Tretyakov gallery. Old building

The State Tretyakov Gallery is an art gallery in Moscow. It boasts the largest collection of Russian art in the world.The museum has two separate buildings. The Old building of the Tretyakov Gallery (located on Lavrushinskiy Pereulok) houses the Russian icons and paintings ranging in date from the 11th to the early 20th century. An exhibition of Russian 20th century art (avan-guard, socialist realism, modern art) is displayed in the new building (Tretyakov Gallery on Krymsky Val).

The gallery is named after its founder, Moscow industrialist and patron of art, Pavel Tretiakov. He acquired works by Russian artists of his day dreaming to create a public museum of national art. In 1892, Tretyakov granted his already famous collection to the city of Moscow.

The Tretyakov gallery is famous for its unique collection of Russian icons. Here you can see mosaics dating back to the 10th-11th centuries, the icon of Our lady of Vladimir, the Trinity by Andrey Rublev and many other famous images. The world shown by mediaeval Russian artists is bright and beautiful. Here are the words of French artist Henry Matisse after he saw an icon exhibition in Moscow "I spent 10 years searching for what your artists already discovered in the 14th century. It is not you who need to come to us to study, but it is we who need to learn from you."

The gallery tour is an interesting opportunity to see Russia through the eyes of its talented artists. The museum has a rich collection of Russian realistic paintings, beautiful examples of Russian impressionism and Russian Art Noveau. Portraits, landscapes, history images can help you to understand our culture, to solve the riddle of "the Russian mysterious soul".

Tretyakov gallery might appear a surprise for you. You will discover a lot of great Russian artists. And your Moscow tour guide will tell you stories behind the famous paintings.

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