Russian Museum

The State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg is the country’s main public museum dedicated exclusively to Russian visual art and occupies several historic palace buildings. It was created as a national institution to collect and present Russian painting, sculpture, and applied arts.

Permanent displays cover medieval icons, 18th- and 19th-century academic and realist painting, and 20th-century avant-garde and contemporary works; the museum operates across multiple palace buildings to separate its varied collections. Temporary exhibitions, conservation, and research are major parts of its activity.

The museum was established by decree of the imperial government in the late 19th century to create a comprehensive national collection of Russian art. Over the 20th century it expanded into additional palace buildings and wings to accommodate growing holdings and public programmes.

Situated in central St. Petersburg, the museum’s main seat is the Mikhailovsky Palace, close to the Field of Mars and the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, within walking distance of the city centre.

• National scope: Created by imperial decree to assemble and display Russian art as a national collection, it remains the largest public repository dedicated to Russian visual art.

What to See #

• Mikhailovsky Palace: Mikhailovsky Palace - the museum's central building, housing large permanent exhibitions of Russian painting and sculpture from the 18th to early 20th centuries.
• Benois Wing and wings: Benois Wing and other outbuildings - additional exhibition spaces used for temporary shows, research, and specialized collections.
• Historic palace sites: Historic palaces included in the museum network such as the Stroganov and Marble Palaces, which hold period interiors and specialized displays.