State Tretyakov Gallery
State Tretyakov Gallery
5 minutes read•Published on 07-11-2024
The State Tretyakov Gallery, situated in Moscow, Russia, is well-known for its art exhibits. You can find a wide-ranging collection of fine art pieces from Russia on display there. These artworks come from different times and highlight the work of artists from Russia’s national and regional art schools. Named after Pavel Tretyakov, its founder, the gallery is a major spot that draws in people who love art from every corner of the globe.
Tickets & tours
A selection of the best tours to experience the State Tretyakov Gallery with our partner GetYourGuide. These tours offer the best experience for visitors from all around the world.
A short history
The State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia, is a popular art gallery. Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov, a rich businessman, began its story in 1856. He collected art pieces created by Russian artists of his era. His collection grew over time and soon contained hundreds of items. In 1892, he decided to gift his large art collection to Moscow city.
The collection had many significant art pieces when it was handed over to Moscow city. Important works were the ‘The Appearance of Christ Before the People’ by Alexander Ivanov and several works by Ilya Repin, a famous painter. This is how the gallery’s journey began. The collection kept increasing with more artwork added to it. The gallery began to house many forms of art including paintings, sculptures, and graphics by different Russian artists.
In the 20th century, the gallery experienced a major shift. During the Russian Revolution in 1918, it was nationalized and became a state museum. It was renamed as the State Tretyakov Gallery. To pay tribute to its founder, the new name retained Tretyakov. The gallery also added more contemporary artworks to its collection during this period.
The gallery today has over 190,000 artworks, making it a leading collection of Russian art worldwide. It is home to a large variety of styles, from old icons to modern art pieces. The purpose of the State Tretyakov Gallery, as envisaged by its founder, remains unchanged — to provide easy access to Russian art and culture. It continues to be a major cultural attraction in Moscow.
One reason to visit
Kazimir Malevichs The Black Square.
If you visit the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, you will find an important piece of art known as The Black Square by Kazimir Malevich. This painting is a good reason to visit the gallery because it is a famous work in Russian art. Made in 1915, The Black Square presents a black square on a white background which makes it special. It is special because it was a new kind of art at the time that did not try to show the real world. This kind of painting is called non-objective or pure painting. The Black Square painting also brought a new idea in art called the zero point of painting. This means that it was the start of a new time in painting. You can see this important painting if you visit the Tretyakov Gallery.
Getting there
If one is coming from Red Square in Moscow, the easiest way to get to the State Tretyakov Gallery would be to walk south along the Moskvoretskaya embankment. Continue walking until you reach the Moskvoretskiy bridge, and cross over Moskva river. After crossing the bridge, turn right onto Bolshoy Moskvoretskiy and continue walking straight until you come to a crossroad with Yakimanskaya street. At this crossroad, take a left onto Yakimanskaya and follow this street until you reach Lavrushinsky Lane. Finally, take a left onto Lavrushinsky Lane and continue for around 200 meters. The Gallery is situated on the right side of the street. Be aware that the whole distance is 2.1 km and could take approximately 25 minutes to walk.
Starting from the Red Square, head southeast on Vasilevsky Descent towards Moskvoretskaya Embankment. Turn right onto the embankment and follow this until you see Raushskaya Embankment on your right. Turn onto this road and follow it straight until you reach Big Moskvoretsky Bridge. Cross the bridge and turn left onto Bolshaya Ordynka Street. Follow Bolshaya Ordynka Street for approximately 1.5 kilometers and you will find the State Tretyakov Gallery on your left. Please remember to ride safely and stick to bicycle lanes where provided.
To reach the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow by public transport, you first need to travel to the Metro station Tretyakovskaya. This metro station is serviced by the Line 6 (orange) and Line 8 (yellow). Once you exit the metro station, take the bus number 25 or trolleybus number 8, which will drop you directly at the gallery. Also, note that the gallery is located on the Lavrushinsky Lane 12. Make sure to check the schedule as public transportation frequency can vary.
The State Tretyakov Gallery is situated in Lavrushinsky Lane, Moscow. If driving from the city center, head southeast on Mokhovaya Street and then make a left turn onto Tverskoi Boulevard. Continue on the route until you reach Tverskoi Tollgate and then turn right onto Rubinstein Street, go straight ahead until you come to Prechistenskaya Embankment. At the roundabout, take the third exit onto Lavrushinsky Lane and you will find the gallery on your left. The whole journey should take approximately 20-30 minutes depending on traffic. Please remember that some areas might be pedestrian-only or one-way streets so use a reliable navigation system.
