This is a little known but yet a very significant part of the benefactor’s collection. The exposition is composed of 60 pieces of the XV–XIX centuries many of which will be shown to the general public for the first time. Among them are the outstanding monuments of old Russian painting such as Novgorod icon “Stands the Queen” of the XV century and “Blessed Virgin Amabilis (Igorevskaya)” by a Moscow painter of the XVI century, one of the first bought by Pavel Mikhailovich. Visitors will see the works by Tsar’s and Stroganov’s masters of the XVI–XVII centuries highly valued by Tretyakov and collectors of his time.

The exhibition reveals the personality of the patron and collector of the XIX century art from an unusual viewpoint – as a person keen not only on acquiring, but also on exploring monuments of old Russian painting. A special focus at the exhibition is on the history of assembling the collection in the 1890s with the participation of antiquaries and connoisseurs of old relics as well as its further destiny in the XX century. Separate sections describe how the icons were included into the Gallery’s exposition and tell the story of the 1929–1932 exhibition abroad that glorified Russian art. Visitors will see related photo materials and a number of icons, which were displayed there together with the works from Pavel Tretyakov’s collection.

The project is complemented by archive materials, pieces from other museum collections and rare documents enabling to trace the flow of time – from private collecting to the establishment of the largest national museum. The exhibition will become an important contribution to studying the history of collecting and suggest a new view of the artistic value and cultural magnitude of the collection of icons assembled by the Tretyakov Gallery’s founder.