The masterpieces of the museum will become closer to visitors with disabilities

IRKUTSK. For the first time in its history, the Irkutsk Regional Art Museum decided to move the most iconic paintings from its collection from the second floor of the main building to the first. This will be done as part of the exhibition “Masterpieces: a step towards”, which will allow visitors with disabilities to see firsthand the masterpieces of painting from the museum’s collection. The work of Shishkin, Kramskoy, Surikov, Savrasov, Aivazovsky, Tropinin, Bryullov, Rokotov, Borovikovsky, Kustodiev, Myasoedov and other artists will be placed in two halls and a corridor on the first floor. Moving to the first floor and the picture, which is the pearl of the museum’s collection - “The Pauper. Girl-fisherman "by Ilya Repin. Despite the fact that the main focus of this exhibition will be on Russian painting, the museum decided to present several exhibits from the collections of Eastern and Western European art. In particular, the group portrait “Ancestors” (China, the second half of the 18th century) and “Crowning of Christ with thorns” by H. J. Terbruggen (Holland, 1622). In addition, the picturesque exhibition will be complemented by silver and porcelain from the museum, including works by Faberge.

“A similar movement of exhibits has not previously been carried out in the museum. All works are distributed in different rooms - depending on the period of creation. But to get into these halls, you need to overcome two flights of a long staircase, which is a serious obstacle for people with disabilities. And we are not talking only about those who travel in wheelchairs. The exhibition “Masterpieces: a step towards” was made for all who find it difficult to walk, ”said Alexander Gimelstein, Director General of the Museum.

Recall that the main building of the museum on Lenin 5 is an architectural monument with more than a century of history. Its construction - as a gymnasium building - began in 1905. In today’s conditions, it is not possible to install an elevator for raising visitors to the second floor in a short time, taking into account the limitations that exist for the reconstruction of historical buildings and cultural monuments. Especially for the exhibition, with the help of the Irkutsk philanthropist charity fund, the museum acquired a ramp, which will be installed in the building at the entrance, where there are two steps.

At a meeting between the Director General of the Irkutsk Art Museum, Alexander Gimelshtein, and the chairman of the Irkutsk Regional Branch of the All-Russian Society of Disabled People Konstantin Shumkov, it was decided that disabled people of the first and second groups will be able to attend the exhibition for free. To do this, you must present the appropriate certificate at the box office of the museum.

The work of the exhibition “Masterpieces: a step towards” is timed to coincide with the International Day of the Disabled, which is celebrated worldwide on December 3, and will last from December 1 to 10, 2015 at the address: Irkutsk, st. Lenin, 5. Tours are provided for visitors. Advance appointment by phone: 34-01-46.