The building at the intersection of Sobornaya and Vvedenskaya streets was constructed for the 2nd Saratov Women's Gymnasium of the Ministry of Public Education. Initially, this educational institution opened in Saratov as a private progymnasium in 1899, founded by Anna Davydovna Kufeld, a well-known figure in public education. Soon, the progymnasium transformed into a gymnasium, which in 1910 became part of the Ministry of Public Education and was designated as the 2nd Women's Gymnasium.

In 1913, in honor of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty, the Saratov City Duma decided to build several special buildings for libraries and educational institutions, one of which was intended for the women's gymnasium.

That same year, an architectural competition was held, featuring participants such as Yu. N. Terlikov, P. M. Zybin, and S. A. Kallistratov. It was decided to proceed with Kallistratov's design, and from 1914 to 1915, the construction was carried out by the Society of Mutual Fire Insurance.

The building is executed in the neoclassical style, with clear influences from the work of the Italian architect Andrea Palladio and the use of colossal orders. The central risalit is adorned with six Corinthian columns that rise to the height of the two upper floors, forming a portico with a triangular pediment. The rest of the facade is decorated with half-columns of the Ionic order. Decorative elements such as wreaths, garlands, bas-reliefs, and panels, as well as tall windows, give the facade liveliness while maintaining a balance between festiveness and severity.

The interiors of the building correspond to the facade: they are spacious, bright, and comfortable. The layout of the floors varies: the second and third floors have a traditional scheme for educational institutions with classrooms opening into a common corridor. The third floor features an assembly hall with a stage and sound equipment. The first floor and basements were intended for shops. From July 1, 1915, the gymnasium occupied the new building, where it remained until 1918.

In 1918-1919, military headquarters of the Red Army were located in the building, where notable figures such as G. K. Ordzhonikidze, V. V. Kuibyshev, and S. M. Kirov visited.

From 1920 to 1922, it housed a Military Party School that trained political workers for the Red Army. From November 1, 1922, the building was occupied by Komvuz, which included the Saratov Regional Communist University and the Regional Party School, preparing Marxist-Communists and party workers from various fields.

From 1928, the university was named the Lower Volga Communist University named after V. I. Lenin, and in 1932 it was reorganized into the Lower Volga Higher Communist Agricultural School named after V. I. Lenin.

Since 1938, the building was used as a city party office for training secretaries of party committees and party organizers. In 1941-1942, it housed the headquarters of the Saratov People's Militia Division.

In 1973 and 1991, the building was occupied by the Saratov Interregional Higher Party School, later reorganized into the Volga Social-Political Institute and the Volga Personnel Center.

After the events of August 1991, the building was transferred to the Saratov State Art Museum named after A. N. Radishchev.