Dear Fellow Art Lover! 

Every year, art galleries and museums are visited by millions of people. The delightful and elusive charm of these pictures, the loving touch of the artist's brush and the unearthly beauty of the depicted scenes and landscapes draw the viewers back again and again to their favourite paintings.

All this had a magical effect on me at the age of thirteen, leading me to radically rethink my future plans in life. Entering the enchanted world of paintings and past epoch, I eagerly awaited each Sunday, when I would be reunited with then once again. I used to stand enthralled before the pictures, trying to absorb the magic of the paints. Filled with inspiration, I would then dash home, seize a canvas and give full reign to my artistic passions. In my copies, I attempted to reflect my feelings, convey my impressions and repeat all that I had just seen.

My dream finally came true and I have now been working in a museum for over twenty five years. I live among my heroes and see them every day on the canvases. I have devoted my life to studying their history and secrets. It would give me and my colleagues great pleasure to invite you too into the mysterious world of the Old Masters. Welcome to this fascinating world!

Eugene Soldatenkov
Head of the Art Conservation Department,
State Russian Museum