Origins & Early Life

Pavel Mikhaylovich Tretyakov (27 December 1832 – 16 December 1898) was a Russian businessman, patron of art, collector, and philanthropist who gave his name to the Tretyakov Gallery and Tretyakov Drive in Moscow. His brother Sergei Tretyakov was also a famous patron of art and a philanthropist. Together with other Moscow businessmen he acted as the founder of the Moscow Merchant Bank (becoming one of its heads), the Moscow commercial and industrial company, some other large firms. He amassed a considerable fortune (4.4 million rubles), consisting of real estate (5 houses in Moscow), securities, money and bills.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Tretyakov started to collect art in 1854 at the age of 22; his first purchase was 10 canvases by Old Dutch masters. He laid down for himself the aim of creating a Russian National Gallery. In his collection Tretyakov included the most valuable and remarkable products, first of all the contemporaries, from 1870 - mainly members of the society of circulating art exhibitions (Tovarishchestvo peredvizhnyh hudozhestvennyh vystavok or Peredvizhniki, Передвижники in Russian). He bought paintings at exhibitions and directly from artists...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson — Contemporary (Born in 1832) (1832): Pioneering Norwegian writer, poet, and polemicist, celebrated for national spirit.
• Édouard Manet — Contemporary (Born in 1832) (1832): Pivotal French modernist painter bridging Realism and Impressionism.
• Georges Cuvier — Contemporary (Died in 1832) (1832): Pioneering naturalist who founded paleontology and comparative anatomy.
• Alvar Aalto — Contemporary (Born in 1898) (1898): Pioneering Finnish architect whose total art approach defined modern Nordic design.
• Aubrey Beardsley — Contemporary (Died in 1898) (1898): Pioneering English illustrator known for decadent, erotic black ink drawings.
• Bennett Cerf — Contemporary (Born in 1898) (1898): American publisher, author, and co-founder of Random House.
• Adam Brody — Shared historical date (12-15 · Born) (1979): American actor known for roles in The O.C., Shazam!, and StartUp.
• Basil II — Shared historical date (12-15 · Died) (1025): Byzantine Emperor, known as the Bulgar Slayer, who reigned from 976 to 1025.
• Albert Bandura — Shared historical date (12-04 · Born) (1925): Pioneering psychologist known for Social Cognitive Theory and self-efficacy.
• Ali Abdullah Saleh — Shared historical date (12-04 · Died) (2017): Yemeni military officer and politician who served as President of Yemen from 1990 to 2012.
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• 1898 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1898
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