The State Hermitage Museum: Hermitage News

Director of the State Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky is awarded the Order of Officer in the French Legion of Honor

On 26 June 2004 Director of the State Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky received the Order of an Officer in the French Legion of Honor. Ambassador of France to the Russian Federation Jean Cadet remarked on the outstanding services which Mikhail Piotrovsky has rendered to world science and art and added that the highest French order of distinction is awarded to him because the Director of the Hermitage “applies his talent in the cause of brotherhood between our countries.” Dr. Piotrovsky expressed his appreciation to France for the honor bestowed on him and said, “Today’s award demonstrates that what we are doing is truly important for our peoples and for our states." He received the lower-ranking title of Knight (Chevalier) in the Order of the Legion of Honor in 1998.

The Order of the Legion of Honor was established by First Consul of France Napoleon Bonaparte on 19 May 1802 to reward outstanding service by civilians and military personnel during both peace time and at war. The Order of the Legion of Honor has three levels - Knight, Officer and Commander; and two special titles - Grand Commander and Knight of the First Rank. Both nominations and the conferral of awards are made on the basis of a decree signed by the President of France, who is the Grand Master of the Order.

The form of the medal was defined by a decree of 22 Messidor, Year XII (01.07.1804). A sketch was made by the artist Louis David and the model was prepared by J.-B. Chaillot (nicknamed “The Prussian”), commander of a battalion in the Engineering Corps. The Order given to Knights has the shape of a cross or star and is made of silver covered with enamel; the higher levels of the Order are made of gold covered with enamel.

At the ceremony conferring the Order on Director Piotrovsky in the Hermitage Theater