Golikova called Hermitage head Piotrovsky the epitome of the museum

Director of the State Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky is the personification of the museum, his whole life was given to it. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova told Izvestia on December 24.

"I believe that Mikhail Borisovich is the personification of the State Hermitage and St. Petersburg and, in fact, of our entire country, because his life, the life of his family is inextricably linked to the State Hermitage," she said.

Deputy Prime Minister thanked Piotrovsky and his family for their work, which has brought the museum, as Golikova noted, to the first place in the world. She also emphasized that the Hermitage director managed to breathe life into the museum.

On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin presented Piotrovsky with the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, First Class, in St. Petersburg.

Chief at the exhibits: Mikhail Piotrovsky - 80

What path the Hermitage Director has traveled and to whom he may pass his post

On December 9, Piotrovsky turned 80 years old. Putin congratulated him on the anniversary, he noted the enormous contribution that the Hermitage director made to the development of the museum business in Russia. In addition, he called Piotrovsky's many years of work as head of the museum an example of heroic service to people and the Fatherland.

Piotrovsky became head of the Hermitage in the 1990s. According to him, at that time it was a difficult time, when there was no money and there were attempts of commercial seizure. However, under him, the museum expanded, the General Staff Halls were restored, storage facilities were built, and branches were opened in the regions and abroad.