Visited the Russian Museum during a trip to St. Petersburg as part of a group of students. Since the budget was rather limited, we did not go with empty hands, but with special letters that confirmed that we eat there with an educational goal (students-historians). There are days when such groups are admitted for free. The exact dates change periodically, so it is better to specify on the site or by phone. If you did not manage to get into one of these days, it is better to take a group ticket. So it will be cheaper and faster (the queues everywhere huge). If you want to take a picture, it is better to take permission. We took one on the group, then simply shared photos.
Before visiting this museum, the picture has seen only in books and on reproductions. And it turned out to be at all the fact that in life. Pictures of Aivazovsky, Repin, Bryullov. They were just huge. In order for them to carefully consider you need to spend a lot of time and move away. There were incredibly struck by European grandparents, who are already experienced and walked with folding chairs. At the sight of the paintings you like, they laid out them and long-stayed while sitting in front of them. Interesting spectacle.
But Quinji became the biggest discovery for me. Frankly, I did not even hear before visiting the museum about him. His "Night over Dnipro" simply blew me the brain and made in love with painting and art. How? How can you put the paint? How can I find so many shades of black and portray an impenetrable night? I remember every time just frost on the skin from delight. Brilliant painting and a brilliant artist.
The only thing that disappointed me a little is the absence of a "black square" Malevich. This picture just during our visit was removed from the exposure. Obviously, to demonstrate elsewhere.
Now that I ask where to go to St. Petersburg, the first thing I recommend, it is this museum. Not even the Hermitage. Namely, the Russian Museum, which simply changed my life. Since on arrival I decided that I want to study the history of the arts.