Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts
Moscow · Russia · Founded 1912
Good for: Art Lovers · History Enthusiasts · First-timers
1912
Founded
700,000+
Works in Collection
3–4 hours
Recommended Visit
Quick answer
Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow, Russia — the Pushkin Museum opened in 1912 as a teaching collection of plaster casts attached to Moscow University. Open Tuesday to Sunday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Closed Mondays). Admission: 500 RUB standard admission. World Museum Guide covers the highlights, getting there, and how long to allow (3–4 hours).
Verified 2026-06-30 against official sources.
About Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts
The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts opened in 1912 as a teaching collection of plaster casts attached to Moscow University. After the Bolshevik redistribution of private collections in the 1924, it became Russia's principal museum of foreign art — filling a gap left by the Tretyakov Gallery's focus on Russian painting.
The main building on Volkhonka Street holds Old Masters from ancient Egypt and Greece through the Renaissance to the nineteenth century. The Gallery of European and American Art of the 19th and 20th Centuries — in a separate building nearby — contains one of the world's finest collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting outside Paris.
The Impressionist gallery holds masterpieces confiscated from the collections of Sergei Shchukin and Ivan Morozov — two great Russian collectors whose works were nationalised after the Revolution. Monet, Cézanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Matisse, and Picasso hang in rooms that rival the Musée d'Orsay.
The original plaster cast hall — with full-size replicas of the Parthenon frieze, Michelangelo's David, and other masterpieces — remains as a teaching resource and a fascinating historical document of pre-revolutionary art education.
3–4 hours highlights route
A focused route through 5 must-see highlights at Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts without museum fatigue. · 3–4 hours
- 1
Blue Dancers
📍 Gallery of 19th–20th Century Art
Degas's pastel of four ballet dancers in blue tutus — from the Shchukin collection, one of the finest Impressionist works in any museum outside France.
- 2
Self-Portrait
📍 Gallery of 19th–20th Century Art
A Paris-period self-portrait showing Van Gogh's exposure to Impressionist colour — from the Morozov collection, one of several Van Goghs in the Pushkin's extraordinary Post-Impressionist holdings.
- 3
Tahitian Pastorals
📍 Gallery of 19th–20th Century Art
Gauguin's Arcadian vision of Tahitian life — from the Morozov collection, exemplifying the colour and symbolism of his South Pacific period.
- 4
Dance
📍 Gallery of 19th–20th Century Art
A version of Matisse's monumental Dance — the Shchukin commission that shocked Moscow society with its radical simplification of the human figure.
- 5
Dead Christ Supported by Angels
📍 Main Building, Old Masters
A harrowing Deposition scene — one of two versions by Caravaggio, acquired from a German collection.
Masterworks & must-see highlights
The works that define Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts — and why they matter.
Blue Dancers
Edgar Degas · c. 1899
📍 Gallery of 19th–20th Century Art
Degas's pastel of four ballet dancers in blue tutus — from the Shchukin collection, one of the finest Impressionist works in any museum outside France.
Self-Portrait
Vincent van Gogh · 1887
📍 Gallery of 19th–20th Century Art
A Paris-period self-portrait showing Van Gogh's exposure to Impressionist colour — from the Morozov collection, one of several Van Goghs in the Pushkin's extraordinary Post-Impressionist holdings.
Tahitian Pastorals
Paul Gauguin · 1892
📍 Gallery of 19th–20th Century Art
Gauguin's Arcadian vision of Tahitian life — from the Morozov collection, exemplifying the colour and symbolism of his South Pacific period.
Dance
Henri Matisse · 1910
📍 Gallery of 19th–20th Century Art
A version of Matisse's monumental Dance — the Shchukin commission that shocked Moscow society with its radical simplification of the human figure.
Dead Christ Supported by Angels
Caravaggio · c. 1602–1604
📍 Main Building, Old Masters
A harrowing Deposition scene — one of two versions by Caravaggio, acquired from a German collection. Dramatic chiaroscuro and physical realism that defined Baroque painting.
Collections & highlights
- • Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces — Monet, Degas, Renoir
- • Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne from Shchukin and Morozov collections
- • Matisse, Picasso, and early Modernism
- • Old Masters — Rembrandt, Rubens, Botticelli, Canaletto
- • Ancient Egyptian and Greek art
- • Plaster cast hall — Parthenon frieze and Michelangelo casts
- • Treasury of Priam — Trojan gold (disputed)
- • Gallery of 19th–20th Century European and American Art
Frequently asked questions
Is the Impressionist collection in the same building?
No, it is in the Gallery of European and American Art a few minutes' walk away.
Are the plaster casts originals?
They are early-twentieth-century casts of major European sculpture, kept as historical teaching tools.
How long should I spend at Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts?
Plan 2–3 hours for the highlights. Add time for temporary exhibitions, the museum shop, and café.
What is Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts best known for?
The Pushkin Museum opened in 1912 as a teaching collection of plaster casts attached to Moscow University. It became Russia's main museum of foreign art after the redistribution of private collections in 1924. Key highlights include Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces — Monet, Degas, Renoir, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne from Shchukin and Morozov collections, Matisse, Picasso, and early Modernism.
How do I get tickets for Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts?
500 RUB standard admission Tickets are usually available on the day, but booking online saves queue time in peak season. Official site: https://pushkinmuseum.art/?lang=en
Are the Impressionist paintings in the same building?
No — the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection is in the Gallery of European and American Art at Volkhonka 14, a few minutes' walk from the main museum at Volkhonka 12. Buy a combined ticket for both. The Impressionist gallery is the highlight for most visitors.
How did Russia acquire these Impressionist masterpieces?
Sergei Shchukin and Ivan Morozov — two wealthy Moscow merchants — assembled world-class collections of French modern art before the Revolution. Both collections were nationalised in 1918 and eventually divided between the Pushkin Museum and the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg.
Is the plaster cast hall worth visiting?
Yes — the cast hall is a fascinating historical document of pre-revolutionary art education, with full-size replicas of the Parthenon frieze, Michelangelo's David, and Ghiberti's Baptistery doors. It takes 30 minutes and provides context for the Old Masters collection upstairs.
World Animal Rescue Network
Protect sea turtles
Sea turtles need safe nesting beaches and hatchling protection from pollution and illegal trade. Donations fund patrols, rescue, and release. Please consider a donation to support this work.
Enjoying our free guides? Support World Museum Guide — optional, and every guide stays free.