Visit of Sonia Gandhi to the Hermitage

On 16 June 2005 Mme Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of India's United Progressive Alliance, made a private visit to the State Hermitage.

Mikhail Piotrovsky, director of the museum, acquainted Mme Gandhi with the Hermitage collections. She was particularly interested in the halls of Italian art, Dutch painting, French art and sculpture of the 19th and 20th centuries, and the galleries of jewelry and precious stones. The visit gave special attention to the exhibition of The Art of India from the 1st century B.C. to the 19th century, which features around 300 works of sculpture, painting and applied art. This exhibition was re-launched in a modernized format following major reconstruction that was financed by the Government of the Republic of India.

Mme Gandhi left a comment in the book of Honored Guests of the Hermitage and she received a gift copy of The Hermitage. Great Collections of a Great Museum, which was written by Mikhail Piotrovsky and O.Ya. Neverov.

Mme Gandhi entering her comments in the book of Honored Guests of the Hermitage

Presentation of The Hermitage. Great Collections of a Great Museum to Sonia Gandhi