This book explores the history of Russian portraiture between 1872 and 1914 with reference to a variety of important works held by the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. This national collection was founded in 1856 by Pavel Tretyakov, who took a keen interest in portraiture and set out to create a pantheon of famous Russians by commissioning portraits of prominent thinkers, writers, scientists, artists, actors, composers and musicians by the most outstanding painters of the day.