Russia 2003 photo gallery / p1a3 hermit ext IMG_5777 fixed (c) David J. and Linda A. Cornfield 1/28/2003

The Winter Palace was designed by Rastrelli for the Empress Elizabeth as a residence around 1750. Catherine the Great built the adjacent Small and Large Hermitage buildings to house her huge collection of fine European art, gems, silver, porcelain, etc.