General M.P. Stepanov and Establishment of Museum of Fine Arts Named after Emperor Alexander III

This study investigates various aspects related to the formation of one of Russia's most important modern museums — the State Museum of Fine Arts named after A.S. Pushkin in Moscow, originally known as the Museum of Fine Arts named after Emperor Alexander III before the Revolution. It specifically examines General M.P. Stepanov’s involvement in creating this museum under the patronage of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich. The research draws on extensive correspondence between key figures such as I.V. Tsvetaev and Y.S. Nekhaev-Maltsev, along with diaries of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich and other archival materials. For the first time, it highlights previously unexplored contributions made by M.P. Stepanov during two distinct periods: from 1897 to 1905 while Grand Duke Sergei was alive, and then again from 1905 until 1912 following his assassination up through the official opening of the museum. This analysis reveals specific characteristics of Stepanov's activities within the Committee responsible for establishing the museum at each stage. Ultimately, it concludes that Stepanov played a pivotal role in ensuring the successful establishment of the institution.

1. Baranov, A. N. (2015). Grand Duke Sergiy Alexandrovich and the Museum of Fine Arts. In: Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich in the service of Moscow and the Fatherland: collection of materials. The interregion. Scientific conference, May 29—30, 2013. Moscow: Soyuz Design. 164—174. ISBN 978-5-000160-13-8. (In Russ.).

2. Butova, R. B. (2023). Service to the grave: to the 170th anniversary of M. P. Stepanov. Orthodox Palestinian Collection, 121: 181—198. (In Russ.).

3. Cherkasskaya, N. A., Sofin, D. M., Sofina, M. V. (2024). Mikhail Petrovich Stepanov: entering the inner circle of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich. Christianity in the Middle East, 8 (4): 73—97. DOI: 10.24412/2587-9316-2024-0210. (In Russ.).

4. Demskaya, A. A. (1979). Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts. Moscow: Iskusstvo Publ. 239 p. (In Russ.).

5. Demskaya, A. A. (1983). Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts. Moscow: Iskusstvo. 239 p. (In Russ.).

6. Demskaya, A. A., Smirnova, L. M. (1982). Museum on Volkhonka. Moscow: Moskovsky Rabochy Publ. 49 p. (In Russ.).

7. Gromov, A. V. (ed.). (2016). Moscow — The Holy Land of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich and Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna: exhibition catalog. Moscow: Soyuz Design Publ. 336 p. ISBN 978-5-00016-020-6. (In Russ.).

8. Gromov, A. V. (ed.). (2017). The Grand Duke’s Cross: on the 160th anniversary of the birth of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, 1857—2017. Moscow: Union Design, ESPOO Foundation. 226 p. (In Russ.).

9. Gromova, A. V. (2020). Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich and the beginning of the Russian Troubles of 1905—1907. Orthodox Palestinian Collection, 118: 17—38. (In Russ.).

10. Lisovoy, N. N. (2005). From the history of the leadership of the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society: four Secretaries (M. P. Stepanov — V. N. Khitrovo — A. P. Belyaev — A. A. Dmitrievsky). Orthodox Palestinian Collection, 102: 6—35. (In Russ.).

11. Lisovoy, N. N., Zhitenev, S. Y. (2022). Stepanov, Mikhail Petrovich. In: Encyclopedia of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society: 1882—2022. dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the IOPS. Moscow: Indrik. P. 812. ISBN 978-5-91674-671-6. (In Russ.).

12. Mikityuk, V. P. (2025). Public figure Mikhail Petrovich Stepanov (aspects of historiography). Orthodox Palestinian Collection, 124: 156—165. (In Russ.).

13. Plotnikova, I. V. (2018). Introduction <to the materials of 1898>. In: Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich Romanov: biographical materials, 5. Moscow: Novospassky Monastery. 430—438. ISBN 978-5-87389-085-9. (In Russ.).

14. Romanova, D. Ya. (2020). The year of memory of Grand Duke Sergius Alexandrovich: the cultural and historical heritage of the Grand ducal couple. In: The Holy Land in the Slavic-Russian tradition: collection of articles, 4. Moscow: Kosygin Russian State University of Economics (Technologies. Design. Art). 83—88. ISBN 978-5-87055-993-3. (In Russ.).

15. Sorokin, A. A., Sofjin, D. M., Sofjina, M. V. (2025). Establishment of Orthodox Palestine Society and Activities of M. P. Stepanov (1881—1883). Nauchnyi dialog, 14 (1): 530—546. https://doi.org/10.24224/2227-1295-2025-14-1-530-546. (In Russ.).