The State Russian Museum is the largest in the country collection of Russian art, from ancient icons to the Avant-garde painting of the XX century. The museum numbers nearly 400 000 exhibits among them pictures, sculptures and folk art. He central building of the museum is the yellow white-columned Mikhailovsky Palace built in 1819-25 for Grand Duke Mikhail, brother of Alexander I and Nicholas I.
In the late 19th century the palace was bought by the government and in 1898 turned into the "Russian Museum of Emperor Alexander III". In the early 20th century a new wing was built for the growing collections and called the Benois Building.
Home
