The Russian Museum was opened in 1895, by a decree of Tsar Alexander III, and as such was the first state owned museum of art in Russia. Housed in the Mikhailovsky Palace (architect C.Rossi), the Museum numbers nearly 400.000 exhibits, and has a huge range of Russian art which rival that of the Tretiakov in Moscow. The exhibits date from ancient icons to the Avant-garde school of painting of the 20th century, and include many landmarks in the history of Russian art, such as Bruillov's 'The Last Day of Pompeii', and Repin's 'The Barge Haulers'