One of the most important and the extensive departments of the National Gallery of Armenia is the department of painting which represents the oeuvre of artists of Armenia.
The history of formation of this department is firmly connected with the museum collection’s formation and is traced from 1921.
Being the focal point of the museum’s collection it was enlarged due to acquisitions and donations.
Renowned artists such as P.Terlemezyan, A.Fetvajyan, H.Tirid, J.Orakian and others bequeathed their artistic legacy to the Gallery thus enriching the collection of Armenian Art. The Gallery has considerable donations (often whole collections) from Diaspora Armenians. Special attention deserve the donations by Hakob Ekizler (works by H.Ayvasovsky, I.Shishkin, S.Schehedrin) A.Chinchyan (works by H.Ayvasovsky more than 30 pieces) and the collection donated by G.Zambakhechian (works by Th. Rousso, A.Monticelly, D.De la Penia E.Bouden) enriched the west European Art section. The artworks from Lazaryan Seminary in Moscow, from the state Museum Funds( Moscow, Leningrad) and Hermitage had their definite role in the shaping of the museum collection.
Today the most significant and complete part of the painting deportment is the collection of Armenian painting.
The documental copies of Armenian miniatures and frescos and the art works by H,Hovnatanyan, V.Sureniants, E.Tadevosyan, G.Bashinjaghyan, M. Sarian, H.Kojoyan, E.Kochar, A.Bashbeuk-Melikyan, V.Gayfejyan and other famous artists both in Armenia and Diaspora represent the formation and evolution of armenian art of 7-20th centuries.
