Pavel Mikhailovich
Tretyakov
1832-1898
Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov was a prominent Russian entrepreneur, philanthropist, and collector of Russian fine arts, as well as the founder of the Tretyakov Gallery. Born in Moscow into a merchant family, he received a home education and began his career working in the family business under his father’s guidance. Together with his brother, Sergei, they built several paper mills that employed thousands of workers. At the time of Tretyakov’s death, his fortune was estimated at 3.8 million rubles. Tretyakov first became interested in art collecting in the 1850s and initially intended to create a collection accessible to the public. The first pieces acquired were “Temptation” by N.G. Shilder and “Skirmish with Finnish Smugglers” by V.G. Khudyakov, both from 1853. Later, the collection grew to include works by prominent artists such as A.K. Savrasov, K.A. Trutovsky, and F.A. Bruni. In 1860, Tretyakov wrote a will expressing his desire to devote his collection to serving society. A significant place in his collection was occupied by works by V.G. Perov, whom Tretyakov considered a close friend and artist. He commissioned several portraits from Perov, including one of himself, and actively supported posthumous exhibitions of his work. The collection also included paintings on historical subjects, such as K.D. Flavitsky’s “Princess Tarakanova”, which was one of the Tretyakov family’s favourites. Another beloved piece was F.A. Bronnikov’s “Hymn to the Rising Sun”. In 1874, Tretyakov built a building to house his collection, which opened to the public in 1881. In 1892, he transferred the collection and gallery to the ownership of the Moscow City Duma, and the following year, the gallery was officially named the Pavel and Sergei Tretyakov City Art Gallery. Pavel Mikhailovich was appointed as a lifetime trustee of the gallery and became an honorary citizen of Moscow. Towards the end of his life, Tretyakov received the title of commercial counsellor, he was a shareholder in the Moscow Merchants’ Bank, a member of the Board of Trade and Industries, as well as a full member of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Arts.
Address: Moscow, Lavrushinsky lane, 10, building 4
