Английский язык. Хрестоматия по чтению специальных текстов «Famous World Museums» для студентов 1-2 курсов специальности 070503 «Музейное дело» дневно

The museum holds thousands of priceless works of art from 1848 and earlier. These works belong to the genius of Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Poussin, Rubens and other. Of course, the most famous painting of all is Leonardo da Vinci's2 Mona Lisa. The other famous treasures include the

Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

1.Renaissance style – Эпоха возрождения в 16 веке.

2.Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) – родился в Италии, архитектор, скульптор, писатель и художник.

HERMITAGE

St. Petersburg, Russia

The Hermitage was founded in 1764, during the reign of Catherine II. She was the one who gave the name to the museum. However, the word «hermitage» itself means «park pavilion». In the beginning of its history the museum was evocated in the premises of the Winter Palace. The collections of the museum grew so rapidly, that is was decided to build additional buildings. There are five buildings in all. It should be noted that not everybody had access to the vast museum collections. Only in the middle of the 19th century the situation changed and the museum became public.

Russian emperors and empresses, as well as ambassadors, scientists, and simply connoisseurs of art bought many objects and paintings and then gifted them to the museum. Many objects were acquired through gifts from artists and collectors. Even a special Purchase Committee was set up at the Hermitage to make the museum collections vaster.

The museum consists of six departments: Antiquities, History of Ancient Culture, Eastern Art, History of Russian Culture, Western Art, and the Department of Numismatics (the collection of coins, orders, medals, and lockets). The overall number of the Hermitage halls exceeds three hundred, while the total number of all exhibits is over three million.

The Hermitage is a world famous museum, especially known for its unique collection of ancient culture, and gold pieces of art, dating 7000 B.C. The museum's pieces are clothes decorations and bracelets which belonged to the tribes that inhabited Eurasia thousands of years ago. There are also objects made from precious metals, wooden and clay objects: kitchen utensils, jewelry, clothes, footwear, carpets. Most of them were found in family vaults

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of the nobles – rich chieftains of nomad tribes. The bronze figures are decorated with images of birds and animals, as well as with religious symbols, fantastic signs and creatures.

Due to these fine examples it is possible to learn about life styles and clothes that warriors and common people wore during those eras. It is also possible to learn about the arms they had: swords, shields, shirts of mail, daggers, knives, maces, and axes.

TRETYAKOV GALLERY

Moscow, Russia

The State Tretyakov Gallery is the greatest treasury of Russian Art. It holds over 60,000 pieces of art, etchings, and sculpture.

The history of the gallery started in 1856 when Pavel Michailovich Tretyakov (1832-1898), the Russian merchant and a sincere connoisseur of Russian Art, purchased first pieces of art – the works of outstanding Russian artists. His brother Sergei was also a connoisseur and collected works of western painters. It became the goal of the brothers' life to set up a gallery open to the general public. They had an opportunity to travel around the country and abroad, thus acquiring the best works. Even if the artist wasn't famous, but talented, the Tretyakovs would purchase his painting. They purchased works of unknown or forgotten masters, trying to collect works that could represent different trends.

Especially valuable is the collection of portraits of the Russian people who played an important role in the history of the country: composers, writers, and scientists. At first, Tretyakov's collection was located in his house. Soon he built adjacent premises to store the newly purchased works. In these premises the collection was partly opened to the public. In 1892 the vast collection of over than two thousand pieces was gifted to the city of Moscow.

The gallery continued to grow and became one of the important centers of research, maintenance, and restoration in the sphere of art. Nowadays the gallery reflects the history of Russian Art and is closely connected to the modern trends. It has been the source of creative ideas for many generations of Russian artists. The works represented at the gallery include works by Repin, Vasnetsov, Serov, Levitan, Kramskoi and many others.

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The fact of organizing such a gallery can be compared to committing a great deed. For sure, Pavel and Sergei Tretyakov will be always remembered and honored. And their gallery itself aided the preservation of numerous works of art and the revival of interest in history.

MUSEO DEL PRADO

Madrid,Spain

The Museo del Prado was established in 1818 as a museum of paintings and sculpture. The building of the museum is built in a neoclassical style, while the word «Prado» means «Meadow» in Spanish and refers to the area in Madrid.

Special attention to the museum's collections was attracted during the reign of Charles III. At that time one of the museum's buildings was constructed. Different collections of drawings, coins and medals, prints, sculpture, and sculptural fragments were brought to the museum. However, during the reign of Ferdinand VII the museum's building was used as headquarters for the Napoleonic troops based in Madrid during the War of Independence.

One of the main promenade entrances to the Museo del Prado is dominated by the bronze statue of Diego Velazquez. This outstanding Spanish master provided the museum with his own fine works, among which is Las Melinas.

The museum features the superb collections of European Art from the 14th century through the early 19th century. The museum's gallery consists of over 8,000 paintings by excellent masters such as Francisco Goya, El Greco1, Raphael2, Rembrandt, Rubens and many others.

During the Spanish Civil War and World War II the museum's collections were removed to Geneva. After the war, the building's space became small for the vast collections. So, it was decided to add more buildings.

Nowadays the Museo del Prado is a true symbol of Madrid.

1.El Greco (1541-1614) – Эль Греко, испанский архитектор, скульптур и художник, иллюстратор многих легенд.

2.Raphael (1483-1570) – Рафаэль, итальянский художник.

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ROYAL MUSEUMS OF FINE ARTS OF BELGIUM

Brussels, Belgium

The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium are located in Brussels, and include the Museum of Ancient Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Antoine Wiertz Museum, and the Constantin Meunier Museum. There are over fifty rooms containing works from the 15th to the 19th centuries, as well as ancient and modern paintings, sculptures, and drawings.

The name of the museum changed several times during its history. The former name was the Museum of Brussels.

The museum was created in 1801 on the basis of the collection gathered during 1794-1800.In 1803 the museum was officially opened with the publication of its first catalogue. In 1927 the museum was given its present name. The same year the Van Gogh1 eye-catching exhibition was organized at the museums.

The Museum of Ancient Art is known for its marvelous collections of paintings of the numerous artistic movements as well as of foreign schools.

The Museum of Modem Art houses collections from the 19th century. Paintings are arranged on a thematic and chronological basis or grouped together according to the time of creation.

The Antoine Wiertz Museum became part of the institution in 1868, and is devoted to Antoine Wiertz – a key artistic figure of the Belgian Romantic movement. Wiertz' works are considered by some specialists spectacular, but at the same time – controversial. Still, Belgian art of the 19th century enhanced by Wiertz' paintings, portraits and self-portraits, sculptures and drawings. His works include the Greeks and the Troyens Claiming the Body of Patrocles.

The Constantin Meunier Museum is devoted to Constants Meunier – the talented and internationally known Belgian artist. There are over 150 works, including paintings, drawings and sculpture created in the end of the 19th century and devoted to realities of life in Belgium.

1.Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) – Винсент Ван Гог, голландский художник.

SWEDISH MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

Stockholm,Sweden

The collections of the Swedish Museum of Natural History are devoted to human biology and natural environment, and represent one of the largest

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natural history collections in the world. The museum maintains collections available for the general public. It also supports and carries out research and informational activities, which help to increase people's understanding of nature and its diversity.

The various departments of the museum are devoted to botany, zoology, paleontology, and geology.

Botany is the scientific study of plants. These collections of the museum contain millions of many type specimens and unique samples from different areas of the world.

Zoology is the scientific study of animals. These collections contain a great number of identified specimens from small spiders to giant whales, from different fishes and reptiles to birds and molluscs. It should be mentioned that the collections contain not the live creatures, but their skins, skeletons, feathers and bones, and blood and tissue samples. New specimens are collected annually on land, in lakes and seas, and are stored in special Specimen Bank.

Paleontology is the scientific study of the Earth's cover. These collections contain sedimentary rocks, fossils, remains of organisms that lived on the Earth millions years ago.

By studying these paleontologic samples it is possible to reconstruct the life on the Earth and record the process of evolution of our environment. Geology is the scientific study of building of mountains, formation of minerals and rocks. Many exhibits are devoted to quartz – the Earth's most common mineral.

There are eight permanent exhibitions which tell about life in water, marvels of the human body, Polar Regions of the Earth, climate and other treasures of our planet. The work of the museum helps greatly those species which are under threat of extinction.

NATIONAL ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Athens, Greece

The National Archeological Museum is devoted to Ancient Greek Art. The construction of the museum began in 1866 and lasted over twenty years. The museum's building was reconstructed and enlarged several times, up until the middle of the 20th century.

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The period of Ancient Greek Art began when ancient Greek civilization developed its form of a written language. Ancient Greek Art has its unique and characteristic style: it is devoted to human physical form and shows human beauty and musculature, as well as poise and proportions. Scientists from other countries of the world proclaim that Greek civilization has greatly influenced other cultures.

The museum contains the following permanent collections: the Prehistoric Collection, the Collection of Sculpture, Pottery and Minor Art Collection, the Collection of Bronzes, and the Collection of Egyptian Art.

The Prehistoric Collection contains different figures of men and women, made of clay, granite, marble, sandstone, and other materials. The figures represent laymen, athletes, deities or gods, and are dated as early as 5,000 B.C. We learn about their style in clothes, decorations, as well as about how they entertained themselves. There are also daggers, vases, golden cups, jugs, goblets, jars to carry wine and water, scent bottles to store aroma oils, special boxes to store drop earrings, necklaces, earrings, and other things used in ancient ceremonial processions and representing true masterpieces of stonework, metal work and what not. There are also portrait masks and decorations for chariots. The works depict the landscapes of Greece, hunting scenes, bull-chasing, chariots, harvesting, as well as scenes of lions seizing antelopes. Many scenes are devoted to Heracles and his 12 deeds, and Greek gods: Zeus, Poseidon, Hermes, Eros, Pan, Aphrodite and others.

The collection of Egyptian Art is devoted to pharaohs and Egyptian gods. It is also an important component of the museum's collection. The other items of the museum are made of wood, stone, bronze, silver and gold, and were found in graves and tombs, and in the waters near the shores of Greece.

SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM

Cape Town, South Africa

The South African Museum was established by Lord Charles Somerset, the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, in 1825. It is one of Cape Town's major tourist attractions: there are vast collections of natural history as well as a modern planetarium. The exhibitions of the museum are mostly devoted to the natural history, biology, and culture of South Africa.

The staffs of the museum are outstanding biologists, biographers, ecologists, paleontologists, archeologists, ethnographers, and marine scientists.

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They do a lot of field work: catch samples of insects, fishes, and other species of animals. The museum's collections include the collection of insects (butterflies, beetles, and flies), the collection of fossils, the collection of marine fauna and flora, and the collection on the indigenous population of Africa.

The items of the collection of fossils are almost seven hundred million years old. There are also skeletons of dinosaurs and reptiles which lived on the ancient South African territory over 250 million years ago.

The collection of marine fauna of the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans includes excellent plankton samples, molluscs, crabs and lobsters, squids and octopuses, sharks and seals.

To sum it up, the South African Museum is the country's very important scientific institution, which preserves its traditions and history.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRELAND

Dublin, Ireland

The National Museum of Ireland consists of four museum buildings, devoted to Decorative Arts and History, Archaeology and History, National History, and Country Life. All temporary and permanent exhibitions have the strongest emphasis on Ireland's history, culture, and art. And the buildings of the museum demonstrate the best Irish design and construction.

The Museum of Decorative Arts and History has ethnographical collection with costume and clothing, coins and furniture, weapons, objects made of glass, ceramics, and porcelain. Some of the items are so rare that they are found nowhere else in the world.

The Museum of Archeology and History contains early Christian treasures, gold ornaments and jewelry of the Bronze Age, ethnographical, classical, and Egyptian collections. There are also collections of artifacts from Viking and Medieval Ireland, and historical exhibitions which tell about different events in history.

The Museum of Natural History contains skeletons of animals from every corner of the globe, minerals and plants. The museum's zoological and geological collections are the real treasury of Ireland's heritage. They are extremely significant in the world of science.

The Museum of Country Life houses collections of folk life. The collections exhibit the lives of people in rural Ireland in the period from 1850

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to 1950. There are ploughs, kitchen utensils, items made of wood and metal, furniture, fishing and hunting objects and others.

EGYPTIAN MUSEUM

Cairo, Egypt

The Egyptian Museum was established in 1835. The present building of the museum was built in 1900. The building was built in neoclassical style by the French architect Marcel Dourgnon. The museum was founded to gather artifacts from numerous archeological sites. At present the museum holds over 120,000 objects which are in permanent display. There is also a great number of items which are in museum's store rooms.

The Egyptian Museum tells its visitors about the life style of the Egyptians: their beliefs about the immortality of a human soul, military and economic activities with neighbors of Egypt, administrative system, art styles, and even the battles for the throne of Egypt.

There are sculptures, monuments, papyruses, statues, wooden figures, furniture, games, architectural decorations, found on the facades of royal palaces, written documents, jewelry, and different equipment found in the tombs and temples of Egyptian kings and queens of different dynasties. All the items are samples of beauty and fascinating nature of ancient treasures.

Everyone who visits the museum learns about the Egyptian gods and deities, and Pharaonic eras which include Prehistoric Period, Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom, and Late Period. There are all in all thirtyone dynasties. By studying the museum's exhibits, egyptologists (scientists studying Ancient Egypt) learn about the life of Egyptians along the river Nile in Luxor, Giza, Memphis, about Egyptian high priests, cults, the processes of mummification and clothing, about various beads, necklaces and amulets known for their protective powers.

TOKYO NATIONAL MUSEUM

Tokyo,Japan

The Tokyo National Museum was opened in 1872 and became the first museum in Japan.

The museum's collection comprises arts and archeological objects with a focus on Japan. However, there are also historical documents and exhibits of textile, painting and calligraphy from East Asia as well as other parts of Asia.

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There are five exhibition buildings altogether which house both basic regular exhibitions and special exhibitions. Regular exhibitions are held on the regular basis, while special exhibitions change during the year and are devoted to various themes. Special exhibitions are held for a short period of time – for a month or two. The museum consists of Japanese Gallery, Asian Gallery, and the Gallery of Treasures of the Buddhist Horyuji temple, the treasures of which were donated to the Imperial family. There are also outdoor exhibits devoted to various periods in the Japanese history. The scenes represented on the museum objects are about religion, love, battles, as well as daily life: landscapes with mountains, trees, houses of peasants. The decoration with fantastic creatures is also quite common. The dishes and jugs represented at the museum are known for different patterns, and asymmetric compositions with plants, birds, and animals. In the front yard of the main building there is a tulip tree which is over a hundred years old. It blossoms in late spring-early summer with yellow tulip flowers, and is a symbol of the museum.

The museum is home to over 100,000 items, including national treasures and important cultural properties. There are Japanese costumes, cherry blossoms, Japanese boats and ships, Japanese dolls, objects made of paper, textile, wood, ceramics, and bronze. One can also see classical books and historical documents, ancient manuscripts and objects of fine and applied arts, calligraphy, and Japanese architecture. Visitors may learn about the samurais (the word means «one who serves») – the warrior class which dominated in Japanese history for over seven hundred years. The samurai warriors lived by a code of honor. They wore a kimono and two swords. Their job was to stay in fighting form and to defend the emperor.

INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT MUSEUM

Geneva, Switzerland

This museum is a true reminder of the universal nature of humanity. It is devoted to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which started in Geneva in 1863, arising from the idea of Henry Dunant. Since then the Movement sets three aims: to relieve, to assist, and to protect. It protects civil rights and human dignity, health and safety. In fact, the Red Cross is the world's first humanitarian organization.

The construction of the museum began in 1985, when the first ladies of the Soviet Union and the USA – Raisa Gorbatcheva and Nancy Reagan – laid

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the first stone. The museum was opened three years later. At the entrance hall of the museum the following words are engraved: «Everyone is responsible to everyone for everything».

The museum exhibitions use audiovisual technology, and are devoted to people who placed themselves in the service of mankind and who help notwithstanding the nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. The exhibits include over fifteen thousand photographs, films, writings, posters, and objects which show how the organization helps people in case of war conflicts and natural disasters.

There are also original documents, symbols of international humanitarian law. Visitors can watch special educating movies which with special sound and light tell about disaster relief, social-welfare programs, aid for mine victims, action on behalf of prisoners, restoring family ties, health care and first aid, assistance to poor children and fight against threats to public health.

Especially valuable are exhibits of post stamps and medals gathered by volunteers and specialists from as many as two hundred countries!

Specialists of the museum offer public lectures on humanitarian issues, basic principles and values of international humanitarian law. They teach that problems can be solved if there is human solidarity and respect for human dignity.

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS MUSEUM

Copenhagen, Denmark

The Guinness World Records Book is a best-selling reference book on world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world. The idea of publishing such a reference book belongs to Sir Hugh Beaver, who worked at the Guinness Brewery in Ireland. During a shooting party in 1951 he became involved in an argument about the fastest game bird in Europe. Unfortunately, there wasn't a man that could confirm the answer to this question. So, Beaver realized that it would be great to develop a book which could provide reliable answers to ail sorts of questions.

So, Beaver's idea of developing the book became a reality when the task was given to brothers Norris and Ross McWhirter who owned a fact-finding agency in London. The first edition of the book was printed in 1954 and became a best-seller. Since that time the book is being published annually. It

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