Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin visited the State Hermitage

12 December 2009, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin visited the State Hermitage.

Director of the State Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky informed him about the progress of works on the restoration of the East Wing of the General Staff building, the construction of the Open Storage Facility and the Hermitage plans regarding preparations for the 250th anniversary of the museum.

Vladimir Putin visited the halls of a new permanent exhibition of Japanese art and halls exhibiting works by Impressionists, Matisse and Picasso. He also made himself familiar with the restored painting Pool in a Harem by Jean-Leon Gerome. After that Vladimir Putin visited the exhibition The Enamels of the World and saw the exhibited Russian banners of the times of the Narva Battle and the latest gifts to the Hermitage - the St George sabre and drawings - projects of the Small Hermitage building by Yury Felten.