Director Mikhail Borisovich Piotrovsky offers readers a fascinating and lavishly illustrated insider's view of one of the world's greatest art collections, and the rich and turbulent history of the spectacular museum that houses it. For 250 years the State Hermitage has been one of Europe's most palatial museums. In this extraordinary volume, the museum's long-time director, Piotrovsky takes the reader on a private tour of this global treasure. One of the largest collections of Western art in the world, the Hermitage is also a product of Russia and its dramatic history. In a series of thoughtful and illuminating essays, Piotrovsky explores the incredible artworks, personages, and dramatic behind-the-scenes events that have made the museum what it is today. From historic moments that have shaped the museum to fascinating anecdotes about how specific pieces, such as Leonardo da Vinci's Madonna Benois, and indeed entire collections were acquired, to explanations of the architectural splendors and oddities that comprise the museum, these essays uncover the stories and events that make up the life of the Hermitage. Lavishly illustrated, it provides a thoroughly engaging, authoritative, and accessible insider's look at the artworks, people, and historical forces that have created the greatest museum in the world.