The State Tretyakov Gallery is the art gallery to visit in Moscow to see the finest Russian art.
This enormous gallery, founded in 1856, contains only Russian art and artists who have contributed to the history of Russian art - critics have described the gallery as a window into the soul of Russia and her peoples.
With more than 150,000 objects, including paintings, sculptures and graphics, the Tretyakov's collection dates from the 11 th century to the 20 th century.
The gallery itself is situated in one of Moscow's oldest districts, Zamoskvorechye, close to the Kremlin and Red Square. More contemporary national art is housed nearby in the State Tretyakov Gallery of Modern Art, which opened in 1985 and contains an impressive collection of Socialist Realism sculpture.
Moscow merchant and art lover PavelTretyakov founded the gallery in 1856 when he began collecting the works of Russian artists of that time. He handed his collection over to the nation in 1892.
By 1904, it was housed in a new home, a building designed by the painter Viktor Vasnetsov in the style of Russian fairytales. The gallery continued to expand throughout the 20 th century to incorporate neighbouring buildings.
Today the Tretyakov is an essential visit for anyone interested in Russia and in art, opening up the nation's intriguingly soulful artistic creations to the world.
Inside there are 62 different exhibition rooms with more than 130,000 works that chart Russian painting over 10 centuries.
The gallery has a vast collection of beautiful icons dating from the 12 th century and examples of landscape and portrait art that dominated the scene until the 18 th century. By the 19 th century, a distinctive national art was beginning to emerge, reflected in literature but also in the paintings of the likes of IlyaRepin, whose canvases remain as politically charged and relevant as they were more than a century ago. His painting of Ivan the Terrible and his murdered son is one of the most popular and thought-provoking exhibits in a gallery packed with such images.
Many visitors find themselves spellbound by the exhibit devoted to Mikhail Vrubel, the controversial painter whose art is linked to Russian Symbolism and Art Nouveau.
There are other recognisable paintings, such as Kiprinksy's portrait of Pushkin and Borovikovsky's portrait of Catherine the Great with her dogs, along with Rublev's Trinity, Malevich's Black Square and Composition VII by Kandinsky.
But the real gift of the Tretyakov is to introduce artists whose work was unknown outside Russia.
The 17 th century Church of St Nicholas was one of the neighbouring buildings incorporated into the Tretyakov - in fact, the gallery's founder worshipped at the church - and today it is the showcase for Russia's treasure trove of icons.
Visitors to the Tretyakov will find information leaflets in English and most of the exhibits are also labelled in English.
As the greatest collection of Russian art anywhere in the world, the Tretyakov is a must for any genuine lover of art and for everyone who wants to know more about Russia and her stoic, inspirational yet long-suffering people.
