State Tretyakov Gallery

A gallery that began as a merchant's collection now displays more than 130,000 works of art from throughout Russia's history. The gallery was established in 1893 when Moscow businessman Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov permanently displayed his enormous personal collection of over 2000 pieces to the Russian public. The gallery, which had its beginnings in a modest structure south of the Kremlin, significantly expanded as it gathered more and more works of art during the course of the 20th century. There is no better place to gain knowledge of the history of Russian art than the State Tretyakov Gallery. It introduces you to artwork created by painters starting in the 10th century that would not have otherwise received much attention or recognition. The gallery is a significant investigation into the sources of inspiration for the renowned Russian artists of the 20th century. A stunning 62 rooms are filled with its enormous collection of 130,000 objects, which provides for a very informative experience. Museum Exhibitions: In 1917, there were about 4,000 pieces of art in the gallery. The number had increased to 55,000 in 58 years. The methodical state purchasing helped to grow the collection. Igor Grabar was selected as the new trustee of the Tretyakov Gallery by the Moscow City Council in 1913, which marked the beginning of changes to the museum's display. All the pieces were arranged chronologically, and the paintings by one artist were highlighted in their rooms. Russian paintings, sculptures, graphic arts, and unique pieces of decorative art are all included in the collection today. The Tretyakov Gallery houses icons from the 11th to the 17th centuries, including the well-known Trinity by Andrei Rublev. The story behind the most famous painting in State Tretyakov Gallery: The most controversial painting in the gallery is Ilya Repin's Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan. The picture was forbidden in the Russian Empire for the first time even under Alexander III since the emperor did not appreciate it at all. The picture was damaged in 1913 when a crazy person cut it with a knife. The art has to be restored over some time. Even though Repin personally came to fix his masterpiece, it was the other masters who managed to restore it to its original appearance. As Repin's painting style evolved at that point, the canvas underwent a major change. The Russian avant-gardist Kazimir Malevich is known for his iconic work Black Square, which is also the most popular among visitors to the art exhibition. According to one story, the author painted over another piece of the artist's art that was behind the black paint.

  • imageDuration Required
    2 hours

Address of State Tretyakov Gallery

Lavrushinskiy ln 10, Moscow 119017 Russia

Opening & Closing time of State Tretyakov Gallery

  • Monday
    Closed
  • Tuesday
    10:00-18:00
  • Wednesday
    10:00-18:00
  • Thursday
    10:00-21:00
  • Friday
    10:00-21:00
  • Saturday
    10:00-21:00
  • Sunday
    10:00-18:00

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