Pyotr Semyonov’s research of the Tyan Shan revolutionized everyone’s view of this huge mountain system in Central Asia. For the first time the scientist drew an up-to-date picture of the inland part of the Asian continent. In addition, contrary to the prevailing opinion of geographer Alexander von Humboldt about the volcanic origin of the mountains in Central Asia, Semyonov proved that there are no traces of volcano origin there.
He also described in detail the geological structure of the northern and central parts of the Tyan Shan: he marked the main lines of rises and depressions, showed the change of landscapes. The discovery of significant mountain glaciation was also a breakthrough. This discovery helped the scientist to confirm the assumption of leading European specialists about the existence of large, alpine-type glaciers in the Tyan Shan. He determined the height of the snow line in the Tyan Shan, which was much higher than in the mountains of Europe and the Caucasus, and was about 4 thousand meters.
On the northern slope of the mountain range, where he first described Khan Tengri Peak, Pyotr Semyonov discovered and explored several glaciers. One of them was later named after him.
In July 2015, the Ryazan branch of the Russian Geographical Society held an expedition ‘Following P.P. Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky’, whose participants walked a significant part of the scientist’s route. The artist Maximilian Presnyakov took part in the expedition and made sketches all along the route.
In 2019, the museum-estate had an exhibition ‘Following P.P. Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky’, which exhibited more than 100 drawings made by the artist during his journey. The painting ‘Pyotr Petrovich Semyonov on the Tyan Shan’ was created by the author on the basis of sketches from the journey. Today it is housed in the museum-estate and it is a part of the main exhibition.
Maximilian Presnyakov is a Russian artist who works in both traditional and experimental styles. He graduated from Ryazan Art School and Moscow State Academic Art Institute named after V.I. Surikov. His paintings and graphic works were published many times in art albums published in both Moscow and Ryazan. The artist’s works are in the Ryazan Regional and State Art Museum named after Pozhalostin and other Russian collections.
He also described in detail the geological structure of the northern and central parts of the Tyan Shan: he marked the main lines of rises and depressions, showed the change of landscapes. The discovery of significant mountain glaciation was also a breakthrough. This discovery helped the scientist to confirm the assumption of leading European specialists about the existence of large, alpine-type glaciers in the Tyan Shan. He determined the height of the snow line in the Tyan Shan, which was much higher than in the mountains of Europe and the Caucasus, and was about 4 thousand meters.
On the northern slope of the mountain range, where he first described Khan Tengri Peak, Pyotr Semyonov discovered and explored several glaciers. One of them was later named after him.
In July 2015, the Ryazan branch of the Russian Geographical Society held an expedition ‘Following P.P. Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky’, whose participants walked a significant part of the scientist’s route. The artist Maximilian Presnyakov took part in the expedition and made sketches all along the route.
In 2019, the museum-estate had an exhibition ‘Following P.P. Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky’, which exhibited more than 100 drawings made by the artist during his journey. The painting ‘Pyotr Petrovich Semyonov on the Tyan Shan’ was created by the author on the basis of sketches from the journey. Today it is housed in the museum-estate and it is a part of the main exhibition.
Maximilian Presnyakov is a Russian artist who works in both traditional and experimental styles. He graduated from Ryazan Art School and Moscow State Academic Art Institute named after V.I. Surikov. His paintings and graphic works were published many times in art albums published in both Moscow and Ryazan. The artist’s works are in the Ryazan Regional and State Art Museum named after Pozhalostin and other Russian collections.
