By Vestnik Kavkaza
Alexander Svatikov, the editor-in-chief of Russki Club Magazine, the former custodian of the Pushkin Memorial of the Smirnov House, spoke about the Tbilisi museum which was closed 5 years ago. The main collection of the memorial includes the family’s relics; but first of all this is a museum of Pushkin’s epoch.
Alexander Svatikov spoke about the collection of the museum, which was called “the miracle on Galaktioni Street”, and the role of Alexandra Smirnova-Rossette in Russian culture: “For several reasons, too many interests coincided in the center of Georgia, at 20 Galaktion Tabidze Street. This was the house of the Smirnov Family, three generations of them managed to preserve absolutely unique monuments of Russian and world culture. The presence of the monument in Georgia led to the fact that its collection included absolutely fantastic and unique products of the Georgian and Armenian cultures. There are very rare materials on Western Europe and the East. It was typical for any collection which stayed in Georgia at least for a short time, because it was a city which looked both to the West and to the East. But the basis of the collection was gathered by Alexandra Osipovna Smirnova-Rossettee, a friend of Pushkin, Lermontov, Khomyakov, Zhukovsky, a woman without whom the formation of the Russian literature of the 19th century would have been impossible. Even Dostoyevsky in his novel “Devils” mentioned Alexandra Osipovna. She had a very bright and interesting life, travelled all over Western Europe a lot. The best artists of the time drew her portraits. And the majority of the furniture and accessories of her literary salon, her best portraits appeared in the house, which appeared to be a cause for disputes.”
Despite the current situation, Svatikov hopes that soon the museum will open its doors to visitors: “As a result, the museum was closed to visitors 5 years ago. The staff, the people who preserved the precious materials in very difficult years when there were no alarms, no guard, when they were not paid a salary at all, as reorganizations took place all the time (we were shifted to the Ministry of Culture, then to the Cultural Department of Tbilisi City Hall) and for 6 months we were not paid at all. We preserved the unique collection at a heavy cost, but we turned up in front of a closed door which we couldn't open. However, life goes on. We hope that sooner or later the Smirnov Museum will open its doors. Moreover, there was an order which was signed by the President in 2010. But the Ministry of Culture is splitting the cause. We are waiting for a moment when we have an opportunity not only to lay flowers at the Pushkin Monument on his birthday, but also to visit the house, to feel the undying connection between the Russian and Georgian cultures which take form in material things.”
