The published section drawing of a competition design for the Upper Trading Rows bears the motto ‘I did what I could’. The winning entry was ‘To the Merchants of Moscow’, which the magazine attributes to Alexander Pomerantsev. This is evidence of a separate competition proposal for GUM, rather than a drawing of the building as constructed.
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What is known about the album of competition designs?
The holdings list of the Visual Information Department at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts includes an album entitled ‘Designs for the Main Façade of the Upper Trading Rows Building on Red Square in Moscow’. The description names the Moscow publisher Scherer, Nabholz & Co., gives no year, lists 26 sheets of illustrations in a folder and provides the reference number 0973. The dimensions of 42 × 60 cm apply to the album as a whole; this record does not establish the dimensions of the reproduced drawing.
Page 30 of the publicly available PDF bearing this title shows an architectural section. At the top is the inscription ‘Section along line A. B.’, and beneath the image, ‘Section for the design under the motto “I did what I could.”’. The credit ‘Collotype by Scherer, Nabholz & Co.’ identifies the printed reproduction; it does not name the architect. The sheet itself confirms the document type, section line and motto, but neither the date of the drawing nor the location of the original copy.
How was the competition for the Upper Trading Rows conducted?
According to Moscow Heritage magazine, the competition was announced on 15 November 1888, and on 21 February 1889 the jury began reviewing the entries at the Historical Museum. The magazine describes the competition as anonymous and reports that 23 designs were submitted. Mottos identified the entries; those cited in the article include ‘I did what I could’ and ‘To the Merchants of Moscow’. The dates in this account refer to the announcement and judging of the competition, rather than the production of each sheet in the album.
The magazine names ‘To the Merchants of Moscow’ by Alexander Pomerantsev, GUM’s architect, as the winning design; the complex’s official history independently confirms his victory in February 1889. This information distinguishes the winning entry from the work submitted under a different motto. It neither identifies the author of the latter nor states whether it received a prize.
The Upper Trading Rows opened on 2 December 1893, a date given by both the magazine and GUM’s history. Several years of construction separated the discussion of the competition proposals from the opening. The fact that the drawing concerns the same building therefore does not make it a measured survey of the completed complex.
The monument to Minin and Pozharsky in front of the Upper Trading Rows on Red Square. Wikimedia Commons, Moscow. Red Square. Monument to Minin and Pozharsky. (c)Mazurin A.S. 1900s State Historical Museum e1.jpg, author: Aleksey Mazurin, licence: Public domain source
What can be compared with GUM as built?
Order No. 442 of the Russian Ministry of Culture, dated 7 April 2021, describes the protected heritage features of the Upper Trading Rows at 3 Red Square. For the building as it stood in 1893, it lists three-storey blocks, three longitudinal shopping arcades, galleries and connecting bridges. This is a source about the building as constructed, rather than the proposals of the competition entrant using the motto ‘I did what I could’.
The section shows tiers, arched openings, staircases on either side of the central space and roof outlines. The sheet depicts the proposed internal arrangement along line A. B.; it cannot establish whether these features were built. The 2021 order lists the protected features of the completed Trading Rows, but does not compare them with the competition entry under the motto ‘I did what I could’.
An interior gallery at GUM: tiers of arches, connecting bridges and a glass vault. Photograph taken in 1990. Wikimedia Commons, Moscow GUM interior.jpg, author: T.Voekler, licence: CC BY-SA 3.0 source, license
What does the sheet leave unknown?
The section has no visible architect’s signature, date, sheet dimensions, indication of the material used for the original drawing or museum inventory number. The album title and motto link the image to the competition, but do not attribute the design to a particular person. The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts record confirms that its holdings include a copy of a publication with the same title; it does not establish that the digital sheet shown comes from that copy. The dimensions of 42 × 60 cm given there cannot be applied to the section under discussion.
The sheet itself confirms the wording of the motto and the collotype reproduction, while independent accounts of the competition confirm its outcome. The Ministry of Culture order concerns the building completed in 1893. None of these sources identifies the author of the anonymous section, dates this particular sheet to 1889 or establishes that it incorporates features of GUM as built. This keeps the distinction between proposal and completed building open to verification.
You can explore the competition’s history on site on the “Heart of the Capital” tour: the route takes you through Red Square and includes GUM. Next week, our ‘Document of the Week’ series will examine another primary source.
Sources
- Yandex Disk: public page for the PDF ‘Designs for the Main Façade of the Upper Trading Rows Building on Red Square in Moscow’
- Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts: description of the album of competition designs, reference number 0973
- Moscow Heritage, No. 25: the competition for the Upper Trading Rows
- GUM: The History of the Upper Trading Rows
- Order No. 442 of the Russian Ministry of Culture, dated 7 April 2021, on the protected heritage features of the Upper Trading Rows
- Excursion "Heart of the Capital"
We took a tour of Taganka designed for 12-year-old children. It was an excellent programme. We covered a great deal of ground and learnt so much. We discovered the story of Dryanaya Street and discussed the Vladimir Highway, the surrounding monasteries and churches, and the Old Believers. We now know where Korovin was born, where Stanislavsky was born and raised, where the Morozov merchant children lived, and why Arseny Morozov was considered such an outrageous figure in his day. We also discussed Solzhenitsyn, discovered where Stalin Avenue was supposed to be built, saw the bunker, walked to the Russian metochion of the Mount Athos Monastery, and learnt why the Illuzion cinema made Taganka famous. Of course, no tour would have been complete without Vysotsky and Lyubimov. We also touched briefly on Taganka Prison, although naturally we did not go there. All in all, it was an exceptionally rich and informative tour! Our guide Alexander was superb!
Our thanks to our guide Alexander for a magnificent sightseeing tour. Alexander’s love for Moscow and its history, his wide-ranging knowledge, elegant and engaging delivery, and personal charm make the tour not merely interesting and informative, but truly delightful! Thank you, Alexander! Tatiana and Tatiana, St Petersburg
On July 18th, we participated in the "Soul of Moscow" group tour led by Alexander. Kitay-gorod and its surroundings revealed a new side to us, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. Some of us began intensively studying related materials to broaden our horizons. We'll be back, and we highly recommend it! You won't regret it.
Good afternoon, on June 23rd we had a tour called " The Soul of Moscow ," led by Alexander. He's a very pleasant young man. We visited such lovely courtyards and alleys with him that we never even knew existed, and we learned so much. We really enjoyed everything, and we hope to continue our acquaintance. Alexander! Thank you! We had a great time with you, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. See you there!
This isn't my first time with Radius. This time, I took the Moscow metro . The goal was not only to admire the underground palaces but also to learn how to navigate the metro. As a resident of a region without a metro, I was a bit apprehensive and didn't understand how to navigate the metro. Of course, the internet helps, but live communication is much better. Tour guide Yulia handled this task perfectly. The information was accessible and interesting, the presentation was calm, and the communication style was very friendly. Thank you very much for the tour and the practical experience.
Good afternoon! I gave the "Soul of Moscow" tour to some of the capital's guests. We were thrilled to hear our guide, Anton. It was so informative and engaging, and very warm. To say we were absolutely delighted is an understatement. It turned out to be a truly family-friendly excursion. We learned so many interesting facts. The material was presented professionally, all our questions were answered, and we saw so much. It was simply WOW! Thank you so much, Anton, he's the best!!!!! From now on, I'll only come to you, the Radius team. I highly recommend it. I promise we'll see each other again soon on other tours.
Overall, the tour left a positive impression! Thanks to Alexander for the walk through the courtyards and atmospheric spots of Kitay-Gorod; we certainly wouldn't have done it on our own. The tour was comfortable, and the guide spoke confidently and calmly. One thing we personally missed: we would have liked more of the historical part, relating to ancient Moscow and the history of Kitay-Gorod. There were quite a few stories about the Soviet period and the bar scene, but for our group, this wasn't particularly relevant. We think the program could be a little more tailored to the age and interests of the group. It would also have been interesting to add more historical facts, monuments, and details about old Moscow and the area itself. That said, the tour was still interesting, and some places and churches were truly memorable. These aren't really "cons," but rather suggestions for an even more comprehensive program.
Hello! We had a corporate group of 10 people. Our guide was Anton, and we had a tour of Bulgakov. I would like to point out the excellent organization; everything went smoothly. The managers were very accommodating to our changes in the number of participants. The bus was very comfortable. Anton is a super-engaged and motivated guide. He lives this history and is delighted to share his knowledge and create an unforgettable experience. Everything went well. I highly recommend it!
Thank you for a fascinating tour! It gave me so much food for thought to explore! Note: Review of the "Zamoskvorechye" tour with guide Maria.
I'd like to express my gratitude on behalf of our team! Thank you for keeping to our scheduled schedule despite our lack of organization. Our colleagues appreciated your preparation for the tour! It was informative. Note: Review of the "Modern Residential Complexes, Factory Past, and Avant-Garde" tour of the ZILART residential complex with guide Maria. Maria prepared and conducted a customized tour for employees of the Samolet Group of Companies development company.
Thank you! You have great talent. Good luck! ☺️ You're a wonderful guide! Thank you again! Note: This is a review of the corporate tour "The Heart of the Capital" with guide Maria.
Thank you for a wonderful day today!!)) Note: review of the excursion "The Soul of Moscow" with guide Maria
On behalf of the whole family, I want to thank you for a very informative and interesting tour! Note: This is a review of the "Palace Dungeons" tour with guide Maria.
Good afternoon! I'd like to express my gratitude and that of my guide for organizing the tour! We were very pleased. We'd like to do it again in October, but on a different route — ZIL. Note: This refers to the tour for Samolet Group developers, led by guide Maria.
Thanks to Alexander for the bar tour of Baumanka ! It was fun, exciting, and we discovered so many new places! Awesome! May we reach new heights!
Good afternoon! I was on a tour of Sukharevskaya Square — we went all the way to Tsvetnoy Boulevard. I didn't expect it to be so interesting! For those wondering whether to go — go for it! It truly became one of my most memorable summer memories!
Anastasia, good morning! Thank you and Masha for yesterday! The speakers are happy. The connection through the headphones was often lost, especially at the checkpoint, but that's just our current situation. You could hear if you were standing close, no more than 1.5 meters away. Colleagues have already asked for your contact information. I'd be happy to share it and look forward to another opportunity to work with you. Special thanks to the Director for the Bureau . Note: " Heart of the Capital " tour for participants of the 2025 Moscow Oncology Forum. Guides: Anastasia and Maria.
We'd like to thank Anton and Alexander for leading the tour! It was fascinating to hear how the Krasnaya Presnya district developed and how Prokhorov's influence on our city's development. It was a pleasant immersion into a quiet, previously unexplored area!
Good afternoon, thank you so much, Anastasia. The " Uncle Gilyai " tour was fantastic. Even though we're Muscovites and know a lot about Moscow, the experience was amazing, so much new and interesting happened. We'll definitely be back.
Thank you for the " Heart of Moscow " and " Khamovniki " tours. Anton, a knowledgeable and passionate Moscow guide, gave me the tour. He's a great storyteller, intelligent, well-read, and captivating. You've truly opened up my Moscow to me! I'll definitely be back next summer to explore Moscow with you. I'll recommend your wonderful tour program to all my friends!
Excursions with the Radius travel agency are always a positive experience if you choose them. We planned a tour of Zamoskvorechye on our next visit. We've worked with our guide, Anton, before. We'll definitely recommend him to everyone we know. The tour is informative, not overloaded with dates, and the information is comprehensive yet easy to understand, as it's presented in a light, narrative manner, not like a history textbook, dry and academic. Thank you for this approach. We'll definitely use the Radius agency again on our next visit to Moscow.
Thank you so much for the tour of Zamoskvorechye . Despite the weather, it was very interesting and informative! Note: this refers to the tour with guide Anton.
A huge thank you to Anastasia. We had a fantastic tour of the Patriki district. We learned so much. Anastasia is a true master of her craft. The tour was captivating, not at all boring, lively and interesting. Everyone was delighted. We were full of new impressions. I definitely recommend it. You won't be disappointed!
We explored the Soul of Moscow with my family and Radius on my birthday. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the walk! Anton shared so many interesting facts about the capital and its history, taking us into spiritual depths no one else had even suspected. Most of us were either born or longtime Moscow residents who spent a lot of time walking around. It was educational, heartwarming, and unforgettable. 🙂 Overall, this wasn't my first time walking around Moscow with Anton, and each time was a real adventure!