OREANDA-NEWS. March 20, 2008. The President’s telegram reads in particular:

“This wonderful anniversary is a true celebration for all who love and appreciate Russia’s fine arts, for all who take pride in our priceless cultural heritage. Over these decades, generations of true professionals, people genuinely devoted to their work and real enthusiasts have made the State Russian museum one of the greatest collections of our country’s art that deservedly enjoys nationwide renown.

I am sure that the organic combination of theory and practice, tradition and innovation, Russia’s specificities and world experience will remain at the foundation of the museum’s work”.

The State Russian Museum in St Petersburg was founded by decree of Tsar Nicholas II. The museum’s collection now contains around 400,000 exhibits and covers a period spanning more than 1000 years – from the tenth to the twenty-first century. The collection includes Russian and Soviet painting, graphic art, sculpture, one of the world’s biggest collections of Russian avantgarde art and an exceptionally interesting collection of applied decorative and folk art.