Isaac Levitan Memorial House-Museum in Plyos

Levitan Glorified Plyos, and Plyos Glorified Levitan

Levitan first visited Plyos in the spring of 1888, accompanied by his friends, artists Sofia Kuvshinnikova and Alexei Stepanov. Traveling along the Volga, they stopped in Plyos, which immediately captivated them with its poetry and tranquility.

Before Levitan's arrival, Plyos was an inconspicuous provincial town, where life flowed slowly and measuredly. The main occupations of the local residents were trade and crafts. Despite its modesty, the town had its own charm, which attracted the artists.

After Levitan and his friends spent several seasons in Plyos, the town became known to the general public thanks to the magnificent landscapes depicted in the artist's paintings. Levitan revealed the poetic image of Plyos to the world, attracting the attention of not only art lovers but also tourists. Subsequently, Plyos became a pilgrimage site for artists and art enthusiasts.

Levitan played a key role in popularizing Plyos, making it famous not only in Russia but also abroad. His works created here became a symbol of Russian nature and had a significant influence on subsequent generations of artists. The Levitan landscape became an integral part of Russia's cultural heritage.

Famous Paintings Created by Levitan in Plyos

During three summer seasons (1888, 1889, 1890), Levitan worked in Plyos, creating about two hundred works, including such famous paintings as "Evening on the Volga", "Birch Grove", "Evening. Golden Plyos", "Quiet Abode", and "After the Rain. Plyos".

Memorial House-Museum

The Memorial House-Museum of I.I. Levitan in Plyos was opened on August 25, 1972. The museum is located in the house of the Plyos merchant Andrey Ivanovich Solodovnikov, built in 1835. It was in this house that Levitan, Stepanov, and Kuvshinnikova rented rooms in the mezzanine during the summers of 1888 and 1889.

The museum's exhibition is divided into three main sections:

First Hall:

The first hall presents a brief chronicle of Levitan's life and his stay in Plyos. Here you can see reproductions and photographs illustrating the artist's life in this city. Special attention is given to his famous works painted in Plyos. A separate showcase displays Levitan's personal belongings, donated by relatives: a palette, a palette knife, a stamp box, and a cane tip.

Interactive monitors provide visitors with additional information about Levitan's life and work.

Second Hall:

The second hall exhibits authentic paintings by Isaac Levitan, as well as his friends Alexei Stepanov and Sofia Kuvshinnikova. Many of these works were donated to the museum by the famous Moscow collector Felix Evgenievich Vishnevsky immediately after the museum opened. Today, the museum's collection includes 23 works by Levitan, 16 works by Stepanov, and 11 works by Kuvshinnikova.

In the interior corner of the second hall, there is an exhibition of Levitan's personal belongings: a paint-stained easel, a writing desk, and a bookcase, restored and brought from the artist's Moscow studio, as well as items donated to the museum by the descendants of Levitan's Plyos friend, merchant I. F. Fomichev.

Memorial Rooms in the Mezzanine:

The setting of the memorial rooms in the mezzanine was recreated with the help of the granddaughter of the former owner of the house, merchant Solodovnikov. In the room where Levitan and Stepanov lived, personal belongings of the artists are displayed: Levitan's travel easel and hunting bag, Stepanov's sketchbook. In Kuvshinnikova's room, you can see a tea set given by the artist to the wife of artist V. P. Vopilov.