How the Pushkin Museum in Moscow saved masterpieces during World War II (PHOTOS)
The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow had to endure bombings, air raids and the urgent evacuation of collections. The life of the museum during the war was captured on film by photographer Nikolai Svishchov-Paola.
In July 1941, in just 10 days, the museum staff prepared almost 102,000 exhibits for evacuation. And, in three turns, they were taken to Novosibirsk and Solikamsk. But, more than 260,000 works of art remained in the building and they had to be protected. Moreover, the museum building had been badly damaged by air raids.
Snow and rain fell from the broken glass roof, cold and dampness penetrated through the broken windows and the heating and power supply systems were damaged. At times, the temperature inside reached -15°C, but the staff selflessly saved and sheltered the collection from frost. They scooped out water, shoveled snow and restored various masterpieces. So, what did the museum look like a year before the end of the war and its consequences? Find out in these archive photos we’ve together!
The ‘The Museum's Feat’ exhibition, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in World War II will be on display at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow until September 7, 2025.
