Tretyakov who gave his whole life to the gallery. Descendants: fate and memory

Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov. Born December 15 (27), 1832 in Moscow - died December 4 (16), 1898 in Moscow. Russian entrepreneur, philanthropist, collector of works of Russian visual arts. Founder of the Tretyakov Gallery. Honorary citizen of Moscow (1896).

Pavel Tretyakov was born on December 15 (27 according to the new style) December 1832 in Moscow in merchant family.

Father - Mikhail Zakharovich Tretyakov, had small shops in Gostiny Dvor, owned a paper-dyeing and finishing factory.

Mother - Alexandra Danilovna Tretyakova, daughter of a merchant.

Younger brother - Sergei Mikhailovich Tretyakov (January 19 (31), 1834, Moscow - July 25 (August 6), 1892, Peterhof), entrepreneur, philanthropist, collector, real state councilor, one of the founders of the Tretyakov Gallery.

There were twelve children in the family, Pavel was the eldest.

Pavel and Sergey were of good weather, so from childhood they always did everything together, they were very friends. At the same time, they had different tempers and temperaments: Pavel was laconic, restrained and concentrated, while Sergei was usually cheerful and even looked frivolous. The brothers received their education with the help of home educators, who were hired by their father. When the boys grew up, their father began to involve them in work in his shops: Pavel and Sergei followed the orders of the clerk, called in customers, and did the cleaning.

In 1848, four children in the Tretyakov family died of scarlet fever, which affected their father's health. Mikhail Tretyakov, shortly before his death, made a will, according to which all "acquired capital" passed to his wife Alexandra Danilovna. At the same time, Mikhail Zakharovich noted his sons as a separate item: “To bring up and decently educate sons until they reach maturity. If my wife notices that the sons will take money not for a good deed, but for some kind of weakness or debauchery, then I give full will to prohibit the issuance of money until a formal division.

In 1851 big family Tretyakov moved into a two-story Zamoskvoretsky house with an outbuilding, a kitchen, a laundry room, a stable and a carriage house. The first floor was given to Pavel, Sergei and their sister Elizabeth. On the second settled Alexandra Danilovna with her younger children.

A few years later, Pavel and Sergey received from their mother all the rights to manage their affairs and, taking their son-in-law as a partner, founded the company "Shop of linen, paper, woolen goods, Russian and foreign trading house P. and S. brothers Tretyakov and V. Konshin in Moscow. In the new company, each of the owners was responsible for his site: Vladimir Dmitrievich worked directly in the store, Sergey oversaw foreign trade operations, Pavel kept all the accounting.

Things were going well, in 1866 the brothers opened a paper-spinning and weaving manufactory in Kostroma, which employed several thousand people.

Foundation of the Tretyakov Gallery

In the autumn of 1852, Pavel Tretyakov visited St. Petersburg. For more than two weeks he went to theaters, exhibitions, wandered in the halls of the Hermitage, the Rumyantsev Museum, the Academy of Arts. He wrote to his mother: “I saw several thousand pictures! Pictures of great artists ... Raphael, Rubens, Vanderwerf, Poussin, Murill, S. Roses and so on. and so on. I saw countless statues and busts! I saw hundreds of tables, vases, other sculptural things made of such stones, which I had not even had a clue about before.

After this trip, he became interested in collecting paintings - the desire to collect paintings by Russian artists became the meaning of his life.

In the 1850s, Pavel Tretyakov began amassing a collection of Russian art, which he intended almost from the start to donate to the city. He acquired his first paintings on June 4, 1856, these were the works "Temptation" and "Clash with Finnish smugglers". These were the first canvases of the future famous.

Further, the collection was replenished with paintings by I. P. Trutnev, A. K. Savrasov, K. A. Trutovsky, F. A. Bruni, L. F. Lagorio and other masters. Already in 1860, the philanthropist made a will, which stated: "For me, truly and ardently loving painting, can't be best wishes how to start a public, accessible repository fine arts bringing benefit to many, pleasure to all".

In the 1860s, Tretyakov acquired the paintings "Halt of Prisoners" by V. I. Jacobi, "Last Spring" by M. P. Klodt, "Grandmother's Tales" by V. M. Maksimov and others. Pavel Mikhailovich highly appreciated the work of V. G. Perov, to whom he wrote in October 1860: “Take care of yourself for the service of art and for your friends.” In the 1860s, such works by Perov as “Rural procession at Easter”, “Troika” and “Amateur”. In the future, Tretyakov continued to acquire paintings by Perov, commissioned portraits of him, and actively participated in organizing a posthumous exhibition of the artist's works.

In 1864, a painting appeared in the collection, painted on the theme of Russian history - “Princess Tarakanova” by K. D. Flavitsky. At the end of the 1860s, Pavel Mikhailovich commissioned F. A. Bronnikov to paint the painting “The Hymn of the Pythagoreans to the Rising Sun”.

On industrial matters, Pavel Tretyakov often traveled abroad, where he got acquainted not only with technical innovations, but also with painting. In Germany, France, Italy, England, Austria, he visited exhibitions and museums.

Also, artists dedicated him to the subtleties of fine art. In the St. Petersburg workshops, the collector learned the technology of painting, knew how to cover the paintings with varnish or, without the help of a restorer, remove damage on the canvas. Ivan Kramskoy recalled: "His manner in the studio and at exhibitions is the greatest modesty and silence."

In 1874, Tretyakov built a building for the collected collection - a gallery, which in 1881 was opened to the public.

A large number of paintings in his collection came from the Wanderers. These are: "The Rooks Have Arrived" by Savrasov and "Morning of the Streltsy Execution" by Surikov, "Christ in the Desert" by Kramskoy and " Birch Grove» Kuindzhi. And many hundreds more works. Pavel Tretyakov bought entire collections of paintings from artists. For example, from Vasily Vereshchagin in 1874, he immediately acquired 144 paintings and sketches, as well as 127 pencil drawings. The collection was immediately replenished with 80 works by Alexander Ivanov. Became part of the collection and picturesque impressions of Vasily Polenov's trip to the Middle East - 102 studies. Paintings by artists of the XVIII - early nineteenth century Tretyakov collected antique shops and private shops.

Pavel Tretyakov - portrait by Ilya Repin

On August 31, 1892, Pavel Mikhailovich wrote a statement to the Moscow City Duma about his decision to transfer his entire collection and the collection of his late brother Sergei Mikhailovich, together with the gallery building, to the city. “Wishing to contribute to the establishment of useful institutions in the city dear to me, to promote the flourishing of the arts in Russia and at the same time preserve for eternity the collection I have collected”- wrote Pavel Tretyakov.

In 1893, this institution received the name "City art Gallery Pavel and Sergei Mikhailovich Tretyakov. Pavel Tretyakov was appointed lifelong trustee of the gallery and received the title of Honorary Citizen of Moscow. Shareholder of the Moscow merchant bank.

After the opening of the gallery, according to the memoirs of contemporaries, he intended to welcome the nobility to Tretyakov, but Pavel Mikhailovich refused: "I was born a merchant, and I will die a merchant."

Tretyakov's latest acquisition for his gallery is Levitan's sketch for the painting "Above Eternal Peace".

By the end of his life, Tretyakov received the title of commerce adviser, was a member of the Moscow branch of the Council of Trade and Manufactories, and since 1893 - a full member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts.

Together with his brother, he owned several tenement houses in Moscow, including: Profitable house Tretyakov (Kuznetsky Most Street, 13/9 - Rozhdestvenka Street, 9/13); Profitable house of the Tretyakovs (Kuznetsky Most Street, 9/10 - Neglinnaya Street, 10/9).

Pavel Tretyakov's fortune at the time of his death was estimated at 3.8 million rubles.

Died 4 (16) December 1898. Last words to his relatives were: "Take care of the gallery and be healthy."

He was buried at the Danilovsky cemetery in Moscow next to his parents and brother Sergei, who died in 1892. In 1948, the ashes of the Tretyakov brothers were reburied at the Novodevichy Cemetery.

In Moscow, in front of the building of the Tretyakov Gallery, a monument was erected to Pavel Tretyakov.

On the island new earth in the Matochkin Shar Strait there is the Tretyakov Glacier.

Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov ( documentary)

Personal life of Pavel Tretyakov:

Wife - Vera Nikolaevna Mamontova, cousin of Savva Mamontov. They married in August 1865. According to Tretyakov's contemporaries, their marriage was harmonious and happy.

The marriage produced six children:

Faith (1866-1940);
Alexandra (1867-1959);
Love (1870-1928);
Mikhail (1871-1912);
Maria (1875-1952);
Ivan (1878-1887).

The eldest son Michael was born sick and weak-minded. The youngest son Ivan died early (from scarlet fever complicated by meningitis), which was a heavy blow for Pavel Tretyakov.

Daughter Vera Tretyakova, who left memories, wrote about the atmosphere that reigned in the family: “If childhood can really be happy, then my childhood was like that. That trust, that harmony between beloved people who loved us and cared for us, was, it seems to me, the most valuable and joyful.

Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov was a parishioner of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Tolmachi.

The family had a house in Lavrushinsky Lane.

world famous Tretyakov Gallery open to tourists all year round. However, not all visitors are familiar with the history of its creation, as well as the names of the people, thanks to whose efforts it appeared.

Collector's childhood

The biography of Pavel Tretyakov began on December 27, 1832. The future collector was born in Moscow in the family of a merchant. The thorough education that Pavel and his brother received at home had a very great influence on his life. Brothers with early childhood helped their father at work.

The desire to help, as well as to expand the family business, was so strong that the young Tretyakovs took up the production of paper - they became the owners of paper mills with a total number of workers - five thousand people.

Love for beauty

Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov from early childhood was very kind, attentive, sympathetic by nature. But at the same time, the simplicity and kindness of his heart were closely intertwined with real business acumen, the ability to highlight the main thing, and perseverance. In addition to his main activity (factory manager), Pavel Tretyakov was passionate about art. The young man decided at all costs to assemble a collection the best works of that era and burned with this idea until the end of his life.

Having begun his collective work, Tretyakov Pavel Mikhailovich accurately understood the goals facing him and appreciated the complexity of the work. Collecting the collection took him a lot of time. Since, in addition to his passion for art, Pavel Tretyakov, together with his brother, was engaged in entrepreneurial activity, namely the management of a flax-spinning factory in Kostroma and the sale of paper and fabrics, there was not much time left for art. But Pavel Tretyakov did it noble cause not because of the desire for personal gain, success, authority, fame. He was disgusted by these feelings, and in every way he avoided any slightest publicity about his collecting. There is a well-known case when, after a laudatory article by Stasov, where the author was scattered in praise of Pavel Mikhailovich for his selfless work, Tretyakov almost fell ill due to illness, upset because of this. After the incident, Pavel Mikhailovich was forced to temporarily leave Moscow. After that, the collector refused to attend the solemn ceremony regarding the transfer of the Tretyakov Gallery to the ownership of Moscow. Such an attitude to fame only confirms how simple and modest a person Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov was. The biography of the collector, of course, cannot but arouse admiration.

Collection start

It is difficult to say who exactly instilled in Pavel Tretyakov an interest in art, but he began to get involved in painting quite early. Little Pavel, as a child, was inspired by the noble idea of ​​collecting his own collection and thus opening up the opportunity for compatriots to get 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 the works of the Russian national art. For a long time Tretyakov kept his collection in his offices, and in 1874 he built a whole luxurious building for it. In 1881 the gallery was opened to the public.

Gallery formation

Even when purchasing and ordering paintings for his gallery, Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov adhered to the same moderation as in everything else. Even in the filling of the museum, his balanced and reasonable character affected. When buying paintings, Pavel Tretyakov never sought to replenish his collection with exclusively expensive exhibits. The collector kept to the golden mean.

The collector did not hesitate to 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 much as possible large collection works that would reflect the real national Russian art.

The value of the Tretyakov Gallery

The main part of the gallery consisted of works of Russian painting. Many paintings were painted by itinerant artists. 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 visited many domestic and foreign exhibitions, where he bought paintings. In addition, the collector asked Russian artists paint paintings for his gallery to order. Among these paintings are many portraits, including famous Russian leaders and rulers, scientists, writers, musicians, artists, artists, for example, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Turgenev, Nekrasov, Goncharov, Tchaikovsky and other prominent people.

In addition to paintings bought by Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov at exhibitions or ordered from the best at that time domestic artists, as well as sculptures and icons, the collection included those works that were collected and preserved by Pavel Mikhailovich's brother Sergei. This collection consisted of works Until the middle of the twentieth century, as many as 84 works were kept in the Tretyakov Gallery, and then were transferred to the Hermitage and the Pushkin Museum.

Activity value

In 1892, Pavel Tretyakov took the generous step of transferring his gallery, along with the entire collection, to Moscow. At this point, the collection consisted of more than a thousand paintings. From that moment on, the gallery acquired its official name of the Tretyakov City Art Gallery.

Of particular importance to the Russian cultural history has the fact that at the time of the creation of the gallery, national painting in Russian Empire was of a disjointed nature. In other words, it was in its infancy. 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 national school paintings and leave only selected works in the gallery, thereby setting the tone further development Russian fine arts.

Contribution to art

It must be said that in his old age the collector did not stop replenishing the gallery and even bequeathed personal funds for its maintenance and expansion. According to various sources, Pavel Mikhailovich acquired dozens of new works for the gallery every year, including drawings and sketches. its active charitable activities Pavel Tretyakov strengthened global importance Tretyakov Gallery. But also on this artistic activity Pavel Mikhailovich does not end. In 1893 the collector became a member

The gallery of Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov is extremely popular among tourists today. This only emphasizes the importance of its creation.

Cultural heritage

Thus, the idea of ​​Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov to create national museum completely came true. The Tretyakov Gallery became the first free gallery to visit. The most valuable works for Russia were collected in this museum. Pavel Tretyakov was counting on such a result. In short, the gallery not only combined the creations the best authors of that era, but also became a kind of symbol and guide 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 works of the Wanderers enjoyed special reverence from the great connoisseur. Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov was impressed by their living, spiritual creativity filled with love for native land, to the Motherland, to Russia. The collector unmistakably identified with his innate sense of beauty the extraordinary fullness in the works of these masters. In their paintings, themes of justice, the desire for truth and prosperity that deeply disturbed Pavel Mikhailovich were touched upon. It is not for nothing that the work of the Wanderers takes significant place in the Tretyakov collection.

The authority of Tretyakov

Thanks to his noble position, great goal, and special character, Tretyakov had a lot of good acquaintances and friends among 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 and, among other things, was allowed to be the first to choose creations for his museum among the painted canvases. All artists were familiar with Pavel Tretyakov. short biography 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 the collector's charity does not end there. Pavel Mikhailovich actively supported special educational institutions for hearing-impaired 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 broad-minded Pavel Tretyakov possessed. The biography of the collector makes an indelible impression as life path incredibly generous person.

Collector Achievements

Tretyakov Pavel Mikhailovich entered the Russian history as a real hero who did a lot for his Motherland and its prosperity. Moreover, many art critics characterize it as true patriot of their country. Of course, it's hard to disagree with this. After all, the goal of Pavel Mikhailovich was to collect the largest possible collection of Russian works, to multiply and show in all its glory Russian fund visual arts. Moreover, Tretyakov had absolutely no art education, nevertheless unmistakably chose the best exhibits for his gallery. The biography of Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov serves as an excellent example of how much useful things can be done for your country.

Pavel and Sergey are the eldest sons in the family of a merchant of the second guild Mikhail Zakharovich and Alexandra Danilovna, where there were seven more children. The Tretyakov family came from the merchants of the city of Maloyaroslavets, known since 1646, who moved to Moscow in the 18th century. Mikhail Zakharovich Tretyakov had five shops in the Old malls on Ilyinka, traded at the Nizhny Novgorod fair, had a flax-spinning and flax-weaving factory in Kostroma. Children studied at home with hired teachers.

In 1850, Mikhail Zakharovich Tretyakov died when Pavel was seventeen and Sergei fifteen. The brothers immediately continued their father's business - the mother helped to run the business.

In 1851, the Tretyakov brothers for the first time independently participated in the Nizhny Novgorod fair and at the end of the summer they bought a house in Lavrushinsky Lane, which became the basis of the building of the Tretyakov Gallery.

In 1853-1855, the Tretyakov family donated significant funds for hospital needs and military needs during the Crimean War.

In 1854, Pavel Tretyakov bought ten paintings of old Dutch artists at a flea market near the Sukharevskaya Tower, which became the basis of his collection of Western European paintings.

On August 26, 1856, Sergei Tretyakov received a bronze medal to wear in his buttonhole on the Anninsky ribbon in memory of the war of 1853-1856. On October 24 of the same year, he married Elizaveta Sergeevna Mazurina.

In 1856, Pavel Tretyakov purchased the painting "Clash with Finnish Smugglers" by artists V.G. Khudyakova and "Temptation" by N.G. Schilder. This year is the year of foundation of the Tretyakov Gallery.

On April 11, 1859, according to the will of the father, all trade affairs were transferred from the mother to the eldest sons.

On January 1, 1860, the trading house “P. and S. br. Tretyakovs and V.D. Konshin" for trade in linen, cotton and wool products. On January 2, Sergei Tretyakov was elected by the Moscow Merchant Society as a mayor. In the same year, his wife Elizaveta Sergeevna died during childbirth.

In 1860, the Tretyakov brothers financed the construction and maintenance of the Arnold-Tretyakov School for the Deaf and Dumb on Donskaya Street.

In 1861, Sergei Tretyakov traveled to Switzerland and France, became an amateur member of the Moscow Society of Art Lovers. On March 20, Sergei Tretyakov was elected to the Moscow City Duma.

In 1864 - 1866, Sergei Tretyakov was the foreman of the Moscow merchants.

In 1865, Pavel Tretyakov married Vera Nikolaevna Mamontova, they had two sons and three daughters.

In 1866, Sergei and Pavel Tretyakov, together with V.D. Konshin and K.Ya. Kashin became the founders and directors of the New Kostroma Manufactory, which combined the spinning, weaving and bleaching factories.

In 1866, Pavel Tretyakov became one of the founders and leaders of the Moscow Merchant Bank.

In 1869-1870, the Tretyakov brothers were listed as members and donors of the Slavic Charitable Committee in Moscow.

In 1871, they bought a mansion on Prechistensky Boulevard (now Gogolevsky Boulevard, No. 6), where Sergei Tretyakov settled.

In 1872 Sergei Tretyakov was awarded the Order of St. Stanislav, 3rd class.

In 1873, Sergei Tretyakov was elected an honorary member of the Society of Trustees of the Moscow Commercial School.

In 1874 the architect A.S. Kaminsky built a two-story building for the gallery, adjacent to the southern wall of the house and connected to a residential building, but with a separate entrance for visitors. Initially, one could enter the gallery only with the personal permission of Pavel Tretyakov.

In 1877, Sergei Tretyakov was elected mayor of Moscow - at his own expense he built Tretyakovsky passage between Nikolskaya Street and Teatralny Proyezd. In the same year, he was awarded the Order of St. Stanislav, 2nd degree, for his work on the Council of the Moscow Commercial School.

In 1881-1887 Sergei Tretyakov subsidized the publication of the Art Journal.

In 1881, the entrance to the gallery of the Tretyakov brothers became free and free for everyone.

In 1882, Sergei Tretyakov traveled around Europe and took an active part in the All-Russian Industrial and Art Exhibition in Moscow.

In 1883, he was awarded the rank of real state councilor and the Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd degree, for participating in the construction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

In 1889, Sergei Tretyakov was elected chairman of the Moscow Society of Art Lovers, awarded the Order of St. Stanislav, 1st degree, and later moved to St. Petersburg.

July 25, 1892 Sergei Tretyakov dies in Peterhof. He is buried at the Danilovsky cemetery in Moscow. In his will, he wrote: “Since my brother Pavel Mikhailovich expressed to me his intention to donate his art collection to the city of Moscow and, in view of this, to transfer to the ownership of the Moscow City Duma his part of the house that belongs to us in common, then I am part of this house, which belongs to me, I represent it to the Moscow City Duma."
In 1892, Pavel Tretyakov transferred his collection and brother to the city.

On August 31, 1892, Pavel Mikhailovich addressed the Moscow Duma: “Concerned, on the one hand, with the speedy fulfillment of the will of my dear brother, and on the other, wanting to contribute to the establishment of useful institutions in my dear city, to promote the flourishing of art in Russia and at the same time to preserve for eternity the collection I have collected, but now I am donating my entire art gallery to the Moscow City Duma and transferring the part of the house that belonged to me to the ownership of the city.
The collection included 1276 paintings, 471 drawings and 9 sculptures from almost all schools and directions of Russian fine art of the 18th-19th centuries. Pavel Tretyakov's expenses for the creation of the gallery amounted to about four million rubles.
On August 15, 1893, the Museum "City Art Gallery of Pavel and Sergei Tretyakov" was opened. Pavel Tretyakov was a lifetime trustee of the gallery and a full member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts.

In 1894, Pavel Tretyakov donated 30 paintings and 12 drawings to the gallery.

In 1898, a painting by V.M. Vasnetsov "Bogatyrs".

On December 4, 1898, Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov died and was buried at the Danilovsky cemetery. In 1948, the ashes of the Tretyakov brothers were reburied at the Novodevichy Cemetery.

Pavel Tretyakov - founder of the Tretyakov Gallery. How was the life of this philanthropist? We will talk about this in the article.

Brief information about the life of the great philanthropist

Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov was born on December 27, 1832 in Moscow. His parents were merchants. Throughout his childhood, Pavel Mikhailovich was an excellent assistant to his father at work. He and brother Sergei were inseparable. From an early age they worked together, and later created the famous art gallery.

By the end of the 40s of the 19th century, the Tretyakov merchants owned five trading shops. But soon the breadwinner of the family, Mikhail Zakharovich Tretyakov, fell ill with scarlet fever and died. All responsibility for the family and trade was assumed by Pavel and Sergey. After the death of his mother, Pavel Mikhailovich headed the paper mill, where he did business very successfully.

By nature, Pavel Tretyakov, Interesting Facts from whose life you will learn later, was a kind and sensitive person. He loved comfort and appreciated art. At work, they spoke of him as a businesslike, persistent and firm person. But it cannot be said that he was extremely strict with his subordinates.

The early years of Tretyakov

His interest in great art manifested itself at the age of twenty, after visiting the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. It was then that the idea arose to collect his own collection of paintings. He understood that collecting a unique collection would take all of his free time but Paul was encouraged by the idea.

The first paintings were purchased in 1853, the next year he bought nine paintings by old Dutch masters - they decorated his living rooms until Tretyakov's death. A couple of years later, his collection was replenished with the works of N. G. Schilder "Temptation", V. G. Khudyakov "Finland smugglers", then followed by the purchase of paintings by I. P. Trutnev, A. K. Savrasov, K. A. Trutovsky, F A. Bruni, L. F. Lagorio, and famous portrait archaeologist Lanci of Italian origin.

The purpose of collecting Pavel Tretyakov was not enrichment and fame, but love for art and the gift of his collection to the people.

Marriage

The year 1865 was marked for the young philanthropist by his marriage to a twenty-year-old girl Vera Nikolaevna Mamontova, who was quite educated for that time. The bride was brought up in the same family as he, and was very warm towards music and art in general. After a while, their daughters are born, and later their son Michael. But unfortunately he grew up sickly child and demanded constant attention. Michael's life was short.

The activity of Pavel Mikhailovich is aimed at collecting the works of his contemporaries and artists - democrats of the national school. The heart of the Tretyakov Gallery are the works of I. N. Kramskoy, V. I. Surikov and E. Repin.

First steps

Communicating with famous people, Tretyakov decides to create Big hall portraits of their compatriots and contemporaries. To do this, he created a list of names by which Tretyakov accepted orders for portraits.

Pavel Mikhailovich chose a place for the future museum of painting in Lavrushinsky Lane, where he started building a chic two-story building of the future Tretyakov Gallery. In the summer of 1893, the long-awaited opening took place. Later, the fate of the gallery was decided by the people. It was transferred to the city of Moscow. As a reward, the autocrat offered Pavel Mikhailovich title of nobility, but he refused, choosing the merchant class, which he was so proud of.

The history of the appearance of the family of merchants Tretyakov

P. Tretyakov came from an old merchant family. The great-grandfather of Pavel and Sergei - Elisey Martynovich Tretyakov - came from the merchants of Maly Yaroslavets, known since 1646. In 1774 he moved to Moscow with his wife Vasilisa and children: Osip and Zakhar. Later, Elisha remarried, and his second wife bore him a son, Misha. Matured Mikhail in 1831 marries Alexandra Borisova. So Pavel and Sergei Tretyakov were born. They also had sisters: Sophia, Elizabeth and Nadezhda. The father carefully monitored the education of his children. The Tretyakov family was a model of obedience and courtesy. There were no quarrels and insults between the children. The brotherly love of Pavel and Sergei later laid the foundation for the creation of the famous Tretyakov Gallery.

Tretyakov brothers

After the death of their parents, Pavel and Sergei had to take control of the factories into their own hands. Their work was measured and successful. According to written sources, the Tretyakov family was not rich enough. The Tretyakov brothers took the money that went to purchase the collection from the family budget and the income of their enterprises.

Sergei fully supported his brother and was actively involved in charity work. They worked, rested and together founded the Arnold-Tretyakov School. It is still famous today because it educational institution created for the deaf and dumb in Moscow.

Sergei Mikhailovich Tretyakov was the head of the city and a passionate collector of collections.

Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov devoted his whole life to collecting. There was one difference between the brothers: Sergei Mikhailovich regarded collecting as his hobby, while Pavel Tretyakov saw in his desire, and later in his activity, a kind of mission.

Happiness and love of patron Tretyakov

The biography of Pavel Tretyakov indicates that he was the last member of his family to marry. It happened in the thirty-third year of his life. His wife was Vera Nikolaevna Mamontova. All her life this woman has been guiding star for Pavel Mikhailovich. Vera Nikolaevna could not come to terms with only one main rival - with art gallery her husband, on which he spent all his fortune and most of his time.

At thirty-two, Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov was the only bachelor in the family. No one even hoped that he would marry. But soon he announces his engagement to Vera Mamontova, and then the wedding.

Pavel Tretyakov met Vera Nikolaevna at one of the family evenings in the Mamontovs' house. Vera Nikolaevna grew up in a merchant family. Her femininity, high intelligence, love of music fascinated the patron.

The wedding date was set for August 22, 1865. To the surprise of everyone, the marriage of Paul and Vera turned out to be strong and happy. Their family was big. They lived in the house with six children. Vera Nikolaevna throughout her life kept warmth and harmony in the family. However, they family life was not so rosy. The husband was strict and kept financial records. Clothes were bought new only after the old wore out. The fact is that Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov spent all the money of the family on replenishing his art collection and on charity.

Despite such huge expenses, Vera Nikolaevna never reproached her husband for this. She treasured his love and always agreed with him.

Grief in the Tretyakov family

Not all children of Pavel Tretyakov could become the pride of their parents. In 1887, the Tretyakov family was overtaken by an inevitable misfortune: the youngest son of Pavel Mikhailovich died, seriously ill with scarlet fever. Another blow that followed the first was the verdict of the doctors about the dementia of the second son. Unable to bear such a surprise of fate, the philanthropist withdrew into himself and became completely detached.

In 1893, the beloved wife of Pavel Mikhailovich experienced a microstroke, and five years later she came down with paralysis. And then Tretyakov realized that Vera Nikolaevna was dearer to him than anything in the world. From experiences, he himself fell ill, and on December 16 he left this world. Vera Nikolaevna passed away three months after the death of her husband. In 1898, the gallery, according to his will, became the property of the city of Moscow. And in 1918, by order of the leader of the proletariat, it received the name of the State Tretyakov Gallery. During the Soviet era, the Tretyakov Gallery collected not only paintings by artists of the 18th and 19th centuries, but also works by artists of the post-revolutionary period: Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, Yuri Pimenov, Semyon Chuikov, Arkady Plastov, Alexander Deineka...

Death of a patron

The merchant Pavel Tretyakov was known not only as a collector of the collection, he was an honorary member of the Society of Art and Music Connoisseurs. He also took an active part in charity work. At one time, together with his brother, he founded a school for the deaf and dumb in Moscow.

In early December 1898, Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov came down with a stomach ulcer. Even in the last hours of his life, he thought about the business in the gallery. The last request of the dying man was to save the gallery, and our contemporaries did just that.

The philanthropist Pavel Tretyakov was buried at the Danilovsky cemetery. Now his ashes rest at the Novodevichy cemetery.

Replacing a famous painting

In 1913, the mentally ill icon painter Abram Balashov, while in the Tretyakov Gallery, cut up the painting by the artist Repin "Ivan the Terrible kills his son." The faces in the picture had to be restored again. And the curator of the gallery (at that time he was E. M. Khrustov), ​​having learned about this, threw himself under the train.

The surprising fact was that the artist himself did not notice changes in his work. This saved the gallery from collapse.

Interesting facts about the Tretyakov Gallery

• In 1929, the Church of St. Nicholas was closed in Tolmachi, which immediately became one of the storerooms of the Tretyakov Gallery. She was connected with exhibition halls on the top floor of a two-story building, which was intended to display the painting "The Appearance of Christ to the People" by Alexander Ivanov.
• During the Great Patriotic War Tretyakov's collection was evacuated to Novosibirsk. The meeting occupied seventeen wagons.
• The history of the painting "The Rooks Have Arrived". This picture wrote famous artist Alexey Savrasov. After the death of his newborn daughter, he tried many times to repeat his work. It all ended with the artist painting walls in taverns with a copy of this painting. And with the money he earned, he bought himself bread and vodka.
• In order to get the desired picture, Pavel Mikhailovich paid for the trips of the artists. In 1898, Osip Braz painted a portrait of A.P. Chekhov, which Pavel Mikhailovich sent to Nice. However, the writer himself did not like the portrait.
• Everyone famous Malevich painted four versions of the famous "Black Square", and two of them are in the Tretyakov Gallery.

Immortal Legacy

Summing up, it can be noted that the meaning of Pavel Tretyakov's life is his famous collection. In Russia rare person with such an obsession and fanatical desire, he tried to convey the “beautiful” to all people, ignoring prejudices and social inequality. Pavel Tretyakov was a truly great man who loved his homeland and people. The Tretyakov Gallery is his greatest contribution to world art. And the memory of the man with a capital letter, who was Tretyakov, will never die!

Museums section publications

Pavel Tretyakov. Art belongs to the people

“A big name from you and business will remain,” said art critic Vladimir Stasov to Pavel Tretyakov. These words turned out to be prophetic. The merchant, entrepreneur, philanthropist throughout his life collected paintings by Russian artists in order to convey unique collection gift to hometown.

Childhood dream

Pavel Tretyakov and Mikhail Pryanishnikov. 1891 Photo: tphv-history.ru

Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov. 1898 Photo: tphv-history.ru

Maria Pavlovna, Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov and Nikolai Vasilyevich Nevrev. 1897 Photo: tphv-history.ru

Pavel Tretyakov grew up in a merchant family and was educated at home. He began to collect his first collection from childhood: he bought engravings and lithographs in the market, in small shops. At the age of fourteen, together with his brother, he continued the family business - at first they kept shops with scarves and a store, and then acquired a manufactory in Kostroma. Things were going well, but this did not affect Tretyakov's lifestyle.

"Silent, modest, as if lonely"- this is how others saw Pavel Tretyakov. He avoided balls, did not recognize excesses, always wore a frock coat of the same cut. The only excess is a cigar a day. But the flip side of modesty was a broad soul: he supported a school for the deaf and dumb, organized a shelter for widows, orphans and poor artists. He also supported bold undertakings, such as the expedition of Miklouho-Maclay.

Tretyakov family

Pavel Tretyakov with his wife Vera Nikolaevna (nee Mamontova). 1880s Photo: wikimedia.org

Family of Pavel Tretyakov. 1884 Photo: tretyakovgallery.ru

Pavel Tretyakov with granddaughters. 1893 Photo: tphv-history.ru

At 33, Pavel Tretyakov married cousin Savva Mamontov - Vera. Although the head of the family was called "unsmiling", the marriage was harmonious and happy. Tretyakov became gloomy and silent after the death of one of his sons - Ivan, everyone's favorite and father's hope. But despite the family misfortune, the atmosphere of love accompanied Tretyakov's children throughout their lives.

“If childhood can really be happy, then my childhood was. That trust, that harmony between beloved people who loved us and cared for us, was, it seems to me, the most valuable and joyful.

Vera Tretyakova, eldest daughter

Industrialist - collector

Nicholas Schilder. Temptation. Year unknown.

Alexey Savrasov. View of the Kremlin in inclement weather. 1851. State Tretyakov Gallery

Vasily Khudyakov. Skirmish with Finnish smugglers. 1853. State Tretyakov Gallery

In the autumn of 1852, Tretyakov visited St. Petersburg. For more than two weeks he went to theaters, exhibitions, wandered in the halls of the Hermitage, the Rumyantsev Museum, the Academy of Arts and, overwhelmed with impressions, wrote to his mother:

“I saw several thousand pictures! Pictures of great artists ... Raphael, Rubens, Vanderwerf, Poussin, Murill, S. Roses and so on. and so on. I saw countless statues and busts! I saw hundreds of tables, vases, other sculptural things made of such stones, which I had not even had a clue about before.

This trip finally made the merchant and industrialist Tretyakov a collector of paintings. The desire to collect paintings by Russian artists became the meaning of his life. At that time, Pavel Mikhailovich was only 24 years old, the patron of art bought the first paintings by Russian artists in 1856. It was "Temptation" by Nikolai Schilder and "Clash with Finnish smugglers" by Vasily Khudyakov. In the next four years, the living rooms of the mezzanine of the house in Lavrushinsky Lane were decorated with paintings by Ivan Trutnev, Alexei Savrasov, Konstantin Trutovsky ... Tretyakov not only laid the foundation for the collection, but also determined the main goal of his collection, about which he wrote in his will.

“For me, who truly and ardently love painting, there can be no better desire than to lay the foundation for a public, accessible repository of fine arts, bringing benefits to many, all pleasure.”

To Europe - for impressions, to workshops - for experience

Ivan Kramskoy. Unknown. 1883. State Tretyakov Gallery

Viktor Vasnetsov. Bogatyrs. 1881-1898. GTG

On industrial matters, Pavel Tretyakov often traveled abroad - he got acquainted with technical innovations. These trips became "art universities" for the collector. In Germany, France, Italy, England, Austria, he visited exhibitions and museums.

The intricacies of the fine arts were initiated by Tretyakov and practitioners - artists. In the St. Petersburg workshops, the collector learned the technology of painting, knew how to cover the paintings with varnish or, without the help of a restorer, remove damage on the canvas. “His manner in the workshop and at exhibitions is the greatest modesty and silence”, - Ivan Kramskoy recalled the visits of Tretyakov.

Painting by painting

Vasily Surikov. Morning of the archery execution. 1881. State Tretyakov Gallery

Alexey Savrasov. The Rooks Have Arrived. 1871. State Tretyakov Gallery

Arkhip Kuindzhi. Birch Grove. 1879. State Tretyakov Gallery

The movement of the Wanderers provided the gallery with a stream of real masterpieces. Savrasov's "Rooks Have Arrived" and Surikov's "Morning of the Streltsy Execution", Kramskoy's "Christ in the Desert" and Kuindzhi's "Birch Grove" and hundreds and hundreds more works. Tretyakov bought paintings from artists in whole collections, like from Vasily Vereshchagin: in 1874 he immediately acquired 144 paintings and sketches, 127 pencil drawings. The collection was replenished immediately with 80 works by Alexander Ivanov. Became part of the collection and picturesque impressions of Vasily Polenov's trip to the Middle East - 102 studies. Paintings by artists of the 18th - early 19th centuries Tretyakov collected from antique shops and private shops.

The artists themselves admitted that the collector had a special perception of painting, and sometimes at exhibitions they did not know which paintings he would choose. "This is a man with some kind of devilish instinct", - spoke about Tretyakov Kramskoy.

Gallery in Lavrushinsky Lane

State Tretyakov Gallery

State Tretyakov Gallery

State Tretyakov Gallery

By 1872, the large Tretyakov family was tired of those who wanted to see his unique collection, and the collector decided to build a separate building for him. New halls were added gradually. After the death of his brother - Sergei Tretyakov - his collection also took a place in the gallery, and at the same time it was decided to transfer the collection of paintings to the city.

“Wishing to contribute to the establishment of useful institutions in the city dear to me, to promote the flourishing of the arts in Russia and at the same time preserve the collection I have collected for eternity.”

Pavel Tretyakov

The philanthropist himself was not present at the opening of the gallery - he left Moscow with his family for six months, as he did not like too much attention to his person. After the opening of the gallery, according to the memoirs of contemporaries, Alexander III

“I don’t need rich nature, or magnificent composition, or effective lighting, no miracles, give me at least a dirty puddle, but so that there is truth in it, poetry, and poetry in everything can be, this is the artist’s business.”

Pavel Tretyakov

From the memories of Vera, eldest daughter Pavel Tretyakov.