The Russian Museum has one of the largest collections of Russian art. There are more than 400000 paintings, sculptures, objects of applied and folk art in the museum. The Russian Museum was founded by Alexander III in 1895, and opened in 1898 in the Michael’s Palace (arch. K. Rossi). The exhibition of the museum covers the period from ancient Russian art (Russian ancient icons) to the art of the beginning of the 20th century (Avantgarde paintings) and includes works of the famous paiters Vrubel, Repin, Serov, Aivazovsky, Kandinsky, Malevich, Korovin. Ceiling paintings, moulded ornamentation, lamps, and furniture are preserved in the rooms of the palace.