The State Museum-Institute of the Roerichs Family

Since 2003, the Roerich Museum and Institute has occupied a mansion that once belonged to the famous artist and collector Mikhail Botkin. The building was built by architect Jean-Baptiste Alexandre Leblon in the 1720s in collaboration with Domenic Andrea Trezzini. In 1883, the premises were acquired by M. Botkin, and according to his intention, architect Bruni created an attic and made changes to the design of the facade and interior. The building was visited by many figures of Russian culture, including Nikolai Lerikh, who lived in it with Botkin for more than 18 years. The mansion had a unique collection and was known to the residents of St. Petersburg at that time as the "House Museum". Mikhail Botkin, an academician of historical painting, art critic and collector, traveled to Germany, France, Italy and St. Petersburg, acquiring art objects. The villa's interior, reminiscent of an Italian Renaissance palace, served as a backdrop for works of art. The main decorative elements included fireplaces and majolica paneling, grotesquely carved doors and shutters.