The building, constructed in the 1780s, originally served as a wing of the city estate of Alexei Naryshkin, who was a privy counselor, senator, and diplomat. The architect of the two-story wing was Elizaveta Nazarova, a renowned master of classicism, who also created the Hospitality House of Count Nikolai Sheremetev.

In the 19th century, the building became a rental property and was used for leasing apartments. In 1879, it was reconstructed according to the design of Mikhail Nikiforov: a third floor was added, the facades were updated, and the layout was changed. The first floor housed a shop and a grocery store with an apartment, while the second and third floors contained two large four-room apartments with halls, equipped with bathrooms, which was a rarity for that time. The rental house has been preserved in excellent condition and is an example of urban development from the 19th century. The facade, designed in 1879 in the eclectic style, is adorned with rustication, lintels, and keystones.

The building also holds memorial significance due to its association with famous Russian artists of the 19th century. From 1831 to 1855, Vasily Tropinin lived and worked here, with his windows overlooking the Kremlin. His apartment contained a workshop and a spacious hall. Tropinin moved here in 1832 and became a central figure in Moscow's artistic life. Friends often visited him, and names like Karl Bryullov and sculptor Vitali were left on his door.

The window of Tropinin's workshop is captured in many of his paintings, including a self-portrait with a view of the Kremlin created in 1844. He often exaggerated the size of the window, emphasizing its significance. The actual appearance of the workshop can be judged by the portrait of his wife Anna, painted in 1855, which depicts white walls, a wooden floor, and simple furniture. In the same year, after his wife's death, Tropinin left the apartment.

In the 1880s, after reconstruction, a workshop was established on the third floor, rented by artists including Vladimir Makovsky, Nikolai Tretyakov, Valentin Serov, and Mikhail Nesterov. Ilya Ostroukhov, one of the leaders of the Tretyakov Gallery, proposed to create a joint workshop and purchased the premises in 1888.

From 1907 to 1918, the artist and restorer Mark Yukhnevich lived and worked on the third floor. He was involved in the restoration of the painting gallery and was the head of the fine arts department at the Rumyantsev Museum, as well as a restorer at the Museum of Fine Arts.