It is the largest depository of Russian fine art in Saint-Petersburg
The State Russian Museum - the first state museum of Russian visual arts in the country - was founded in 1895 in Saint Petersburg in accordance with decree issued by emperor Nicolas II. The grand opening for visitors took olace on 7/19 March 1898. These days collection of the Russian Museum amounts to more than 400000 exhibits and comprises all historical periods and tendencies of Russian art development, all its main types and genres, streams and schools for more than 1000 years: from Х to ХХI century. The museum complex consists of Michailovsky Palace with Benua building and Rossi outbuilding, as well as Mramorny and Stroganovsky Palaces, Michailovsly (Inzhenerny) Castle, unique park and garden ensembles - Summer Garden with the Peter I's Summer Palace and Michailovsky Garden.
The most famous exhibits of the Russian Museum comprise such masterpieces of artistic art as "Korabelnaya Grove" by Shishkin, "Suvorov's transition through Alps" and "Capture of the snow fortress" by Surikov, "Bourlaks on Volga" and "Zaporozhtsy writing a letter to the Turkish Sultan" by Repin, "The Last Day of Pompey" by Bruyllov, "The ninth wave" by Ayvazovsky, "The night at the crossroads" by Vasnetsov.