How a visit to the Hermitage turned the fate of a merchant: facts from the history of the Tretyakov Gallery are little known

It is unlikely that we could today contemplate and admire the masterpieces of Russian painting, if not for the event that happened a little more than 125 years ago. Namely, in the summer of 1892, the merchant Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov donated to the Muscovites the most valuable thing that he had – the work of his whole life – a collection of works of Russian art, which he had been collecting for almost 40 years.

Being a native of the famous merchant family, Pavel Tretyakov (1832-1898) was not only a successful entrepreneur, but also a connoisseur of fine art, to which he had a special flair. Relying only on his artistic taste, he was able to distinguish true art from one-day paintings.

When collecting his collection, he did not pursue relevant works and fashionable authors; he was not interested in technique and elaborate manner. Sometimes he bought canvases contrary to criticisms from the public and art historians. Continue reading →