The
State Tretyakov in Moscow is the world's foremost repository of Russian
fine art. It was founded in 1856 by the influential merchant and
collector Pavel Tretyakov, who presented it as a gift to the city in
1892. It is now an extensive museum complex, encompassing several
buildings and containing over 130,000 exhibits, ranging from exquisite
and mysterious 12th century icons to politically charged works of 20th
century Soviet socialist realism. However, it remains true to its
original aims of connecting the people of Russia to their cultural
identity and sharing this rich heritage with the wider world. In this
book, Director Zelfira Tregulova selects her personal highlights from
this vast collection, providing a revealing insight into the history and
meaning behind some of the world's most significant artworks.