Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
spiration in the gardens and forests: painter Ilya Repin; landscape artist Isaak Levitan; por-
traitist Valentin Serov; and the quite un-Slavonic painter and ceramicist Mikhail Vrubel.
Other artists came to dabble in the woodworking and ceramics workshop, and musicians
(including Fyodor Shalyapin, who made his debut here) performed in the private opera.
MUSEUM
MANOR HOUSE
( adult/children R250/150)
Several rooms of the manor house have been preserved intact, complete with artwork by
various resident artists. The main attraction is Mamontov's dining room, featuring Repin's
portraits of the patron and his wife, as well as Serov's luminous
Girl with Peaches
. A strik-
ing maiolica bench by Vrubel is in the garden.
CHURCH
SAVIOUR CHURCH 'NOT MADE BY HAND'
( )
The prettiest building in the grounds is Saviour Church 'Not Made by Hand' (Tserkov Spasa
Nerukotvorny). The structure epitomises Mamontov's intentions: it's a carefully researched
homage by half-a-dozen artists to 14th-century Novgorod architecture. The iconostasis is by
Repin and Vasily Polenov. The tiled stove in the corner, still working, is exquisite. It re-
cently closed for renovations; check whether it is open at the time of your visit.
MUSEUM
STUDIO & KITCHEN
( adult/child R100/60)
Built in 1873 by Victor Gartman, the ornate Russian-style wooden studio is notable for the
carved art nouveau detailing on the exterior. It contains an exhibit of Mikhail Vrubel's
ceramic works, including an exquisite tile stove. Nearby, the former kitchen now contains a
collection of folk art that was amassed by the Mamontovs.
MUSEUM
BATHHOUSE
(- adult/child R40/25)
Completed in 1878, the bathhouse is another example of old Russian architecture, with a
wood-carved exterior and checker-painted roof. When the Mamontovs lived here, the build-
ing was used primarily as a guesthouse. It now houses an exhibit of carpentry and wood-
work, including work by Yelena Polenova, who organised a wood-carving studio here back
in the day.
