm to 9 pm (ticket office till 8.15 pm);
Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm (ticket office till 5.15 pm).
On Wednesday, the exposition and exhibitions are closed.
The Andrei Rublev Museum of Old Russian Culture and Art is located at the address: 10, Andronievskaya Square, next to Ploshchad Illyicha and Rimskaya metro stations, Moscow.
See details on the official website of the Museum