This first volume in The Hermitage Collections showcases the masterpieces collected by successive Russian rulers and the splendour in which they are displayed. Ranging from Ancient Greece and Rome to 18th-century European sculpture, the artworks offer an encyclopedic view of world culture as well as an insight into the personal tastes of the country’s elite. An introductory essay explaining the history of the building and collection precedes over 250 photographs of the museum and its treasures. Slightly off-mint.