The gallery was originally founded as a private collection by industrialist Pavel Tretyakov, who sought to create a national museum accessible to all.
The facade's design was based on sketches by the famous Russian painter Viktor Vasnetsov.
The collection includes the 'Vladimir Mother of God,' an 11th-century Byzantine icon considered the most sacred object in Russia.
During World War II, the entire collection was evacuated to Novosibirsk via several specialized trains to protect it from destruction.
The gallery houses a unique collection of 18th and 19th-century portraiture, documenting the evolution of the Russian aristocracy and intelligentsia.
Pavel Tretyakov famously insisted on purchasing works directly from artists rather than through intermediaries to support the emerging Realist movement.
The State Tretyakov Gallery holds the world's premier collection of Russian fine art, ranging from 11th-century religious icons to early 20th-century avant-garde works. Established by merchant Pavel Tretyakov in 1856, the gallery became a state-owned museum in 1918. The main building on Lavrushinsky Lane houses the historic collection, while 20th-century art is primarily displayed at a separate location on Krymsky Val. The gallery features over 190,000 works, including masterpieces by Ilya Repin, Mikhail Vrubel, and Ivan Shishkin. The museum's facade, designed by Viktor Vasnetsov, features a distinctive fairytale-inspired architectural style. It remains the primary repository for Russian national visual culture. The institution oversees several specialized sites, including the house-museums of historical Russian painters.
The ornate, colorful main entrance facade on Lavrushinsky Lane.
Focus on one specific era or artist per visit, as the collection is too vast to view thoroughly in a single day.
Check the official website in advance to see if any portions of the main gallery are closed for temporary exhibit rotation.
Visit the sculpture courtyard behind the main building for a quieter, outdoor experience.
Attempting to see both the historic Lavrushinsky Lane site and the New Tretyakov Gallery on Krymsky Val in the same day, as they are separate institutions.
Closed on Mondays; open until late on select weekdays.
Large bags and backpacks must be checked in the cloakroom; flash photography is strictly prohibited; maintaining a quiet volume is expected.
