The world famous Tretyakov Gallery is open for tourists all year round. However, not all visitors are familiar with the history of its creation, as well as the names of people, thanks to the efforts of which it appeared.
Collector's childhood
Biography of Pavel Tretyakov began on December 27, 1832. The future collector was born in Moscow in the family of a merchant. The great education that Paul and his brother received at home had a great influence on his life. Brothers from early childhood helped their father at work.
The desire to help, as well as expand the family business, was so strong that the young Tretyakovs took up the production of paper - they became owners of paper spinning mills with a total number of workers - five thousand people.
Love of beauty
Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov from early childhood by nature was very kind, attentive, responsive. But at the same time, the simplicity and kindness of his heart were closely intertwined with real business acumen, the ability to emphasize the main thing, perseverance. In addition to his main activity (factory manager), Pavel Tretyakov was passionately fond of art. The young man decided at all costs to collect a collection of the best works of that era and burned with this idea until the end of his life.
Having begun his collective work, Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov precisely understood his goals and appreciated the complexity of the work. Collecting the collection took him quite a lot of time. Since, in addition to his passion for art, Pavel Tretyakov, along with his brother, was engaged in entrepreneurial activity, namely, managing the spinning mill in Kostroma and selling paper and fabrics, there was not much time left for art. But Pavel Tretyakov was engaged in this noble cause not because of the desire for personal gain, success, authority, fame. These feelings abhorred him, and he did everything possible to avoid any slightest publicity about his collecting. The case is well-known when, after Stasov’s laudatory article, where the author scattered in praises to Pavel Mikhailovich for his selfless work, Tretyakov nearly fell ill due to illness, being upset because of this. After the incident, Pavel Mikhailovich was forced to temporarily leave Moscow. After that, the collector refused to attend the ceremony regarding the transfer of the Tretyakov Gallery to Moscow. Such an attitude to fame only confirms how simple and modest a person was Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov. The biography of the collector, of course, cannot but be admired.
The beginning of the collection
It is difficult to say exactly who instilled in Pavel Tretyakov an interest in art, but he began to get involved in painting quite early on. Little Pavel, as a child, was fired up by the noble idea to collect his own collection and thus open up the opportunity for compatriots to become closer to art, including national art. His dream was destined to come true. Already in 1856 he laid the foundation for his collection. Of greatest interest to him were works of Russian national art. For a long time, Tretyakov kept his collection in his offices, and in 1874 he built for her a whole gorgeous building. In 1881, the gallery was open for public access.
Gallery Formation
Even acquiring and ordering paintings for his gallery, Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov maintained the same moderation as in everything else. Even the filling of the museum was affected by its balanced and judicious nature. Buying paintings, Pavel Tretyakov never sought to replenish his collection with exceptionally expensive exhibits. The collector held on to the golden mean.
The collector did not shun and bargain with the artists. Most of the paintings acquired by Tretyakov had an average price. The main task of Pavel Mikhailovich at that time was to collect as large a collection of works as possible that would reflect real national Russian art.
Tretyakov Value
The main part of the gallery consisted of works of Russian painting. Many paintings were painted by Wanderers. However, in addition to paintings, Pavel Mikhailovich was fond of sculpture and icons. In order to fill his collection, the collector often acquired entire series of works. To this end, Tretyakov attended many domestic and foreign exhibitions, where he bought paintings. In addition, the collector asked Russian artists to paint for his gallery to order. Among these paintings are many portraits, including famous Russian figures and rulers, scientists, writers, musicians, artists, artists, for example, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Turgenev, Nekrasov, Goncharov, Tchaikovsky and other prominent people.
In addition to the paintings bought by Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov at exhibitions or ordered from the best Russian artists at that time, as well as sculptures and icons, the collection included those works that were collected and saved by the brother of Pavel Mikhailovich Sergey. This collection consisted of works by French artists. Until the mid-twentieth century, as many as 84 works were stored in the Tretyakov Gallery, and then were transferred to the Hermitage and the Pushkin Museum.
The value of the activity
In 1892, Pavel Tretyakov took a generous step and handed over his gallery, together with the entire collection, to the ownership of Moscow. At this point, the collection consisted of more than a thousand paintings. From that moment on, the gallery acquired its official name as the Tretyakov City Art Gallery.
Of particular importance to Russian cultural history is the fact that, at the time of the creation of the gallery, national painting in the Russian Empire was fragmented. Simply put, she was at the formation stage. At that time, the art of domestic figures was constantly subjected to comparison, harsh criticism and, in fact, was only at the beginning of development. It was the work of Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov that made it possible to systematize the works of the national school of painting and leave only selected works in the gallery, thereby setting the tone for the further development of Russian fine art.
Contribution to Art
It must be said that at an advanced age the collector did not stop replenishing the gallery and even bequeathed personal funds for its maintenance and expansion. According to various sources, in the year Pavel Mikhailovich acquired dozens of new works for the gallery, among which were drawings and sketches. With his active charitable activities, Pavel Tretyakov strengthened the world significance of the Tretyakov Gallery. But this is not the end of the artistic activity of Pavel Mikhailovich. In 1893, the collector became a member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts.
The gallery of Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov and today is extremely popular among tourists. This only emphasizes the importance of its creation.
Cultural heritage
Thus, Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov’s idea of creating a national museum came true completely. The Tretyakov Gallery became the first gallery to be visited. This museum has collected the most valuable works for Russia. It was this result that Pavel Tretyakov was counting on. In short, the gallery not only combined the creations of the best authors of that era, but also became a kind of symbol and guidebook for shaping the future of cultural Russia.
Throughout its history, the Tretyakov Gallery has become a receptacle for such outstanding works of art as the works of Schilder, Khudyakov, Trutnev, Savrasov, Trutovsky, Bruni, Lagorio and Bryullov.
The work of the Wanderers enjoyed special respect from the great connoisseur. Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov was impressed by their lively, spiritual work, saturated with love for their native land, for their homeland, for Russia. The collector accurately identified with his innate sense of beauty the extraordinary fullness in the works of these masters. In their paintings, topics of justice, striving for truth and prosperity were deeply disturbed by Pavel Mikhailovich. It is not for nothing that the work of the Wanderers occupies a significant place in the collection of Tretyakov.
The authority of Tretyakov
Thanks to his noble position, great goal, and also his special character, Tretyakov had a lot of good acquaintances and friends among the artists. Many figures on their own initiative offered help and support in the creation of the Tretyakov Gallery. Pavel Mikhailovich was very loved and respected in this environment. Even among other collectors, Tretyakov was given the palm, including allowing the first to choose creations for his museum from among the painted canvases. All artists heard Pavel Tretyakov. A brief biography of the collector only emphasizes that, in addition to his noble activities, he himself enjoyed authority among artists. So, Volnukhin painted his portrait for the collector.
Social activity
Pavel Tretyakov was friends with many artists and sponsored many of them. Among such figures are Kramskoy, Perov, Vasiliev and many other creators. But this does not end the collector's charity. Pavel Mikhailovich actively supported special educational institutions for hard of hearing people, financially supported the widows of poor artists, as well as their children. He even took part in organizing a shelter for them. Such activity emphasizes how wide Pavel Tretyakov possessed. The biography of the collector makes an indelible impression as the life path of an incredibly generous person.
Collector Achievements
Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov went down in Russian history as a real hero who did a lot for his homeland and its prosperity. Moreover, many art historians characterize him as a true patriot of his country. Of course, it’s hard to disagree. After all, the goal of Pavel Mikhailovich was to collect as large a collection of Russian works as possible, to increase and show in all its glory the Russian fine arts fund. Moreover, Tretyakov had absolutely no art education, nevertheless he unmistakably chose the best exhibits for his gallery. Biography of Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov serves as an excellent example of how much useful can be done for your country.