The historic building of the Tretyakov Gallery at 10 Lavrushinsky Lane is located in a complex of buildings, the core of which is a mansion from the second half of the 18th century. The Tretyakov family acquired this house in 1851. Having begun collecting paintings by Russian artists in 1856, Pavel Tretyakov displayed them in the living rooms. As the collection grew, new premises were needed to display it, and from 1872 onwards, extensions were built to the house. During Tretyakov’s lifetime, such works were carried out five times. Between 1902 and 1904, the exterior of the building on the Lavrushinsky Lane side was rebuilt according to a design developed based on a drawing by Viktor Vasnetsov. The new façade in the Russian style became the emblem of the museum, whose collection rapidly expanded in the 20th century. In 1936, another exhibition building was built. From 1986 to 1995, a major renovation of the building was carried out, increasing the exhibition space by enclosing the courtyards. The building is a federal cultural heritage site.
Today, the historic Tretyakov Gallery building houses an exhibition of Russian art from the 12th to early 20th centuries. It occupies 62 halls on two floors, is organized chronologically, and offers insight into the development of the national artistic tradition.
