Part of the complex that makes up the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Private Collections is an extraordinary sample of antique and contemporary art collected by individuals and seized by the state during the Soviet era.
The museum was the brainchild of art collector and historian IlyaZilbershtein who wanted an exhibition space that would display the Western fine art and Russian art from 12 private collections that date from the 16 th century to the 20 th century.
The Museum of Private Collections opened to the public in 1985 in a 19 th century mansion in the centre of Moscow. Its exhibits are organised around each collection with the details of the collectors and owners revealing some of the history of each piece.
More than 2,000 rare graphic art and paintings came from founder Zilbershtein's own collection.
The permanent exhibition on the ground floor is an eye-opening introduction to the museum - it features several Salvador Dali creations, including pen and wash drawings from the series Mythology and the Hippies, along with works by Henri Matisse and personal effects of both painters.
The gallery's third floor is devoted to Russian art until the 19 th century. Look for rare art works by the likes of Boris Kustodiev and Alexander Benois from the 16 th and 17 th centuries, including Benois' set designs created for ballet productions during the golden age of Russian ballet.
The 19 th century artists Ilya Repin and Vasily Polonev are also represented and there are Old Believer icons from the 16 th and 17 th century, with enthralling portraits of the Decembrists - the Army officers who led a revolt in 1825 - that were drawn during their Siberian exile.
Other major art works include poems written by Pushkin and works by Mikhail Klodt, the master of 19 th century Russian landscape painting.
The fourth floor is given over to 20 th century art. Here you'll find still lifes by Robert Falk and pastels drawn by the concert pianist Svatoslav Richter. And two whole rooms are devoted to husband and wife Alexander Rodchenko and VarvaraStepanova. A pioneer of photo-collage, constructivist artist Rodchenko is considered a master of the genre and the museum displays paintings and furniture created by him. Stepanova's retro textile designs remain stylishly appealing as does the red and black chess table she made for a workers' club.
Arguably the greatest pieces in the Museum of Private Collections are paintings by Russian masters such as Goncharova, Serov and Vrubel.
Indeed, the entire collection is a visible demonstration of the Russian love of art and the Russian eye for beautiful pieces.
The museum regularly hosts one-off exhibitions - recent examples include a collection of antique glass, still lifes by Russian "Wanderer" artists and engravings from the collection of the Norwegian ambassador.
The Museum of Private Collections remains one of the most unusual art galleries in Moscow, not least because of the eclectic nature of the collection. Its proximity to the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts makes it an easy stop for visitors.
