Valery Brusov's Manuscripts
Handwritten notes: a unique collection of Valery Brusov's original manuscripts stored at the Brusov Centre Holdings
By Brusov Museum
Valery Brusov museum presents
Brusov Museum has an incredible collection of Valery Brusov’s manuscripts, drawings, drafts, handwritten maps, appliques, teenage papers and other valuable content presented to Brusov State University by the Brusov family.
The center possesses almost all of the intravital and modern editions of Brusov’s works, many of which are considered to be bibliographic rarity.
Brusov Science Center and Brusov Museum also include previously unpublished manuscripts by Valery Brusov. The unpublished materials are periodically published in Brusov Readings, a collection of academic articles.
Valery Brusov Museum also houses the editions of the works by the Russian poets and writers of the Silver Age of the Russian literature, in part, Andrey Bely, Konstantin Balmont, Igor Severyanin, Leonid Andreev, and many others.
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Brusov State University
Main Entrance
Yerevan Brusov State University of Languages and Social Sciences (1967)Brusov Museum
Main Entrance to Brusov University
A monument to Valery Brusov by Ara Sargsyan, a prominent Armenian sculptor, decorates the main entrance to Brusov University
PAINTINGS
Valery Brusov made initial sketches for his «The Fiery Angel» novel. He researched the XVI century German fashion endeavoring to recreate the lifestyle of the XVI century. Brusov found the costumes in «Fr.Hossenroth. Deutsche Volkstrachten». Frankfurt, 1900, t. 1. Ioanna Brusova, Valery Brusov's spouse, was also good at drawing. In particular, she authored the original tea set.
Valery Brusov made initial sketches for The Fiery Angel, his original novel. He researched the XVI century German fashion endeavoring to recreate the lifestyle of the XVI century. Johanna Brusova, his spouse, also enjoyed painting.
Sketches
MAPS
Holland (1882) by Valery BrusovBrusov Museum
Map of Holland
Valery Brusov compiled a map of Holland, Germany, Belgium in various historical periods. In part, before Caesar (90-80 BC), during the reign of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, during French revolution, etc.
I would like to mention one more name. It is Vipper. A nice and kind old man who taught us geography. He brought us drawings, read books and his own verses. We all, with the exception of the most inveterate pupils, loved him, we learned a lot. We knew about Lhasa, how many feet there are in Mount St. Elias, the climate of New Zealand. I would never learn geography, but it is the only school subject I remember (An excerpt, «From My Life» by Valery Brusov)
So much to find out about - Ancient Egypt, India, Maya civilization, Atlantis legend, amazing life of Modern East, medicine, self-knowledge, contemplations of new philosophers, and whatever I know about them comes from second or third-hand sources... (An excerpt from «Miscellanea» by Valery Brusov)
Valery Brusov also compiled maps of Italy and made explanations concerning the relevant time periods.
Brusov’s geography teacher, Yuri Vipper (1824-1891), enlivened their geography lessons. His lectures were enchanting trips to the unknown countries. Brusov’s love for geography was expressed in his handwritten maps. He often created the detailed maps of Italy.
Alexandrov, Valery Brusov’s painting teacher, used to say that Valery had a talent for drawing. «I have been recently learning exclusively Ancient Rome and Roman literature, I have thoroughly studied Vergil and his epoch, the IV age - starting with Constantine the Great up to Theodosius the Great. I am an expert in it, in the true sense» (an excerpt from «Miscellanea» by Valery Brusov).
Vipper, Valery Brusov’s geography teacher, inspired him love for geography. You feel it most when you read his juvenile verses, such as «Italy», «To Sweden», etc., and his handwritten geographic maps, accompanied by unique authorial comments, also prove that.
Valery Brusov first visited Italy in 1903. The poet was fascinated by the Renaissance. He visited museums searching for paintings and sculptures by the Renaissance artists. When Brusov visited Italy for the second time, in 1909, he was charmed by the antique world.
Europe_IXBrusov Museum
A Handwritten Map
Vipper, Valery Brusov’s geography teacher, inspired him love for geography. You feel it most when you read his juvenile verses, such as «Italy». His handwritten geographic maps, provided with his notes, also provide evidence of this.
Italy_VBrusov Museum
Valery Brusov. «Italy»
Страна, измученная страстностью судьбы!
Любовница всех роковых столетий!
(A country exhausted by the vehemence of the destiny!
The lover of all the fatal centuries!)
<…> Былая власть твоя — низверженный кумир, / Но человечество твоим прошедшим пьяно. / Твои художники на зыбкости холста / Запечатлели сны, каких не будет дважды! <…>
(Your former power is an overthrown idol,
Yet the mankind is drunk with your past.
Your artists have impressed the dreams that can never repeat again
On the fragility of a canvas).
Valery Brusov. «Italy». An excerpt. Collection of verses «Urbi et Orbi». A cycle «The Thoughts».
«On Via Appia Nuova I was feeling like a Roman citizen as if there had not been two thousand years since the Cicero epoch had passed». Valery Brusov, «On Saint Lazarus»
Italy_IIBrusov Museum
Valery Brusov. «Italy». Collection of Verses «Urbi et Orbi»
Ты прекрасна, Италия, / Как знакомая сердцу гармония! / Я пришёл к тебе усталый, / Путь недавний потеряв, / Беспокойный, запоздалый, / Напрямик по влаге трав…
If I could live a hundred lives, I would not be able to satisfy my thirst for knowledge, said Brusov in his «Miscellanea»
PAPERCUTTING
Ships (1900) by Valery BrusovBrusov Museum
Applique
Valery Brusov was a multi-talented person. «Wandering around the Western Europe I used to visit museums, learned something about the history of art, I am knowledgeable on various schools, so I will not make a serious blunder» (An excerpt from Miscellanea by Valery Brusov)
Paper craft (1900) by Valery BrusovBrusov Museum
Papercraft
Valery Brusov was a versatile person. Alexandrov, his art teacher, believed that Brusov had capacity for art. In addition, he was patient and diligent. There was a time when Brusov dreamed of becoming a painter.
Paper craft (1900) by Valery BrusovBrusov Museum
Papercraft
A woman portrait, paper art made by Valery Brusov, characterized by original eyes shape
Valery Brusov's diverse creativity remains relevant. He did not evade any urgent issue. The author's unfinished manuscripts are stored at the Brusov Science Center and Brusov Museum's funds and are systematically published in Brusov Readings, a collection of academic articles revealing new facets and new meanings of Valery Brusov's creativity providing new insight into his literary skills.
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