The General Staff building was designed by Carlo Rossi, an outstanding architect of the Russian Classicism style.

It was built in 1820-30 and reveals an architectural strictness that was characteristically Classical. The General Staff building occupies a vast space from Nevsky Prospekt to the bend of the Moika River. The main accent in the composition of the facade looking on to Palace Square is placed on the magnificent arch - the symbol of the triumph of Russia. The triumphal chariot drawn by six horses and the sculptural compositions of the arch - statues of warriors, high reliefs representing flying figures of genii of Glory and armour - were executed according to Rossi's designs by Vasily Demuth-Malinovsky and Stepan Pimenov. The building's special expressiveness results from the combination of the severe and neutral facade with the monumental central part, which is lavishly decorated with sculptures, and the rhythmically arranged, well-proportioned columns of the porticos of the side wings. The ground floor takes the form of a rusticated base or socle. The windows of the main first floor are surrounded with decorative frames and ledges. The upper part of the wall is highlighted by means of a stucco cornice. The eastern wing of the building, now belonging to the Hermitage Museum, was meant for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Finances. Three porticos in strict Tuscany order accentuated by projections add imposing solemnity to the long facade looking on to the Moika River. The splendid building designed by Rossi completed the ensemble of Palace Square.

French Painting of 19th-20th centuries

French painting of the 19th to early 20th century is represented by approximately 850 items.

Chronologically, this section begins with works by artists from the late 18th and early 19th centuries whose contributions to the history of art vary enormously, but whose works embody the artistic aspirations of the age: Lethiere, Lefebre, Caraffe, C. Vernet, Girodet, P. Chauvin, artists who were very popular during the time of the Empire such as Guerin, F. Gerard and others.

Each of the most celebrated masters is represented here: David by his superb Sappho and Phaon (1809), Gros by Napoleon on the Bridge at Arcole (about 1797), Ingres by Portrait of Count Guriev (1821), Delacroix, the most brilliant of French Romantic artists, by two canvases: Moroccan Saddling a Horse (1855) and Lion Hunt in Morocco (1854).

The Hermitage collection provides a good overview of the Barbizon School, a group of artists who settled in the village of Barbizon near Paris: Theodore Rousseau, Dupre, Daubigny and others, who were to have such a major influence on the development of French landscape painting, and Corot, whose works contain a peculiar combination of Neoclassicism, Realism and Romanticism. One of the focal points of the museum is the collection of late 19th and early 20th century works, which includes over 250 works.