Lavrushinsky Lane in Moscow became famous just because the Russian merchant, millionaire and philanthropist Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov built a special building here for his collection of paintings. It formed the basis of one of the largest art collections in the world. The Tretyakov Gallery continues to store, research and popularize Russian art, thus forming our cultural identity.

What to see in Moscow – The Tretyakov Gallery

What to see in Moscow during your vacation. Excursion in the Tretyakov gallery in Moscow is a good option to learn about Russian art collections. What to see in the Tretyakov gallery in Moscow here we show it.

Undoubtedly Moscow stands out for its history, its architectural beauty and also for its huge offer in art. Theaters, ballet, and beautiful buildings make it a unique and unforgettable city.

During your visit to Moscow, you will not be able to also visit its prestigious art galleries; being one of the most important and representative the Tretyakov Gallery. It houses one of the most important collections of Russian art in the world.

Founded in 1856 by Pável Tretiakov, the gallery has a collection of 130,000 works of art. It has an accessible and strategic location, in the center of the city and in front of the Kremlin, along the south bank of the Moskva River.

Its founder was a merchant, collector, patron and muscovite philanthropist. Initially he acquired some works by contemporary Russian artists, and then the idea of ​​the gallery came up, with the purpose of educating and encouraging patriotism in the Russian people. It is considered that the work of Tretyakov was fundamental for the recognition of many local artists who, without their help, could not have made their work known.

What to see in the Tretyakov gallery in Moscow

It contains paintings from times that go from the first half of the 19th century and paintings belonging to the 18th century.

The most famous works that make up the permanent collection of the gallery are: “The Virgin of Vladimir” (also known as the Mother of God of Vladimir), “The Trinity” created by a great painter of medieval icons: Andrei Rublev; and the famous and always controversial for its meaning for the modern painting “Black Square” of Malevich. Another striking work for its symbology is “The Apotheosis of War” by Vasili Vereschaguin.

Touring and admiring the works, the gallery allows to know Russian history in a unique and exceptional way. The collection is very diverse, it can reflect both the upper classes and the pilgrims. Realistic portraits of important people in Russian history abound.

The building that houses it has 62 rooms. Its facade, which can be said to refer to a fairy tale, especially in times of snow, was designed by the architect Viktor Vasnetsov.

In a historic building on Lavrushinsky Lane, he exhibited more than 1300 works by Russian artists from the 11th to the beginning of the 20th century. Rublevskaya Trinity, which is located in a glass cabinet where a special microclimate is maintained, adorns the hall of ancient Russian painting. In a separate room, Ivanov’s painting “The appearance of Christ to the people” is displayed. On the walls there are many works by I. E. Repin, V. I. Surikov, V. A. Serov, V. V. Vereshchagin.

The Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachy combines an existing church and an exhibition hall. Its decoration, iconostasis and utensils are part of the museum’s collection. The pearl of the exhibition is a 12th century icon “Our Lady of Vladimir”, a Russian sanctuary and a world-class work of art.

In the New Tretyakov Gallery in Krymsky Val exhibited paintings by domestic artists of the twentieth century. The exhibition includes all artistic movements from the revolutionary avant-garde to the modern underground, the widest retrospective of works in the style of socialist realism. It also hosts exhibitions of renowned artists and young talents. There is a conference room and a creative workshop where children and adults become familiar with the art of the last century and reveal their drawing and sculpting skills.

Increasingly, visitors to the New Tretyakov Gallery ask: “And where is the Black Square of Kazimir Malevich?” The artistic manifesto of suprematism is found in room 6 next to the paintings by Marc Chagall and Vasily Kandinsky. The guides will talk about its complex symbolism and its deep meaning. An interesting fact: there is not a single spot of black paint in the image, its color is formed by a mixture of different colors. X-ray diffraction revealed two more images and the words “Battle of Blacks at Night” under the top layer.

A little history

Tretyakov acquired the first canvases of the future collection in 1856. A decade later, the gallery opened to the public, and in 1892 the owner presented it to Moscow along with the building. In the early years of the twentieth century, the facade was rebuilt according to Vasnetsov’s sketch.

The employees of the Tretyakov Gallery were always jealous of their duties. After the maniac cut a picture of Repin with a knife, the gallery manager considered himself guilty of this incident and threw himself under the train.

After the revolution, the collection was nationalized, the building was completed and rebuilt repeatedly, and the facilities of the closed church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi joined him. During the war, paintings and statues were evacuated to Siberia, in 1985 they were combined with the State Art Gallery in Krymsky Val, the main exhibition was moved there and the main building was restored for 11 years. Now a new building for the Tretyakov Gallery is being built in Kadashevskaya Embankment.

Excursion in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow

The gallery can be visited on Thursdays and Fridays from 10 am to 9 pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm. On Mondays you will find the gallery closed. Do not forget to arrive in time, admissions end one hour before closing time. Who likes art can offer guided tours in Spanish.

Practical information

The address of the historic building of the Tretyakov Gallery: Lavrushinsky per., 10 (metro station “Tretyakovskaya”).
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday is a day off. The lockers close one hour before.

The address of the New Tretyakov Gallery: Krymsky Val, 10 (subway station “Park Kultury”).
Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday – from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday – from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday is a day off.

The ticket price for adults is RUB 500, for pensioners, students, students, 250 RUB. Admission for visitors under 18 is free. Audio guide rental – 350 RUB. The prices on the page are for November 2018.

What to see in Moscow and much more in GuiaRus. Touring the Tretyakov gallery in Moscow has never been better.