The Peredvizhniki Partnership in the Context of Russian Art Market in the 1860-1880s

The paper considers the Peredvizhniki partnership in the context of the Russian art market of the 1860-1880s. The relevance of the work lies in the study not art but activity of Partnership’s members. Also there is no established understanding of the history of the Peredvizhniki partnership until today. The main object of the study is the history of the Peredvizhniki partnership as a special organization in the art market of Russia. The subject of the research is the place of the Association in the art market including the features of its appearance, organization and existence. Methods of research: historical, comparative, institutional, biographical, as well as social history of arts. The purpose of the work is to reveal the peculiarities of the Peredvizhniki partnership as a unique artistic association and to form a balanced interpretation of its history and significance for the development of the art market in Russia. The paper shows that the Partnership was established because of the initiative of Grigoriy Myasoyedov, who planned a new association during his study “pensioner” tour to Europe in the 1860s. The Association started regular travelling exhibitions. It did not only created an alternative to the exhibitions of the Academy of Arts, but also organized art exhibitions in the province. The Peredvizhniki partnership influenced the exhibitions held by the Academy of Arts, but the latter were not so successful and soon ceased to exist.