Yuri Korolev. Time of Change
Yuri Korolev (1929–1992), an actively working muralist, became head of the Tretyakov Gallery following an order of the USSR Ministry of Culture dated February 28, 1980. This appointment, to which Korolev hardly had an inclination due to his involvement in artistic projects, teaching at the Surikov Institute and working at the USSR Union of Artists, with time brought to light his new talent – that of an efficient and wise leader, whose decisions had to a great extent determined the modern appearance of the Tretyakov Gallery. He first directed his attention to the museum’s infrastructure and facilities – the lack of exhibition space was exacerbated by the dilapidated state of the buildings. Owing only to Korolev’s insistence funds were raised for an overhaul and the beginning of the first phase of the museum’s modernization. The author of this article, Korolev’s biographer, acquaints the reader with these and other remarkable achievements of the director.
Key words: Y.K. Korolev, director of the Tretyakov Gallery, renovations of the Tretyakov Gallery in the 1980s–1990s, Depository, Engineering Building, museum development prospects.