The first building of Moscow University was designed and constructed between 1782 and 1793 by the architect Matvey Kazakov. However, the university did not survive the fire that consumed much of Moscow in 1812. It was rebuilt in the popular Empire style by the Swiss architect Domenico Gilardi, known in Russia as Dementi Ivanovich Gilardi. Among the famous individuals who studied at Moscow University in the first half of the 19th century were Alexander Griboyedov, Pyotr Chaadayev, Vissarion Belinsky, and, of course, Alexander Herzen and Nikolay Ogarev, two friends and associates. Alexander Herzen had a remarkable memory and was naturally gifted in learning languages. As a young boy, he became fluent in French and German, and later he mastered English, Italian, Latin, and Greek. Despite having a penchant for linguistics, however, Alexander Herzen chose to study at the School of Physics and Mathematics.
During his senior years at the university, the future writer focused on studying astronomy. His graduation thesis was titled “An Analytical Presentation of the Copernican Solar System”. During his studies, Alexander Herzen participated in the first public student demonstration in the history of the university. The students revolted against the lectures of Professor Mikhail Malov. They shouted and stamped the teacher out of the classroom.
The conflict was caused by the professor’s constant rude behavior towards the students. Alexander Herzen, one of the instigators of the riot, persuaded students from his school to support those from the School of Ethics and Politics. Like other active participants in the “Malov riot”, Alexander Herzen was held at a detention center. However, eventually, the students won: the university administration decided to dismiss Professor Malov. At the same time, Alexander Herzen, Nikolay Ogarev, and several other students organized a group promoting ideas of republicanism.
In 1919, on the 50th anniversary of Alexander Herzen’s death, Moscow University decided to commemorate his memory. Nikolay Andreyev was commissioned to design a statue in his honor. The sculptor suggested installing two monuments — one of Herzen and one of Ogarev — in a park on each side of the entrance to the university building on Mokhovaya Street. The monuments were unveiled on December 10, 1922.
The museum also exhibits a copy of Dmitry Afanasyev’s watercolor depicting the university in 1830.
