The house at № 2 / 6 on the street of Spiridonovka remarkable in itself is a striking example of early modern architecture. Once it was the part of the estate; it was built in the early twentieth century by the architect F. O. Shekhtel. The old wing is closely linked with the name of another person – the writer Alexei Tolstoy. Tolstoy has been living in the house on Spiridonovka from 1941 to 1945, until his death. Here he has working on the third book of the novel “Peter I”, finished the novel “the Ordeal”, a cycle of short Stories by Ivan Sugareva,” wrote military articles.
The house is fully preserved environment of the Cabinet, living room and hallway. In the decoration of the rooms felt very “soul master”. In the office very much influence “of Peter’s theme”: here you can see the portraits of Peter the Great, Catherine I, Hetman Danylo Apostol, painting with images of sailing frigates, the cast of lifetime mask of Peter the great, pisarska ink, the candlestick, the ship’s watch. All these things gave the writer the opportunity to immerse yourself in the era, to feel the connection of times. In the hallway, bookcases, is the working library of the works of Russian and foreign classics, Soviet writers, books on art, folklore, Russian and world history, literature about the epoch of Ivan the terrible, Peter the Great civil war. Many books keep notes of the writer.
Interior – antique furniture, paintings, lamps, porcelain – was picked by the owner of the house, who loved things which bear the stamp of history.
In his house Tolstoy often has received guests. Living remembers such visitors as K. Chukovsky, I. Ehrenburg, I. Andronikov, A. Twardowski, P. Korin I. Moskvin, V. Kachalov, S. Mikhoels, I. Kozlovsky, P. Kapitsa, Ulanova, and many other figures of art, literature, science.
The house on Spiridonovka has become a Museum in 1987. The Museum remains the same hospitable home, which was when Alexei Tolstoy. Within its walls are literary evenings, meeting contemporary artists and writers. Welcome here and regular visitors, which the Museum offers several tour themes.
Sightseeing tour introduces visitors to the memorial apartment – with its unique collection of furniture of the XVIII – XIX centuries, objects of applied art of the XVII – XVIII centuries and painting of the XVII – XIX century. The tour, entitled “the history of the novel A. N. Tolstoy “Peter” tells about the incarnation grandiose creative idea on paper – in the walls of the mansion on Spiridonovka.
