Founded by a professor
of Moscow State University Tsvetayev in 1912 as a museum
of casts representing masterpieces of antique, medieval
and renaissance sculpture it gradually turned into the
most outstanding museum of fine arts in Russia. Now it
comprises all most prominent national schools of
painting in Western Europe – Italy, Spain, Holland,
Flanders, France from the 13th up to the beginning of
the 20th century. No doubt the highlight of the
highlights on display is an absolutely unique collection
of French impressionists.