St. Petersburg Russian Museum
The Russian Museum (Государственный Русский Музей) is the largest depository of Russian Art in St. Petersburg. Tsar Nicholas II (Николай II) created it in order to commemorate his father Alexander III. The Museum contains works that previously belonged to other museums and private collections in St. Petersburg.
The Russian Museum is composed by a lot of buildings. The main one is the Mikhailovsky Palace (Михайловский Дворец), a 18th century Neoclassical building in the Square of Arts (Площадь Искусств). Some of the other locations are the Summer Palace of Peter the Great, the Marble Palace and the Stroganov Palace on Nevsky Prospect.
The museum collection ranges between the 12th and the 20th century. It includes paintings, icons, sculptures and design items. The collection of Russian icons is probably the biggest one you will be able to see in St. Petersburg. However, the collection of paintings is even bigger: there are paintings from famous artists like Rubljov, Brjullov, Repin, Aivazovsky and even the “Black Square” by Malevich. The museum also holds temporary exhibitions in its many locations.
The main building of the Russian Museum, the Mikhailovsky Palace, is located right behind the Mikhailovsky Garden (Михайловский Сад), just a couple of minutes away from Liden & Denz. The access is completely free for students, so be sure to visit it.
