The Tretyakov gallery
The Tretyakov
Gallery , founded by Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov (1832-1989), a Moscow
merchant and art patron, is a national treasury of Russian pre-revolutionary
and Russian art.
The Gallery’s
centenary was widely celebrated throughout Russia in May 1956. Tretyakov spent
his life collecting the works of Russian painters which reflected the spirit
and ideas of all progressive intellectual of his day. He began his collection
in 1856 with the purchase of «Temptation» (1856) by N.Shilder and «Finnish
Smugglers» (1853) by V.Khudyakov. These paintings are on permanent exhibition.
In order that his collection better reflect the centuries-old traditions of
Russian art he acquired works of various epochs and also began a collection of
antique icons. Tretyakov was one of the few people of his time who realised the
great intrinsic value of ancient Russian art. He was on friendly terms with
many progressive , democratic Russian painters, frequenting their studious,
taking an active interest in their work, often suggesting themes for new
paintings, and helping them financially. His collection grew rapidly; by 1872 a
special building was erected to house it.
Tretyakov was aware
of the national importance of his vast collection of Russian art and presented
it to the city of Moscow in 1892, thus establishing the first museum in Russia.
An excerpt from his will reads: « Desirous of facilitating the establishment in
my beloved city of useful institutions aimed at promoting the development of
art in Russia, and in order to hand down to succeeding generations the
collection I have amassed I hereby bequeath my entire picture gallery and the
works of art contained therein, as well as my half of the house, to the Moscow
City Duma. By special decree of the Soviet Government, Issued on June 3 1918
and signed by V.I. Lenin, the Gallery was designated one of the most important
educational establishments of the country. It was also decreed that the name of
its founder be retained in honour of Tretyakov’s great services to Russian
culture.
The Gallerie’s
collection has grown considerably in the years since the Revolution. In 1893 it
consisted of 1805 works of art, but by 1956 the number had increased to
35276.The early Russian Art department and the collections of sculpture and
drawings were considerably enlarged, and an entirely new department- Soviet
Art- was created. By a Government decision of 1956, a new house is to be built
for the Gallery within the next few years.
At present, the
more interesting and distinctive works, tracing the development of Russian art
through nearly ten centuries, are exhibit in the Gallery’s 54 halls.