Regions of Russia: Exhibition dedicated to Decembrist Nikolai Bestuzhev kicks off in Irkutsk

The exhibition “Life means action” opened April 13, 2011 at Irkutsk Regional Historical and Memorial Decembrists’ Museum to mark 220th anniversary of the Decembrist Nikolai Bestuzhev.

The exposition narrates how the noble, naval officer, historiographer, writer, supporter of an idea of liberation of peasants with land, was sentenced to eternal convict prison, served it in Nerchinsk mines, and then lived in exile in Transbaikal region, being engaged in education of local Russian and Buryat population.

In addition, Nikolai Bestuzhev is also remembered as a gifted artist, the author of more than 400 portraits of his comrades, their wives and friends.

The exhibition also features several Bestuzhev’s portraits, chairs he made himself, fragments of old china and other articles from the collection of the Regional Historical and Memorial Decembrists’ Museum.

Of particular interest are Bestuzhev’s letters, articles, essays, including “Memories about Ryleev”, “December 14, 1925”, “Shlisselburg station”, which were united in one volume and came out in Irkutsk “Polyarnaya zvezda” documentary series (“The North Star”).