The gallery of Alexander Maksovich Shilov, an academician of painting, is an exclusive collection of the artist’s works, which he created with love and attention to people over the years of his creative life. When many works were accumulated, over three hundred and fifty, the painter in 1996 turned to the State Duma of the Russian Federation and offered his work as a gift to the Motherland.
Gallery Appearance
The Shilov Museum was opened in 1997 at Znamenka in d. 5. This building was built by architect E. E. Tyurin. After the artist transferred another 400 works, it was decided to increase the gallery area. Approaching the museum, the visitor begins to realize that he is entering the temple, where art reigns.
The entrance is decorated with symmetrical niches in which the statues stand. Doors are framed by two pyramidal arborvitae. Entering the spacious lobby, done in warm golden-pink tones, the guest, even without starting the inspection, is tuned in a sublime way. Columns, stucco molding, amazing typesetting floor - everything strikes at the entrance. Climbing the low wide marble staircase, you can start exploring the exposition. Even in order to inspect the interiors, it makes sense to visit the Shilov Museum. Not every day you find yourself in a magnificent palace.
Before you start traveling from painting to painting, we first get acquainted with the main stages of the artist’s life path.
Short biography of A. M. Shilov
Alexander Maksovich Shilov was born in cold, hungry, military Moscow in October of the 43rd year. At the age of fourteen, he began to study drawing and painting, having received a higher art education in 1973. Three years later, he was admitted to the Union of Artists. A keen artist was married several times. From his second wife he had a daughter, Mashenka, whom he trembled for. The child was seriously ill and died. The artist dreamed of seeing her as an adult beauty.
Here she could grow. Unfortunately, no money can help with serious illnesses. Portraits of your beloved daughter can be seen if you visit the Shilov Museum.
Characteristics of the artist
The works of A. M. Shilov are perceived ambiguously by all. He chose a work style called realism. This style of work is accessible to the perception of many people, especially since Alexander Shilov paints pictures with amazing textural authenticity. His velvet is really so soft that you want to stroke it, the satin glistens and shimmers, light translucent silk lays down in soft folds, transparent lace shines.
The color of his paintings is noble and modest. The master loves not only oil painting, but also pastel, the technical capabilities of which he perfectly mastered. His works should be looked at to make an independent conclusion, which is better: the “Black Square" by Malevich, which has been worn for almost a century, or the work of our contemporary. In Shilov's work, a portrait prevails, although, of course, there are still lifes and landscapes. His works are full of romance and the share of beauty and purity that is lacking in harsh everyday life. Unfortunately, we are busy with getting our daily bread, and we have no time to stop and look at the veteran's face. The artist allows us to freeze in front of portraits of not only statesmen, but next to ordinary old people and old women. On their faces - lived a difficult path. Take a look at one portrait that represents the Shilov Museum.
"Further silence"
Tired large hands, wrinkled noble face, fatigue in the whole pose. Slightly frayed lapels of a neat jacket, a modest cap on his knees. But once he was young, full of strength and hope. Time has taken everything.
Even if an elderly person is surrounded by a large family of loving people, he cannot help but wonder why he was given life, and what will happen after. “Are you not afraid of death? - asked the philosopher from his students. “So you didn't think about her.” Just the cry of the soul burst from the ancient poet when he asked God with the hope: "Is there life behind death?" He came up with a wonderful metaphor. The poet compared death to the Ganges, which flows into the vast ocean. If our small essence merges into something magnificent, then death is not terrible, it will not be. What was the old man thinking, leaning heavily on his wand, without which he could not do? All portraits make you think. Some - over the joy of the bride, another - over the pride of the veteran. They do not leave indifferent and turn something around in the soul of the viewer. But for this, the Shilov Gallery was created.
Still life
In a simple clay jug on a white linen tablecloth, a bright bouquet of pansies is set.
An even grayish-brownish background does not tear off from the contemplation of the plain, living just a day or two elegant flowers. A wonderful colorist made a wonderful bouquet that will live a long life and will please more than one generation of spectators.
Winter landscape
The portraits created by Alexander Maksovich Shilov are unusually good. But I want to say that the landscapes filled with love for the Motherland are magnificent in him.
The spring sun already makes you wake up, warming with your rays a corner of a snowy village. The bare tree branches have already turned green. The village was lost at the edge of the forest. Snow is melting, exposing last year's grass in some places. The sky turns blue brightly. Its reflections lie on the white snow of a meadow. On the roof of the shabby hut, he was almost gone. And behind it you can see the domes of the church shining in the sun , which has been standing here since ancient times. They spared her, and she is just as beautiful as she was two hundred years ago when she was placed in the whole world.
Controversial artist
Shilov is an artist who causes various disputes. They talk a lot about him, but it is best to make your own ideas about his work by visiting the Shilov Museum in Moscow. Only after seeing portraits of old people and old women, monks, monks and nuns, famous people of our country, landscapes of Russia at different times of the year, still lifes, you can say: “it sunk into my soul” or “I do not accept it”. It is never worthwhile to formulate an opinion with other people's, often partisan words, both good and negative.
How the museum works
Like most museums, it opens daily at eleven o'clock in the morning and closes at seven in the evening, except on Thursday, when the visiting day is extended to nine in the evening. Welcome, the Shilov Museum is waiting for you.