Exhibition of the M. Y. Lermontov Museum

About exhibition

The museum, founded in 1912, is dedicated to the memory of the great Russian poet and officer M. Y. Lermontov. It is one of the earliest literary-memorial museums in Russia, established in the house where the poet spent the last months of his life and wrote his final poems. Today the museum consists of several departments located in four historic manor houses of Pyatigorsk. The literary department is housed in a historic building—the former home of General P. S. Verzilin. In the summer of 1841 M. Y. Lermontov often visited here. It was on the doorstep of this house that the duel took place which proved fatal for the poet. Today one can see his original painting 'Krestovaya Gora', as well as works by other artists, rare book editions and 19th-century household items that recreate the atmosphere of that time. The memorial department of the museum is called 'Lermontov's Cottage'. This annex, situated on Nagornaya Street at the outskirts of town, has retained its original appearance. The interior of the cottage is modest and exactly corresponds to what it was during the poet's lifetime. The rooms display his authentic belongings, watercolor drawings created by him, and household items from the 19th century. The exhibition of the third department, 'Lermontov in Visual Arts', presents the best the museum has to offer, from classical 19th-century works to contemporary pieces: painting, graphic art, sculpture, and elegant items of Russian aristocratic domestic life. The final department of the museum is 'Alyabyev's House'. It is located within the Lermontov memorial quarter and was opened in 1997. In 1832 the famous Russian composer A. A. Alyabyev rented an apartment in this very house, which at the time belonged to Madame Karabutova, while he was convalescing in Pyatigorsk.