Pavel Petrovich Chistyakov (1832-1919) was a history and portrait painter and taught at the Imperial Academy of Arts. In the history of Russian art school he is known as a mentor and teacher of the greatest masters of Russian art. Over the years, aong his students were I. Repin, V. Polenov, V. Surikov, V. Vasnetsov, A. Ryabushkin, V. Borisov – Musatov and many other famous Russian artists.

For more than forty years the Chistyakov’s creative life was connected with Tsarskoye Selo, namely his own house, which still preserves the atmosphere that surrounded the talented artist and professor. The house, which was built in 1878 by the architect A. Kolba, is a monument of Russian wooden architecture of the late 19th century.

At the studio visitors can see paintings by Chistyakov, which cover almost all periods of the artist’s work. A small hall devoted to Chistyakov as a teacher displays works by his students from the collections of the Scientific-Research Museum of the Academy of Arts. Visitors to the museum are welcome to explore the memorial park and the surrounding area, which once inspired many Russian artists and writers who had been here. The museum hosts traditional musical evenings and annualy celebrates the artist’s birthday on the first Sunday in July. In the Corner — or Small — Drawing Room, exhibitions of works by contemporary artists are held regularly.