Academy Of Arts Museum

Lonely Planet review

Art-lovers should not bypass the research museum of the Russian Academy of Arts, which contains works by students and faculty since the founding of this institution in 1857. Two 3500-year-old sphinx monuments guard the entrance of this time-tested institution. This is the original location of the academy, where boys would live from the age of five until they graduated at age 15. It was an experiment to create a new species of human: the artist.

For the most part, it worked; many great Russian artists were trained here, including Ilya Repin, Karl Bryullov and Anton Losenko. But the curriculum was designed with the idea that the artist must serve the state, and this conservatism led to a reaction against it. In 1863, some 14 students left to found a new movement which became known as the Wanderers (Peredvizhniki).

Nonetheless, the Academy of Arts has many achievements to show off, including numerous studies, drawings and paintings by academy members. On the 3rd floor, you can examine the models for the original versions of Smolny Cathedral, St Isaac's Cathedral and the Alexander Nevsky Monastery. And if you had any doubt that the Academy of Arts is an august academic institution, take a peek into the fabulous old library.