The state Tretyakov gallery is one of the largest art museums in Russia and the world, named for the founder of the merchant and Maecenas Pavel Tretyakov. To collect a painting by P. Tretyakov began in 1850, and after 17 years, opened a gallery, the meeting which numbered about two thousand works of fine art and a few sculptures. In 1893, previously sent to Moscow as a gift the collection became known as the Moscow city gallery of Tretyakov and kept the money bequeathed by the founders. In 1918 the Tretyakov Gallery was nationalized and became "state property RSFRS", the first Directors, it became an art critic and artist I. Grabar, and then the architect A. Shchusev. When they grew up, the Museum has been added several new buildings, actively developed new exposure. During the great Patriotic war, all the paintings and sculptures were taken to Novosibirsk and Molotov. The evacuation lasted more than a year, but on may 17, 1945 the exhibition was re-opened to residents and guests of Moscow. The state Tretyakov gallery In the next decade, the Museum is continuously growing and today it consists of Gallery on Krymsky Val Gallery in Lavrushinsky lane, the house-Museum of V. M. Vasnetsov, the Temple of SV. Nicholas in Tolmachi and others branches. The Museum's collections include works of art of XI-XXI, which includes painting, sculpture, graphics. Best known works stored in the Museum, are considered icons of XI-XVII centuries, and especially among them a valuable face of the Vladimir mother of God, Rublev's "Trinity" and the icons written by Dionysius, and Theophanes the Greek, Simon Ushakov. The basis of the collections of the Tretyakov Gallery — Russian art, much of which dates to the second half of the XIX century. In the collection presents works by Kramskoy, Perov, Vasnetsov, Savrasov, Shishkin, Aivazovsky, Repin, Vereshchagin, and other famous Russian artists. In the XX century, the Gallery was enriched with works by Vrubel, Levitan, Serov, Malevich, Roerich and Benois. In the Soviet period in the expositions appeared Deineka, Brodsky, Kukryniksy, Nesterov and others. In addition to paintings the Museum houses and exhibits works Antokolskio, Mukhina, Shadr, Konenkova and other famous sculptors. The state Tretyakov gallery is currently the Tretyakov gallery is developing new displays and exhibitions, actively cooperating with many museums in the world and in Russia by providing collections for temporary exhibitions, conducts restoration and research work, to replenish funds, develops cultural and educational programs, participates in major Museum, film and music festivals. The Tretyakov gallery in 1995, was recognized as one of the most valuable objects of culture for its activities in the field of conservation of works of art and the popularization of Museum values
