The figure of the world famous creator of the gallery is strangely hiding in the shadow of his brainchild. Books, articles, television programs dedicated to Tretyakov tell with fervor about the artists whom he patronized, about the paintings he acquired, about how the Tretyakov Gallery continued to exist after the death of its creator. With all the abundance of literature dedicated to P.M. Tretyakov, it seems that an unknown artist sketched his image with light strokes, took up the colors - but he never finished the painting, did not bloom it with bright colors of individuality, did not breathe God's spark of soul into it... Of course, speaking of Tretyakov, one cannot ignore what the purpose of life was for him - the creation of a collection of paintings in Lavrushinsky lane. However, the author sees his main task in relying on documentary evidence to show the reader a multifaceted personality, which was Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov.