Vasily Polenov at New Tretyakov

The New Tretyakov gallery is showing a retrospective of Vasily Polenov, renowned classical 19th-century Russian painter. The exhibition is open until February 16th, 2020.

Vasily Polenov (1844–1927) was a Russian landscape painter associated with the Peredvizhniki movement. This exhibition includes over 150 works from 14 Russian museums and private collections.

Here, you can see Polenov’s landscapes, portraits, historical paintings, the Evangelical series, theatrical scenery drafts, and architectural projects. Of particular interest is ‘Christ and the Adulteress’, a monumental painting from the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, which has been brought to Moscow for the first time.

‘Journey Around the World’ Diorama

In the 1890s, Vasily Polenov created a light theatre for his children, a ‘diorama’, a then-popular type of entertainment. It was a series of double-sided transparent paintings lit by a kerosene lamp, which was used to ‘magically’ change the lighting and the scenery. Polenov would tell the kids thrilling stories while showing the pictures, as well as playing his music box between the sessions.

This tradition of Diorama performances has continued for many years at Polenov’s estate in the Tula region. Kerosene lamps have been replaced with electric ones, and professional painters have made copies of the original paintings in order to preserve them. The Polenov Museum-Reserve has provided a precise copy of the Diorama for the exhibition at Tretyakov Gallery, and the ticket price includes admission to a Diorama performance.

Schedule of Diorama performances:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday: 11:30-11:50 am, 12:30-12:50 pm, 1:30-1:50 pm, 3:00-3:20 pm, 4:00-4:20 pm, 5:00-5:20 pm.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 11:30-11:50 am, 12:30-12:50 pm, 1:30-1:50 pm, 3:00-3:20 pm, 4:00-4:20 pm, 5:00-5:20 pm, 6:00-6:20 pm, 7:00-7:20 pm, 8:00-8:20 pm.

Exhibition opening hours:

Monday – closed

Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday: 10 am – 6 pm, last admission 5 pm.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 10 am – 9 pm, last admission 8 pm.

On December 14, the exhibition is open from 10 am to 6 pm, last admission 4.30 pm.

Tickets: 600 RUB, students 300 RUB.

Address: New Tretyakov Gallery, 10 Krymsky Val

We recommend buying tickets online to avoid waiting in queues.