Boris Legran

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Boris Vasilievich Legran was a Russian revolutionary and politician. He was active during the first half of the 20`th century. At one time, he was counted as one of the "outstanding figures of Communist party and Soviet science and culture".

[edit] His time as the Hermitage director

He was the head of the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia from 1931 until 1934.

During his time at the helm, Legran was busy with the "Socialist Reconstruction" of the museum. In other words, he oversaw that the works on display were being presented "in keeping with the new principles of the country's life and new policies." - a transformation begun in 1932, during the 2nd "Five Year Plan" of the SSSR.

A lot is beeing resented to Boris V. Legran. He did not oppose the sale of museum treasures. During his time, vast auctions were held abroad, as to find additional money for the new Soviet regime. About 2,880 paintings were sent to be auctioned. Of these, 250 were seen as being major works, and 50 are still recognised as world masterpieces.

He supported the creation of a "exhibition imbued with ideology", that many considered vulgar. His goal was to turn objects of art into a kind of "evidence of the oppression of peoples".

Still, there are some good things about him too. During his time, the musical exhibitions appeared in the State Hermitage - a product of his work with S. Ginzburg. Also, in 1934, he provided for the development and transfer to the Hermitage museum of methodologies for restoring especially complicated metal objects. This was done through a agreement signed with the "State Academy of the History of Material Culture". A dedicated laboratory was provided and fully equipped for this purpose - the forerunner of todays restaurational laboratory for works of applied art.

[edit] Article Sources

http://hermitage.museum.ru/html_En/00/hm0_4_156.html - Boris B. Piotrovsky Hermitage Memorial Readings,15 February, 2006 - Afternoon Session - paper by E.V. Pavlova - "Socialist Reconstruction" under B.V. Legran and I.A. Orbeli. From the History of the Hermitage Exhibition. 1932-1937."
http://hermitagemuseum.org/html_En/02/hm2_3_0_5.html - "Laboratory for scientific restoration of works of applied art" - introduction
http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/html_En/05/hm5_1_37.html - Sale of Hermitage collections during Legran`s time
http://www.bogdinst.ru/HTML/English/Bogdanov/biography.htm