Photo of the main facade of the National Museum of Arts of Ukraine. Early 20th century.

Living Echo of the Cossack Elite: Georgiy Narbut in Paraska Apostol’s Kontusz with Kelep and Colonel MiloradovychIn the photograph, Georgiy Narbut stands in the Cossack hall of the Tarnovsky Museum (now a room of the Chernihiv Regional Library for Youth), fully immersed in a historical Ukrainian image. He is dressed in the kontusz of Paraska Apostol, daughter of Hetman Danylo Apostol, holding a kelep in his right hand, while to his right stands Colonel Mykhailo “Cannon” Miloradovych. This staged yet documentary scene shows Narbut not just studying Cossack-era artifacts, but literally wearing them, turning himself into a living embodiment of the Ukrainian noble-Cossack past.

A soldier of the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen Legion (1914-1920) stands guard near a bridge (1914-1918)

Views of Odessa. [Album]. View of the Pokrovsk Church and Aleksandrovsky Avenue. Mid-1850s.

Verkhovyna 7

Verkhovyna 3

Berezil MuseumDuring the winter 1924-1925 season, Berezil received the premises of the V. Lenin Theater (former M. Solovtsov Theater). The museum exhibition was displayed in three rooms in the foyer. Berezil staff gave tours and continued to put together the collection of the Theater Museum, which from the beginning was planned as an all-Ukrainian museum.

Large green living room of Hanenko museum in the 1920s.The Khanenkos collected a collection of world art for about 40 years, and then transferred it to the city.

The red living room of the Khanenko familyThe young couple, the Khanenkos, were fascinated by the idea of their own artistic gathering. They traveled a lot in Europe, visited auctions and private collections. They were guided by the advice of leading experts in the history of art.