# Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts — Moscow, Russia

> 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.

## Visitor facts
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Closed Mondays)
- Admission: 500 RUB standard admission
- Address: Volkhonka St, 12, Moscow, 119019
- Time needed: 3–4 hours
- Official website: https://pushkinmuseum.art/?lang=en
- Facts verified: 2026-06-30

## Highlights
- Blue Dancers — Edgar Degas · c. 1899
- Self-Portrait — Vincent van Gogh · 1887
- Tahitian Pastorals — Paul Gauguin · 1892
- Dance — Henri Matisse · 1910
- Dead Christ Supported by Angels — Caravaggio · c. 1602–1604

## FAQ
**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.


Source: https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/pushkin-museum/ — World Museum Guide, independent and ad-free.