Category: Art

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Museums in St. Petersburg

If you’re planning a trip to Russia soon or hoping to go there eventually, museums are a great way to learn about a city’s history and culture. Of course there’s the Hermitage in St. Petersburg: Peter the Great’s old palace that is now one of the largest art museums in the world. If you go to Russia’s cultural capital, you’ll have to stop by that one, but here are a few others that you can’t miss.

The Russian Museum

Established by Tsar Nicholas II, the Russian Museum is the first and largest collection of Russian art in the world. It is housed in the Mikhailovsky Palace right off of Nevsky Prospect by the Gostini Dvor metro stop. The collection features Russian art from the 10th to the 21st centuries, along with a sizable amount of modern art from other countries. You can find names from Rublev to Picasso, and the layout is much less intimidating than that of a big museum like the Hermitage.

The Menshikov Palace

Built for Alexander Menshikov, a royal official and one of Peter the Great’s closest friends, Menshikov palace was the first palace in St. Petersburg, and the only one to survive from the beginning of the 18th century. The admission is free for students, and inside you’ll see rooms and furniture both from the time period of the palace and after. It’s located right on the Neva river, and is beautiful to walk around inside and outside.

Dostoevky’s House

Though only one of many house museums, this is perhaps the most famous, as it is for one of Russia’s most iconic writers. Dostoevsky was a known wanderer, drifting from house to house. This is partially his childhood building, and the last apartment he and his family lived in until his death. The museum is only a few rooms and features his own furniture and pictures from his family and daily life. After seeing this museum, be sure to check out the other house museums such as that of Nabokov and Akhmatova!

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Algarabía

Algarabía is a Mexico City-based magazine with a distinct quirky and ironic style. They publish pieces on science, language, history, art, and, according to their website, “little explored aspects of cotidianity.” Examples of their articles (which can be found on their website) include “Position Changes in Erotic Art”, “People don’t know how to drink coffee”, and “The Science on Cursing”.  Better suited for advanced Spanish learners, articles in this magazine are characterized by  playful yet accessible prose. Their series on etymologies is particularly good; sometimes poignant, often hilarious, always informative.

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Museums – Media Resources 2

Welcome to the second installment of our media resources series! This post directs you to various museum websites to begin exploring various cultures within the languages Reed supports. 

 

Arabic

The National Bardo Museum

The National Bardo Museum in Tunis has collections spanning Tunisia’s Phoenician to Islamic history. The website is available in Arabic, French, and English. It features information about the museum and its collections, including extended information on 101 significant artifacts.

Biblioteca Alexandrina

This reimagined library of Alexandria holds a public library, museums, and research collections. The website, available in Arabic, French, and English, provides information about the various departments of the Biblioteca Alexandrina as well as events held in the space.

Mandarin

Forbidden City and Palace Museum

The Forbidden City is a massive palace complex in Beijing, dating originally from the fifteenth century. The Forbidden City is a popular tourist destination for both its palace architecture and for the collection of artifacts from the imperial period housed within the palace. The website, available in both Chinese and English, contains information about the palace, including virtual tours; digital views of the collection; and information about exhibits.

Museum of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Shihuang

The tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the first Qin emperor, is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Thousands of unique sculptures of warriors and hundreds of horses made of terracotta were buried with the emperor in the third century BCE. The website of the museum, which is located in Xi’an, includes information about these finds.

French

Musée d’Orsay

This museum houses mostly French artwork from the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The website features information about the collection, including digital exhibits; information about topics like restoration and the history of the museum; and news and cultural events.

Musée du Louvre

The Louvre is one of the world’s largest museums, featuring cultural and artistic works for all over the world and from different time periods. The website allows you to search for specific works, look at the collections, or explore the history of the museum.

Musée Cluny

This is the national museum of the Middle Ages. The website gives pictures and context for works in a timeline or by themes. There’s also a section for resources, with links to other significant medieval sites and bibliography.

German

Die Pinakotheken im Kunstareal München

These are five of Munich’s most influential art museums, which showcase works dating from as early as the 13th century to the present-day. The website includes information about exhibits and

Haus der Kunst

Built by the Nazi regime, Haus der Kunst now houses modern, often controversial artworks from throughout the world. The website features information about exhibits as well as the history of the museum. One of the highlights of the website are the richly illustrated free PDF booklets on past exhibitions and artists.

Leopold Museum

This museum in Vienna exhibits modern and expressionist work from some of the most well-known Viennese artists of the 20th Century. The website includes an easy-to-navigate exploration of the masterpieces of the permanent collection.

Museuminsel

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Museum island in Berlin is comprised of five state museums and galleries known not only for the artworks on display but also for buildings’ architectural beauty, as well. The Altes Museum, Neues Museum, and Pergamonmuseum feature prehistoric to classical art; the Bode-Museumhouses Byzantine art, sculpture, and a numismatics collection, and the Alte Nationalgalerie features 19th-century painting.

Russian

The Hermitage

The Hermitage museum is the largest in Russia and one of the largest in the world, with collections from antiquities to post-impressionist art. The website features information on current exhibits and the ability to search the extensive collection or highlights of the collection

The Moscow Museum of Modern Art

This museum features 20th- and 21st-century art. The website provides information about the permanent collection and visiting exhibits. The museum also hosts an English-language lecture series.

Spanish

Museo Art Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires

MALBA focuses on Latin American artists as well as internationally acclaimed artists. The website includes great descriptions and pictures of current exhibitions, extensive online collections, and interactive videos.

Museo Guggenheim Bilbao

This branch of the Guggenheim museum in Spain features modern and contemporary art. The collection is available to view online, and there is also extensive information about current, future, and past exhibitions.

Museo Nacional de Antropología

This museum displays Mexico’s rich archaeological and ethnographic history. Some of the collection is available online, searchable by ethnic group or time period. The website also features cultural information about Mexico.

Museo del Prado

This museum in Madrid is renowned for its classical works by artists such as Goya and Velázquez. Masterpieces of their collection are available to explore online. There’s also information about current exhibits and research and educational materials.