Avetik Issahakian House-Museum

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20 Zarubyan Street, Yerevan +56-24-24

Avetik Isahakian was one of Soviet Armenia's foremost poets. The last 5 years of his life he spent in Yerevan in a house which was converted into a museum in 1963. The museum consists of Avetik's workroom, bedroom, garden, and drawing-room, as well as a number of exhibition halls which focus on different periods of his life.

AVETIK ISSAHAKIAN MEMORIAL-HOUSE

"...Issahakian is a first-rate poet; to all appearance no such fresh and ingenious talent is now available in Europe".
Alexander Blok

Avetik Issahakian is a brilliant spokesman of Armenian poesy. The last five years of his life he spent in Yerevan, in a two-storey pink tuff stone-built private residence, a gift from the government of Soviet Armenia.

After the death of the poet the decision was taken to convert the house into a museum which was inaugurated with circumstance on October 31, 1963.

The museum consists of nine small and big halls. The poet's workroom, bedroom and drawing-room comprise the memorial department of the museum. The different rooms display exhibits reflecting the author's life and his literary legacy.

The samples of the first small room bear upon his childhood, youth, his student years, his initial literary endeavors and the dawning success of the poet.

The exhibits of the second hall throw light on the second period of his life and on his activities (1895—1900).

Holding progressive, democratic views the young poet could not reconcile himself to the existing order which he viewed with disfavor. The displays include a collection of his poems: "Songs and Wounds". The pictures and documents sidelight Issahakian's stay in Tiilis and his pursuits in the literary group "Vernatoon".

The third hall reproduces the twelve years (1900—1912) which Issahakian spent in Switzerland and Italy. The productions of this period of the poet—peregrinators pining for his homeland are redolent of distress and outcry: his famous epic poem "Abu-Lala Mahari", passages from his unfinished novel "Ousta Karo" and designs in profusion.

The fourth hall covering the period 1913 through 1945 demonstrates his tales and patriotic writings, particular editions and facsimiles of his letters to H. Toumanian and Y. Charents.

The exhibits of the section devoted to Issahakian's 65th and 70th anniversaries evidence the warm affection of the people for their well-loved master of the pen.

The fifth hall shows articles characterizing the literary, journalistic and public activities of Av. Issahakian in the post-war years. Separate stands and display cases exhibit books and the autographed gifts of prominent Soviet authors.

The sixth and last hall relates to the author's post-war life and the celebration of his 80th birth anniversary. On show in the hall is the plaster-cast of his face and right hand, photographs illustrating his funeral and documents that perpetuate his memory.

The memorial section of the Issahakian museum creates a majestic impression. In his work room there is his desk with open books on it, an inkstand and stationery, an arm-chair, his library and paintings.

The poet's bedroom features his bed, wardrobe, clothing, a hat and his shoes. The dining-drawing room has been kept intact. A carpet hangs on the wall and a massive table with chairs stands in the middle of the room. Here the visitors can hear the poet's recorded voice and folk songs to his verses. The garden of the private residence is conserved in its original form; the late poet would sit in the shade of its fruit trees which he himself had planted affectionately; also the stone-made sofa-bench-a gift of the Armenian architects-is in the garden as a living memory of the poet.