On April 18, a presentation of the album “Through the Halls of the Horse Breeding Museum” took place – the first large-scale publication dedicated to the collection of the Scientific and Artistic Museum of Horse Breeding.

The publication of the edition took place thanks to the assistance of philanthropist Ekaterina Pavlovna Borodina and the Otchiy Dom Charitable Foundation, becoming a significant phenomenon in cultural life and the scientific community.

Artistic Chronicle of Horse Breeding: A Museum at the Crossroads of Science, History and Art

The Museum of Horse Breeding at the Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev is a unique scientific and artistic collection. Its collection, formed at the intersection of hippology, art and national history, serves as valuable material for both researchers in the field of animal husbandry and for specialists in the field of culture, museum affairs, as well as people passionate about the development of horse breeding. Attention to aesthetics, zootechnics and historical traditions of the horse world makes the collection not just an educational base, but a living cultural monument.

The core of the collection was laid at the beginning of the 20th century by Yakov Ivanovich Butovich, the owner of the Prilep stud farm, who assembled the world's largest private gallery dedicated to horses. This collection formed the basis of what is today the Horse Breeding Museum. It contains exceptional examples of fine and applied art dedicated to the role of the horse in the life of the state, army, agriculture and culture.

How the album was created

The catalogue includes dozens of popular science articles and a large number of illustrations reflecting the wealth of the museum's collections. The exhibits included in the publication give an idea not only of the development of hippology, but also of the evolution of the image of the horse in Russian culture.

The materials for the publication were prepared on the basis of the author's texts by the head of the museum department, an expert in the field of horse breeding Yu. N. Kuznetsova. The introductory article was written by the museum restorer O. V. Krupoderova. The director of the museum O. V. Krupoderova and the bibliographers Yu. B. Lopatina and I. I. Bondarenko worked on editing and selecting sources.

The idea of creating the album found support and development thanks to Ekaterina Pavlovna Borodina, a patron and collector who actively participates in charitable initiatives related to medicine, culture and the social sphere. Her involvement in the project is due not only to her interest in this topic, but also to her family history associated with her cavalry past.

Key works of the collection

One of the central exhibits of the catalogue is the portrait of the Orlov trotter "Flying" by Valentin Serov (1886). This work attracts attention with its psychological insight and non-standard composition. The horse is depicted not in profile, as is usually the case in exterior portraits, but in three-quarters. This creates an emphasis on its character and internal tension.

No less expressive is Franz Bartolomeo's "Horse's Head" - an image emerging from the shadows through a window in the wall of a stable. The painting, dating from the late 18th century, has an unusual composition and origin: it was part of the collection of Count Orlov-Chesmensky.

Also among the most memorable exhibits of the collection are the sculptures of the horses of the Russian emperors: Faust, who belonged to Alexander II, and a mare named Kob, the favorite horse of Alexander III. Little is known about Faust: the chestnut gelding of the Western European half-blood breed was calm and hardy - qualities important for the horse of a monarch who was not known for his skillful riding. The Kob breed was widespread in Russia due to its endurance, confident gait and calm disposition. Emperor Alexander III preferred exactly such horses: strong, balanced, reliable. There were many Kobs in the court stable, and without bothering to choose nicknames, they were simply called: "Kob No. 1", "Kob No. 2" and so on. Both images - Faust and Kob - became part of the artistic chronicle of the imperial era, preserved in the museum collection.

A special place in the collection is occupied by the sculpture "Zadorny on the move in a racing droshky with a rider". It depicts one of the most titled trotters of the 19th century - the light gray stallion "Zadorny", famous for his victories at Moscow hippodromes, including the Imperial Prize. The work of an unknown author conveys the dynamics of movement and the special interaction between the horse and rider - in the spirit of the Russian tradition. There is no violence here - only the rapid movement and internal energy of the trotter, who, as V.I. Koptev noted, "flew forward by his own noble zeal", without coercion from man.

Presentation of the catalogue

The presentation of the album took place within the walls of the university. According to the participants of the presentation, the release of the catalogue was a step towards a wider readership. The publication not only opens the museum halls, but also makes them accessible to researchers and all those interested in the connection between art and horse breeding. The catalogue attracts attention to the museum, actualizes the topic of horse breeding as part of the cultural and scientific heritage of Russia, and expands the understanding of the role of the horse in the history of the state and art.

Ekaterina Pavlovna Borodina's participation in the publication of the album was an important contribution to the development of the museum. Thanks to her support, the collection has acquired a modern, visually convincing and scientifically significant embodiment that can inspire a new generation of researchers and artists.

Ekaterina Pavlovna shared: "For me, the publication of the album is a story of small deeds. I sincerely hope that my contribution will inspire other people to support culture, art, history. After all, this is the power of memory and strength of spirit."

The new album is an invitation not only to read, but also to visit the museum itself. And its collection is a dialogue with the past, made possible by the efforts of people who care about culture, history and living knowledge.

Read us on Telegram , VKontakte and Odnoklassniki