Painting and Drawing
The collection of Russian and West-European painting was formed in the pre-war period of the works of art from the Moscow Region Estates and the Central Museum funds. West-European painting is represented by separate items. Among them the significant specimens are "The Crucifixion" by an unknown Netherlandish painter of the 16th and "Catholic Procession" by the Dutch painter Geritt Berkheide 91638 - 1698), Frans Hals's apprentice.
The collection of Russian portrait is most interesting. It shows the development of this genre from the time it appeared in the 17th century until the realistic portraits of the second half of the 19th century. The best part of the collection is included in the permanent exhibition "Russian Art of the 18th - Early 20th Century".
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Hall of the 18th - 19th century.
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One of the best works in the Museum collection is the portrait of Smaragda Kantemir, painted by an unknown Russian artist in 1710. The second half of the 18th century is a period of flourishing in Russian portrait painting. Chamber portraits occupy the main place in the collection. Portrait of Margarita Frantsevna Zotova was painted in the 1780s by the leading master of this genre F.S. Rokotov. "Portrait of a Young Man" and "Portrait of a Lady in a Green Dress" of the 1780s are painted in the same manner. "Portrait of a Man in a Green Caftan" painted by Ivan Loktev, which was believed to be a portrait of F.G. Orlov, gives a more comprehensive idea of Russian chamber portraits. The present investigators think it is a portrait of Loktev's master I. Firsov - the first Russian genre painter.
S.N. Dolgoruky's portrait (1802) painted by V.L. Borovikovsky combines the characteristics of gala and chamber portraits. Art of foreign painters, who worked in Russia, constitute an inseparable part of the 18th - early 19th century Russian culture. The display presents the works of Swedish painter Alexander Roslin ("Portrait of I.I. Betsky" and "Portrait of Z.G. Chernyshov"). "Portrait of a Young Lady at the Clavecin" was painted by Johann Rombauer, a Hungarian by origin.
"Portrait of an Unknown Woman" (1810s) by N.I. Argunov demonstrates a democratic trend of the first half of the 19th century marked by a wider social circle of models and interest in people's private life. "Portrait of A.M. Golitsyn" (1820s) by V.A. Tropinin and "Portrait of Doctor N.I. Ber" (1857) complete the collection. The realistic conception and painting manner in "Portrait of N.I. Ber" and "Portrait of an Old Man" (1868) painted by N.V. Nevrev are characteristic of the second half of the 19th century. Together with the works of the well-known masters there are works of unknown artists giving a more profound idea of Russian portrait painting.
Landscape painting is represented by splendid works of N.G. Chernetsov, M.N. Vorobyev, I.K. Aivazovsky, A.K. Savrasov. There is a separate collection of architectural landscapes (over 120 works) painted by K.I. Gorbatov (1876 - 1945) who lived in Germany, traveled through Europe, visited Syria and Palestine.
Portraits in Drawing
Portraits in Drawing constitute the most valuable part of the Museum collection of drawing. Small-size portraits in water-color and pencil were widespread in the late 18th - early 19th century. The Museum preserves some portraits of P.F. Sokolov who was a popular master of the first half of the 19th century. Among them is "Portrait of N.E. Makukhina" remarkable for its complicated composition with detailed background and numerous accessories.
Karl von Hampeln worked in mixed technique. His works are quite documentary. The portrait of A.P. Kern's sister T.P. Lvova manifests great skill. Portraits made by V.I. Gau demonstrate refined technique. Portraits of military men by F. Krugher are real documents. "Portrait of E.B. Granovskaya" (1841) by K.A. Gorbunov is one of the best Russian water-color portraits.
L.O. Pasternak's portrait of Vysotskaya-Gots represents the brilliant period of the early 20th century in Russian drawing.
