Every Russian has heard something about the Tretyakov Gallery, because it is the most famous museum of fine arts in our country. It is here that the richest collection of Russian art is collected, from icons of the 11th century to paintings and sculptures of the early 21st century, and this museum has attracted me since childhood. So I always remember my first visit here at the age of 10, and subsequent visits with pleasure - I discover so many new things for myself in every trip here!
Today, the gallery's collections are housed in two buildings: the main exhibition dedicated to the art of old masters is located in a mansion in Lavrushinsky Lane, and the 20th century collection is presented in a building on Krymsky Val. It seems to me that it is strictly necessary for every guest of the capital to visit at least one of the expositions of the Tretyakov Gallery, because this is one of the main attractions in Moscow.
How to get to the Tretyakov Gallery
Building in Lavrushinsky Lane
The historical building of the museum in Lavrushinsky Lane is so well known to Muscovites that at one time it even gave the name to the nearest metro station Tretyakovskaya on the Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya line (indicated on the map below by the number 1 ). From the metro along Klimentovsky and Bolshoi Tolmachevsky lanes, you can walk to the gallery on foot in just 7-9 minutes.
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The State Tretyakov Gallery is one of the largest art museums in Russia and the world, named after the founder, merchant and philanthropist Pavel Tretyakov. P. Tretyakov began collecting paintings in 1850, and 17 years later he opened a gallery, the collection of which consisted of about two thousand works of fine art and several sculptures. In 1893, the collection, previously donated to Moscow, became known as the Moscow City Tretyakov Gallery and was maintained with money bequeathed by the founders.
In 1918, the Tretyakov Gallery was nationalized and became the "state property of the RSFRS", its first directors were the art critic and artist I. Grabar, and then the architect A. Shchusev. Under them, the funds of the Museum grew, several new buildings were added, and new expositions were actively developed.
During the Great Patriotic War, all canvases and sculptures were taken to Novosibirsk and Molotov. The evacuation lasted more than a year, but already on May 17, 1945, the exhibitions were again open to residents and guests of Moscow.
In the following decades, the Museum continuously grew, and today it includes the Gallery on Krymsky Val, the Gallery in Lavrushinsky Lane, the house-museum of V. M. Vasnetsov, the Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi and other branches.
The museum's collections include works of art XI-XXI, among which are Russian painting, sculpture, graphics. The most famous works stored in the Museum are icons of the 11th-17th centuries, and among them the face of the Mother of God of Vladimir, Rublev’s “Trinity” and icons painted by Dionysius, Theophan the Greek, Simon Ushakov are especially valuable.
The basis of the collections of the Tretyakov Gallery is Russian painting, most of which belongs to the second half of the 19th century. The collection includes works by Kramskoy, Perov, Vasnetsov, Savrasov, Shishkin, Aivazovsky, Repin, Vereshchagin and other famous Russian artists. In the 20th century, the Gallery was replenished with works by Vrubel, Levitan, Serov, Malevich, Roerich, Benois. During the Soviet period, Deineka, Brodsky, Kukryniksy, Nesterov and others appeared in the expositions. In addition to painting, the Museum stores and exhibits works by Antokolkolsky, Mukhina, Shadr, Konenkov and other famous sculptors.
Currently, the Tretyakov Gallery is developing new expositions and exhibitions, is actively cooperating with many museums around the world and Russia, providing them with collections for temporary exhibitions, also carries out restoration and research work, replenishes funds, develops cultural and educational programs, participates in major museum, film and and music festivals.
The Tretyakov Gallery in 1995 was recognized as one of the most valuable cultural objects for its activities in the field of preserving art objects and promoting museum values.
Tretyakov Gallery Address: 119017, Moscow, Lavrushinsky lane, 10
Directions: Metro "Tretyakovskaya" or "Polyanka"
Tretyakov Gallery brief information.
Content Topics
Every self-respecting world capital has its own art museum. Examples? Please! The Metro in New York, the Prado in Madrid, of course, the Louvre in Paris. In London there is the National Gallery, in Moscow there is the Tretyakov Gallery.
She is the pearl of the capital, one of her symbols with the real face of Russian art. Moreover, the Tretyakov Gallery houses the largest collection of Russian fine art from the 11th and 21st centuries, from ancient iconography to contemporary avant-garde.
Tourists from all over the world strive to discover this treasury of painting for themselves: if you haven’t been to the Tretyakov Gallery, you haven’t known the Russian soul!
Both those who are far from art and those who are ready to spend hours looking at great canvases, the play of light and shadow, brilliant stories and priceless icons come to its halls. And the Tretyakov Gallery for more than 160 years continues to stand on its four pillars: the preservation, research, presentation and popularization of Russian art.
How to get there, photo?
- Metro: Tretyakovskaya, Tretyakovskaya, Polyanka
- Official website: tretyakovgallery.ru
- Working mode:
- Mon - Closed;
- Tue, Wed, Sun 10:00 - 18:00;
- Thu, Fri, Sat10:00 - 21:00
- Address: 119017, Moscow, Lavrushinsky lane, 10
Tickets, prices
You can buy tickets at ticket.tretyakovgallery.ru. Prices:
- Tretyakov Gallery
- Adult — 500 rubles.
- Preferential - 200 rubles.
- Under 18 - Free
- Complex entrance ticket (Lavrushinsky lane, 10 and Krymsky Val, 10)
- Adult — 800 rubles.
- Preferential - 300 rubles.
- Under 18 - Free
- Complex entrance ticket (Lavrushinsky per., 10 and Lavrushinsky per., 12)
- Adult — 800 rubles.
- Preferential - 300 rubles.
- Under 18 - Free
Free visit days
- 1st and 2nd Sunday of each month - for students of higher educational institutions of the Russian Federation upon presentation of a student ID card (“trainee student” is not suitable);
- for students of secondary and secondary special educational institutions (from 18 years old);
- every Saturday - for members of large families (citizens of Russia and CIS countries);
To obtain a ticket, you must contact the box office and present the necessary documents.
Plan of the halls of the Tretyakov Gallery
- First floor
- Second floor
Virtual tour of the Tretyakov Gallery
Founding father of the gallery
Without a doubt, without the merchant Pavel Tretyakov, there would be no art gallery. It was to him that Moscow owes the opening of an art museum. But Pavel Mikhailovich had nothing to do with culture: his family was engaged in commerce, and he had no choice but to get involved in the business of his parents. The well-known merchant family Tretyakov continued, but the young manufacturer did not leave the thought of art either. At the age of 24, he acquired two oil paintings by artists V. Khudyakov and N. Schilder, which the public had not heard of. But today their names are known to connoisseurs and lovers of painting. From that moment, in 1856, the beginning of the Tretyakov collection and the future gallery was under way.
The merchant dreamed of opening a museum of Russian art. He studied the art market, and from the late 50s he acquired the best paintings.
Pavel Tretyakov was not just a collector, but a person with broad cultural knowledge. Even the artists themselves called his instinct diabolical, and Tretyakov himself said that he worked exclusively for the Russian people. He did not miss exhibitions in the capitals, visited workshops and bought works of art even before they appeared on display. It was said that even the king, approaching the paintings that he liked, saw the sign “Purchased by P.M. Tretyakov.
The famous philanthropist and collector not only collected paintings by outstanding artists, but also supported beginners and promoted their work. Through the efforts of Pavel Mikhailovich, many geniuses of painting of the late 19th century became known.
It is known that he was especially interested in the Wanderers: his house was even called that - the house of the Wanderers. Actually, some of the modern painters, for example, I. Kramskoy, lived within its walls. It was his brush that belongs to the famous portrait of Tretyakov himself. He literally saved A. Savrasov from poverty. However, buying up the paintings that he liked, Tretyakov did not let many artists sink into obscurity and poverty. And he continued to acquire paintings by V. Perov, I. Shishkin and others, which have become their most famous today.
The collection of V. Vereshchagin became an expensive acquisition for the gallery. For the oriental flavor in the paintings and sketches that captured Turkestan, the patron laid out 92 thousand rubles. Truly, Tretyakov managed to collect a unique collection of portraits. He had to persuade some heroes personally, as happened with Leo Tolstoy. The philanthropist specially ordered portraits of those who glorified Russia to the artists. Images of great composers, writers and musicians: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Nikolai Nekrasov, Mikhail Mussorgsky have settled in the gallery forever.
Connoisseurs separately talk about the portrait of Maria Lopukhina by master V. Borovikovsky, and call it the pearl of the collection. It was Tretyakov who managed to put an end to the rumors associated with this "bad" picture. After he acquired the work for his collection, the portrait began to be spoken of as a harbinger of the imminent death of every young girl who looked at him. The fact is that notoriety trailed behind all the images of Mary who lived an unhappy and short life, for the most part because of her father, a mystic and a freemason.
Portrait of Maria Lopukhina. Creator Borovikovsky Vladimir
But under the order of Tretyakov, the artists painted not only portraits. True landscapes of Russian life, historical sketches were also a collector's passion. It is quite possible that neither contemporaries nor descendants would ever have seen the painting “Hymn of the Pythagoreans” if the patron had not ordered this now famous painting by F.A. Bronnikov.
"Hymn of the Pythagoreans to the Rising Sun" 1869 Oil on canvas 99.7 x 161. F.A. Bronnikov.
The picture adorned the living room of the Tretyakov estate, and was a favorite work of art by the wife of an art connoisseur, Vera Nikolaevna. She supported her husband in avoiding excesses, despite the wealth. After sacrificing luxury, it was possible to save money in favor of acquiring works of art. And, relying on his own taste and predilections, Tretyakov continued to replenish the collection. By the opening of the city gallery, the collection was already impressive: sculptures, more than 1200 Russian paintings and more than 80 foreign ones, five hundred drawings.
P. M. Tretyakov decided to donate the fruits of his many years of work to Moscow in 1892. This is how the first public art museum appeared.
He was in Tretyakov's own estate. The collection expanded, and the mansion grew with it. Four times during the life of the patron, the family nest was upset, new walls were needed for a rich exposition. Of course, a worker of art, but first and foremost a merchant, Tretyakov imagined what difficulties descendants could expect in maintaining such a large fund and replenishing the collection. Therefore, he bequeathed 275 thousand rubles for the repair and purchase of new masterpieces. In addition, he presented a truly priceless collection of ancient Russian icons. Well, during his lifetime, he permanently held the post of manager of the gallery.
After the death of Pavel Tretyakov, the good deed of creating the museum was picked up by other philanthropists who were not indifferent to the fate of Russian art. And each of them remembered that the founding father of the gallery saw it not as a simple repository of works of art, but precisely those samples that would convey the very essence of the Russian soul. Since then, the Tretyakov Gallery has been the main museum of Russian national art.
"Tretyakovka" without Tretyakov
The bequeathed capital was sufficient to maintain the gallery. What was missing were rooms to house the collection. The merchant estate of the Tretyakovs was rebuilt, overgrown with outbuildings. Already at the beginning of the 1900s, the famous artist Viktor Vasnetsov developed sketches, according to which a unique facade appeared - now it is the emblem of the museum. The neo-Russian style only emphasizes that here the Russian spirit and smells of Russia.
Throughout the Soviet period, the Tretyakov Gallery changed names, types of property, trustees, but invariably expanded and replenished.
Under the direction of the architect Igor Grabar, the exposition began to be formed chronologically. The so-called European type. But the main thing is that the State Art Fund appeared, and the collection continued to grow, including at the expense of exhibits confiscated from rich private collections. The museum's collection consisted of about 4,000 exhibits. The so-called "Schusev" period was famous for the expansion of not only the funds, but also the walls: the Tretyakov Gallery passed another former merchant's estate. She housed the scientific departments, it kept graphics, as well as a library. The book fund of the Tretyakov Gallery can be considered a real asset: it contains more than 200 thousand publications about art and its trends.
The fatal forties made their adjustments to the life of the gallery. The museums of the capital were being prepared for evacuation, and the Tretyakov Gallery was no exception. Her funds were taken out for more than a year. Priceless canvases were cut out of frames, shifted with sheets of paper, closed in waterproof boxes and evacuated. 17 wagons delivered the exhibits to the capital of Siberia. But the building of the Tretyakov Gallery, nothing could hide from the bombing.
But still, post-war life turned out to be eventful. When life entered a peaceful course, and the paintings returned to their native walls, the administration and cultural workers began to prepare for the 100th anniversary of the museum.
New works of art were acquired, among which were paintings by Savrasov, Petrov-Vodkin, Vrubel. It became clear that the existing space was sorely lacking, because in 1956, the anniversary year for the gallery, there were more than 35,000 items of cultural value!
The issue of expansion was inherited by all the authorities of the USSR. This is how the depository and the new engineering building appeared. Under director Yu.K. To the Queen, the church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi entered the museum, and the main building itself was closed for reconstruction. The collection also grew: by 1975, state purchases expanded the funds to 55,000 paintings and sculptures.
By the mid-1990s, in spite of any unrest, the Gallery grew into 10 halls at once. There are exhibitions of sculptures from the Middle Ages to the present day, entire rooms have been dedicated to individual paintings. In addition, the expansion of the area made it possible to increase the expositions themselves.
Today, the Tretyakov Gallery has more than 170,000 exhibits, among which ancient Russian icons and the Russian avant-garde are of particular pride.
The collection of works by the Wanderers is considered one of the most complete, and the Russian painting presented in the museum, starting from the 12th century, is unique both in content and content.
The best exhibits of the Tretyakov Gallery
Perhaps what is worth talking about right away is the collection of ancient Russian painting. It is based on more than 50 icons collected from all over Russia and once kept in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin. Works of spiritual art date back to the XII-XIII centuries. and present the best examples of icon painting. In the Tretyakov Gallery, the mosaic from the Mikhailovsky Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv, destroyed during the Soviet era, found its last refuge. And even if visitors have never heard of the Greek and Dionysius, Andrei Rublev's name should be familiar. His icons belong to world spiritual art.
Andrei Rublev. Painting "Holy Trinity".
Religious themes, however, are not limited to the collection of icons. A. Ivanov's painting with the plot of the appearance of Christ to the people became one of the most significant at the beginning of the 19th century. For two decades, the artist worked on a grandiose canvas in Italy, and today a separate room has been allocated for the work of art, so that viewers can fully experience the spirituality and quest of the author. Visitors can remember their emotions, and only carry away images in memory, since cameras are not allowed in the Tretyakov Gallery.
Ivanov, The Appearance of Christ to the People.
The gallery also has a truly unique painting - an image of Count Golovkin by the first professional Russian artist. Ivan Nikitin was the favorite of Peter I, who was the first to send young talents to study abroad. The reformer wanted Russian painters not to be inferior in skill to European ones. That is why I. Nikitin went to study in Europe and honed his artistic craft at the Florentine Academy.
The work of the first graduates of the Academy of Arts is also worth attention. To be convinced of the gift of portrait painters, you just need to look at the paintings of F. Rokotov and A. Losenko.
The most complete in the Tretyakov Gallery are the "heroes" of Russian painting I. Repin, V. Surikov and V. Vasnetsov. Pavel Tretyakov revered these masters especially, because in their works they conveyed the spirit of the country, the dramatic events of Russian history and the rich folklore of Russia. A whole scattering of masterpieces awaits visitors to the gallery.
Picture Three heroes. Viktor Vasnetsov.
But with the picture where Ivan the Terrible kills his son, a truly dramatic story is connected. In 1913, a vandal cut the canvas in such a way that the restorers had to draw faces almost in a new way. At that time, the keeper of the Gallery was E. M. Khruslov, who was so worried about the incident that he threw himself under a steam locomotive.
Painting Ivan the Terrible kills his son
P. M. Tretyakov was known for his love of landscapes, their truth and poetry of life. And especially for the patron, the best artists painted paintings that, although made to order, are not without soul. Among the best landscape painters in the Tretyakov Gallery are F. Vasiliev, A. Kuindzhi, A. Savrasov. Contemporaries called his work about the arriving rooks nothing less than "the soul of the Russian people." And, of course, the Gallery presents the “hero of the Russian forest” I. Shishkin. The romantic direction of Russian artists Serov, Vrubel and Levitan will not leave indifferent any visitor, and is known to almost everyone - at least according to the school curriculum.
Do not forget that the Tretyakov Gallery keeps the most complete collection of the avant-garde. Artists united in such societies as the "Jack of Diamonds" and "Donkey's Tail" laid the foundation for avant-garde art, and among other names of artists, K. Malevich stands apart. The principles of the so-called non-objective art were discovered precisely in Russian art. And the "Black Square" became its symbol. By the way, it is this example of Suprematism that remains one of the most discussed in the Tretyakov Gallery to this day. The surrealism of M. Chagall and V. Kandinsky, the cubism and futurism of the "Amazons" of the Russian avant-garde, the constructivism of V. Tatlin and A. Rodchenko - they can be used to trace the history of the formation of Russian painting and its currents.
The Tretyakov Gallery today is not just a museum, it is a real center for the study of art. The voice of experts and restorers of the Tretyakov Gallery is heeded all over the world. And they continue the traditions laid down by the founding father of the museum: the preservation, research and presentation of national art. After all, a Russian person has a gift not only to transfer what he sees to the canvas, but also to animate.
For the knowledge of the Russian soul, its breadth, power and spirituality, thousands of people of all nationalities and religions come to the Tretyakov Gallery. So, the efforts of Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov were not in vain.
What can you see in one of the main museums in Moscow with only an hour? A short guide to the halls of the Tretyakov Gallery in Lavrushinsky Lane.
In the Tretyakov Gallery near the painting by Alexander Ivanov "The Appearance of Christ to the People". Natalia Volkova / photo bank "Lori"
Correct location
To get started, decide exactly on the address: the Tretyakov Gallery is a large museum that has many buildings and branches. The main building, where the collection of Russian art until the beginning of the 20th century is located, is located at Lavrushinsky lane, 10; in the next house - the Engineering building - temporary exhibitions are held, lectures are given. To see the art of the XX-XXI centuries, you will have to go to a completely different area of Moscow, to Krymsky Val, 10. Do not mix it up! Many other branches, including the Vasnetsov House and Golubkina's workshop, are scattered throughout the capital.
First floor
Second floor
Right time
Opening hours and days off, of course, can be specified on the website. But also do not forget to check if school holidays are going on right now (autumn or spring, it’s hard to forget about winter ones). On vacation days, the halls of the museum can be full of noisy school excursions. What's good - in the main building of the Tretyakov Gallery in Lavrushinsky Lane, hype exhibitions are extremely rarely held (there is no place for them), so you can not be afraid of a line in the style of " on Serov".
Stock up on a map
Since you are limited in time, we cross out the pleasure of an aimless walk through the enfilades of halls. It is necessary to clearly outline the goal and lay a route to it. In addition to paper guides, you can use the map of the halls on the museum's website or use the virtual museum technology.
In the Tretyakov Gallery. In front of the painting by Vasily Surikov "Boyar Morozova". Natalia Volkova / photo bank "Lori"
Stock up on a list of masterpieces
Decide which period of art you are most interested in: this building of the Tretyakov Gallery contains almost the entire history, from the Baptism of Russia to the Revolution. You can spend a whole hour on Serov, or on the Wanderers, or on the Silver Age.
If you want to quickly look at the main masterpieces, then here is a rough list of must-haves. The list is short, because the masterpieces are scattered over two floors and different halls, which will take just an hour to cross, because you will surely be distracted by all kinds of beauty along the way.
Ground floor: Rublev's "Trinity" (room 59)
One of the main Russian icons is located at the end of the suite of icon-painting halls, in the Andrey Rublev Hall. By the way, another shrine - the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God - is also located in Lavrushinsky Lane, but in a different building, in the current Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi, which adjoins the Engineering Building from the end.
First floor: "Girl with peaches" (hall number 40)
The famous portrait by Serov is exhibited in the halls dedicated to the art of the Silver Age on the same ground floor as the icon painting. Also on this floor are the halls of Levitan, Polenov and Nesterov, so it is rather difficult to understand the logic of the exposition location. Serov has two halls in the gallery.
Second floor: "The Appearance of Christ to the People" (Hall No. 10)
Alexander Ivanov's masterpiece hangs in its own room among numerous sketches dedicated to him. Tour guides warn: be careful, this is one of those paintings in front of which people in this museum especially often faint.
Second floor: "Morning in a pine forest" (hall number 25)
A landscape with cubs can be found in the hall dedicated to Shishkin's work. Don't miss it - the canvas is not that big. By the way, only in a museum can one appreciate the true scale of the works that we are used to seeing on screens and in books.
Second floor: "Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan on November 16, 1581" (room No. 31)
Repin's painting is in the hall dedicated to the work of this artist. This is another picture that has a strong influence on the psyche. Therefore, to come to your senses, be sure to look into the museum shop on the ground floor, next to the ticket office. In the Tretyakov Gallery, he is good: reproductions, postcards, notebooks, magnets and, of course, catalogs.
- One of the largest art galleries in Russia and.
- Exhibits - works Russian classical art of the XI-beginning of the XX century.
- Tretyakov Gallery consists of two buildings located at different addresses.
- The main building (Lavrushinsky Lane) presents a collection out of 170,000 works- world-class masterpieces.
- Visitors can look at ancient Russian icon painting - Orthodox icons of the 11th-13th centuries, the "Trinity" Andrey Rublev(1420s), etc.
- Paintings by famous Russian masters, sculptures and works of arts and crafts.
- Souvenir and bookstores, cafe and restaurant "Brothers Tretyakov".
The State Tretyakov Gallery is one of the largest art museums in Russia. Unlike another major Moscow museum - the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts with its extensive collection of foreign art - the Tretyakov Gallery exhibits primarily Russian classical art. Here are paintings, sculptures, icons and works of arts and crafts from the 11th to the beginning of the 20th century. We note right away that usually the Tretyakov Gallery means its main building, located in Lavrushinsky Lane. And Russian painting of the 20th century (including works by K. Malevich, M. Larionov, and others) is exhibited separately, in the building of the Tretyakov Gallery on Krymsky Val (Krymsky Val, 10). In addition, interesting temporary exhibitions are held in the Engineering Building of the Tretyakov Gallery, located at 12 Lavrushinsky per.
The exposition area of the main building is more than 12 thousand square meters and is divided into 62 thematic halls. The collection of the Tretyakov Gallery has more than 170 thousand works. Here are collected masterpieces of medieval Russian icon painting, as well as paintings by I. Aivazovsky, M. Vrubel, K. Bryullov, V. Vasnetsov and dozens of other famous Russian masters. The museum exhibits world-class masterpieces, such as the icon "Trinity" by A. Rublev, the monumental paintings "The Appearance of Christ to the People" by A. Ivanov and "Boyar Morozova" by V. Surikov, amazing landscapes by I. Levitan and A. Kuindzhi. The museum has book and souvenir shops, cafes and the Tretyakov Brothers restaurant.
The building of the Tretyakov Gallery in Lavrushinsky Lane is located in one of the most beautiful historical districts of Moscow -. This is one of the few areas where buildings of the 18th-19th centuries have been largely preserved. A few steps from the Tretyakov Gallery are unique in their architecture the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent, the Church of St. Clement of the Pope and the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Kadashevskaya Sloboda. In the area of the beautiful pedestrian Pyatnitskaya street there is a large selection of cafes and restaurants for every taste.
The history of the creation of the museum
The opening of the museum in the second half of the 19th century was a significant event in the cultural life of Russia. Thanks to the initiative of one person - P. Tretyakov (1832-1898) - a museum of national art was created. Pyotr Tretyakov was not only a successful entrepreneur, but also a fine collector. He was especially interested in the work of contemporary young realist artists and supported them in every possible way. Tretyakov wrote: “I don’t need rich nature, no magnificent composition, no miracles. Give me at least a dirty puddle, so that there is truth in it, poetry; and poetry can be in everything, this is the work of the artist. Closely communicating with the authors, Pavel Mikhailovich acquired many works by artists of the Association of Traveling Exhibitions (I. Repin, V. Surikov, A. Savrasov, etc.), some of which became symbols of the museum. Along with the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, the Tretyakov Gallery has one of the world's two finest collections of Russian art.
An important milestone in the history of the gallery was 1904, when a new facade was built in the neo-Russian style, designed by . Over time, this facade has become the "calling card" of the museum. After the socialist revolution of 1917, the museum's collections expanded significantly due to the nationalization of private and centralization of regional collections and was constantly replenished throughout the subsequent period. In 1995, the main building of the gallery in Lavrushinsky Lane underwent a large-scale reconstruction.
Collection and masterpieces
In the Tretyakov Gallery, the visitor has a great opportunity to get acquainted with ancient Russian icon painting. The museum has a magnificent collection of Orthodox icons in terms of quantity and quality of works. Here you can see icons from the pre-Mongolian period - XI-XIII centuries. The famous miraculous icon "Our Lady of Vladimir" is located in the neighboring one (Maly Tolmachevsky lane, 9), which can be accessed directly from the gallery building. The Tretyakov Gallery houses the "Trinity" by A. Rublev (1420s), the work of the legendary Dionysius and Theophan the Greek. Icons of the 17th century deserve special mention, they are distinguished by an abundance of details, the finest elaboration of details, and the narrative of the visual image. In addition to icons, in the halls with ancient Russian art you can see the mosaic "Dmitry of Thessalonica" from the St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv.
In the 18th century, secular painting began to develop in Russia. There are paintings of non-church content, painted on canvas with oil. The portrait genre was especially popular at that time. In the halls devoted to painting of the 18th century, one can also see still life and landscape: at that time, the process of formation of the hierarchy of genres familiar to the modern viewer began in Russia. By the way, a very interesting collection of pictorial portraits of the 19th century is presented not far from the Tretyakov Gallery - in the Museum of V.A. Tropinin and Moscow artists of his time.
Most of the halls of the gallery are reserved for the exhibition of paintings of the 19th century, which became the heyday of the Russian art school. The first half of the century is marked by the names of such masters as O. Kiprensky, A. Ivanov, K. Bryullov. The Tretyakov Gallery exhibits "The Appearance of Christ to the People" - a monumental work by Alexander Ivanov, on which he worked for 20 years. The dimensions of the canvas are 540*750 cm, and in 1932 a separate room was added especially for this painting. In the picture, the viewer is presented with the moment of the coming of the Messiah. The artist is interested not so much in Christ himself as in the people who beheld him. The master comes up with his own story for each hero of the picture, models his reaction to what is happening. Numerous sketches for The Appearance of Christ are also displayed in the hall, and the visitor has the opportunity to see the artist's creative search while working on the painting.
The Tretyakov Gallery presents the most significant painting in the history of Russian art, Bogatyrs. The artist Viktor Vasnetsov painted this picture with heroic images of legendary warriors for almost twenty years. Researchers believe that the artist portrayed himself in the image of Dobrynya. And Ilya Muromets is not an epic hero, but a real historical character of the 12th century. He really has feats of arms on his account, and in old age Ilya became a monk of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery.
A recognized masterpiece - "The Apotheosis of War" by Vasily Vereshchagin. The picture with the pyramid of skulls was painted in 1871 under the impression of a brutal massacre in Turkestan. The artist dedicated his work to "all the great conquerors" of the past, present and future.
As already mentioned, Pavel Tretyakov was very interested in the Association of Traveling Art Exhibitions, an art association founded in 1870. One of the teachers of the Wanderers was V. Perov, whose works occupy a separate room. Then the works of V. Surikov, I. Repin, I. Kramskoy, N. Ge are exhibited. In the second half of the 19th century, landscape painting was actively developing in Russia. Fans of this genre can enjoy the works of A. Savrasov, A. Kuindzhi, I. Aivazovsky, I. Levitan and others.
One of the significant exhibits of this section is the Boyar Morozova by Vasily Surikov. The gigantic painting represents an episode of the church schism in the 17th century and is dedicated to the well-known supporter of the old faith, Theodosia Morozova. In 1671, the noblewoman was arrested and exiled to the remote Pafnutev-Borovsky Monastery, where she later died of starvation. The canvas depicts the scene of Morozova's transportation to the place of confinement.
The hall of Mikhail Vrubel, one of the brightest Russian artists of all time, is interesting and unique. This hall is unusual in its size: it was specially built to accommodate the huge panel "Princess of Dreams". In the same hall you can see the artist's paintings, including the famous painting "Demon (sitting)", his graphics and majolica. The painting "The Swan Princess" was written by Vrubel in 1900 based on the work of A. S. Pushkin "The Tale of Tsar Saltan" and the opera of the same name by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov. Mikhail Vrubel designed this opera for a stage production, and his wife Nadezhda performed the part of the Swan Princess in the performance. Vrubel spoke of her voice like this: "Other singers sing like birds, and Nadia - like a person."
Near the hall of M. Vrubel there is a staircase that leads back to the 1st floor, where paintings and sculptures of the early 20th century are presented. In the art of those years, there is a craving for the search for new forms, new solutions. The socially oriented art of the Wanderers, which persistently requires the viewer to critically comprehend social problems, is being replaced by the spontaneity and lightness of the language of the artists of the new generation. Their love for light, for life, for beauty - all this is clearly seen, for example, in the famous "Portrait of a Girl with Peaches" by V. Serov.
Finally, rooms 49-54 should be mentioned, where graphics and arts and crafts are exhibited. The exposition in these halls changes regularly, so every time you visit you can find something new for yourself. Hall 54 houses the Treasury of the Gallery - a collection of items made of precious metals and precious stones: icons, books, sewing, small plastic, jewelry items of the 12th-20th centuries.
