Russian Museum

The State Russian Museum is the largest depository of Russian fine art in the world.

Located on Arts Square in Saint Petersburg, it is a massive institution. The museum covers a total area of over 30 hectares. In 2022, it attracted 2,651,688 visitors. This high number of guests ranked it twelfth on the list of most-visited art museums globally. The museum serves as a vital guardian of Russian cultural history through its vast collection.

To protect these treasures, the museum operates the Museum Valuables Restoration Service. This department uses many specialized workshops to fix and preserve various materials. There are 16 different workshops, or sectors, that employ 95 people. These experts handle easel painting, Old Russian paintings, and mixed media painting. They also work on ceramics, glassware, textiles, and metalwork. Specialized sectors even focus on contemporary art objects and the restoration of carved icons. In 2014, the department restored 4,511 exhibits. Of those, 280 were identified as having special complexity. The staff includes artists with the highest possible restoration categories.

The museum's collection is incredibly diverse in time and style. It features Russian art spanning from the 10th century up to the 21st century. Visitors can see everything from old Russian icon painting to modern contemporary art. A specific part of the museum, the Russian Museum of Ethnography, focuses on different cultures. This department was originally set up in a building designed by Vladimir Svinyin in 1902. It houses gifts from many peoples of the Russian Empire. Some of these items were purchased by Nicholas II when state funding was insufficient. In 1934, this department became an independent museum.

The history of the museum began on April 13, 1896. Emperor Nicholas II established it to commemorate his father, Alexander III. The museum held its grand opening on March 17, 1898. Its first artworks came from the Hermitage Museum, the Alexander Palace, and the Imperial Academy of Arts. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, the museum grew significantly. Many private collections were nationalized and moved to the museum. This included the famous "Black Square" by the artist Kazimir Malevich. These changes transformed the museum into a massive public resource.

The museum occupies several grand architectural sites. The main building is the Mikhailovsky Palace, a Neoclassical residence. Architect Carlo Rossi designed this palace between 1819 and 1825. The interiors are known for their opulent Italianate style. Another important site is the Benois Building, also called Corpus Benua. Architect Leon Benois developed the project between 1910 and 1912. Construction was interrupted by the First World War, but it was completed in 1919. The museum also manages other historic locations. These include the Summer Palace of Peter I, the Marble Palace, and St Michael's Castle.

The museum's reach even extends beyond Russia. In March 2015, the museum opened its first overseas branch. This branch is located in Málaga, Spain. It is housed in La Tabacalera, which was a tobacco factory in the 1920s. The Málaga branch displays a wide range of art. This includes Byzantine-inspired icons and social realism from the Soviet era. This international presence allows more people to experience Russian art. It connects the local history of Saint Petersburg to a global audience.

Maintaining such a large institution requires constant scientific and administrative work. The restoration department includes a sector for chemical and biological research. There is also a sector dedicated to the history and theory of museum restoration. Beyond fixing art, the staff performs many preparatory tasks. In 2014, workers prepared 5,930 exhibits for 77 different museum exhibitions. This work involves creating preservation reports and managing the packing and unpacking of items. The Restoration Commission also meets frequently to discuss research and methods. These efforts ensure that the art remains safe for future generations.