This spectacular museum is a must for all "russophile" and in general for all visitors to Moscow! The State Tretyakov Gallery tells the history of Russia as no history book could do.
For most Westerners, Russian art was a closed book until the 20th century right up until the emergence of giants such as Kandinsky, Chagall and Malevich. The Tretiakov gives the opportunity to discover the rich tradition from which these great artists emerged on the world stage.
Often referred to as the Old Tretyakov, to differentiate it from the new museum dedicated to contemporary art (not included in this visit), the gallery has 62 rooms and 100,000 works that illustrate the development of Russian painting from the 10th to the 19th century. Some famous works that can be admired are: L '"Apotheosis of War" by Vasily Vereshchagin; "The Bogatyr" knights-errant, Viktor Vaznetsov; the "Marriage between different" Vasily Pukirev; the "Demon" by Mikhail Vrubel; L '"Golden Autumn" by Isaak Levitan.
The House of Artists Krymskij Val (part of the museum dedicated to contemporary art), which houses the art collection of the 20th century is worth a visit. Among the many works on display are the masterpiece of Malevich's "Black Square". You can also admire the pomposity of the "masterpieces" of socialist realism, and discover the works of postwar Soviet.