Education and Art in Soviet Russia/Part 4

IV. Preservation of Art Objects

The Documents presented under Part III showed the methods used by the Soviet Government to popularize the study and production of contemporary art; Part IV contains documents to illustrate the piety with which the Soviets approach the art of the past, as preserved in museums, and the affectionate zeal with which they are safeguarding its treasures. Document No. 21 is a lengthy general statement on activities in this direction covering a period of one month (May 28–June 28, 1918); Documents No. 22 and No. 23 deal with individual famous collections: the Tretiakov Gallery in Moscow, which is the subject of No. 23, is one of the most celebrated collections of recent paintings in Europe, including, among other fine things, many of the paintings of the famous Russian painter, Verestchagin (1842—1904).