The document discusses several of the world's largest art collections located in museums across Europe and the United States. It provides brief descriptions of the art collections at the Museum Kampa in Prague, the National Gallery in London, the Palace of Versailles in France, the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, and the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.. These collections contain works from a variety of European masters and Asian art and house hundreds of paintings, sculptures, and other art pieces that have been preserved for generations.

1. Appreciating the World’s Largest Art Collections
The beauty and magnificence of art is not limited to any particular culture or
country. Throughout the centuries and around the world man’s imagination,
creativity and skill have created masterpieces to be enjoyed through the centuries.
The following locations offer architecture, paintings, sculptures and collections
that have been meticulously preserved for generations to appreciate:
• Museum Kampa, Prague, Czech Republic—Created through the efforts of Mr.
Jan Mládek and his wife, Mrs. Meda Mládek, who donated a vast collection of
modern central European art to the city of Prague and housed in the rebuilt Sova’s
Mills district of the city, the result is an excellent exhibition of the collaborative
work of two good friends, Otto Gutfreund and František Kupka. Gutfreund was an
early 20th century sculptor who is most appreciated for his bronze cubistic
masterpieces. Kupka painted abstract art.
• National Gallery, London, England—When George IV observed other
European cities amassing collections of classical art, he determined that England
should not be left out. Although the government was less than enthusiastic, he was
the motivation behind a hesitant start in 1824. By 1838 a neoclassical building had
been completed to house the collection at Trafalgar Square. Today more than 2,300
paintings dating from the 13th–19th century are arranged in chronological order.
All the European “masters” are represented.
• Palace of Versailles, France—Just 10 miles outside the city of Paris sits the one
time symbol of France’s glory, the famous palace of the Sun King, Louis XIV.
From humble beginnings as a hunting lodge, the complex includes more than 2000
rooms with over 1400 fountains and 400 sculptures in the courtyard and acres and
acres of exquisitely landscaped formal gardens. Art lovers visit Versailles for the
architecture, the gardens and the incredible history.
• Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin, Germany—Built between 1866–1876 and restored
in 2001, this UNESCO World heritage site is part of Berlin’s Museum Island. It
houses 19th century artwork from famous artists such as Manet, Monet, Menzel,
Friedrich, Renoir and Rodin.
• Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy—One of Italy’s top museums, this is a storehouse
of Italian Renaissance Art. Much of the private collection of the Medici family is
an important part of the gallery’s offerings, and priceless works by Leonardo da
Vinci, Michelangelo, Giotto, Botticelli, Raphael and Caravaggio are proudly on

2. display.
• Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Holland—Located in Museum Square, this
museum was built by the famous architect, Cuypers. Due to a massive restoration
program, only 13 rooms are open to the public until 2013. However, the 400 pieces
still on display are some of the museum’s prized possessions. Other works of art
are on temporary exhibitions at other sites in the country.
• Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia—Founded by Catherine the Great
in 1764 and opened to the public in 1852, the Winter Palace and adjoining
buildings house more than 2.7 million exhibits of European, non-Russian art until
1917 and the Russian Revolution. The imperial treasures from the days of Russia’s
royal family are on display as well as the world’s largest gem collection.
• Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia—Considered the largest storehouse of
valuable Russian art in the entire world, this museum also includes icons and
works by Repin, Kandinsky, Vrubel and Malevich. The Church of St. Nicholas,
located in Tolmachi is also part of the Tretyakov Gallery.
• Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., United States—Named for Charles
Lang Freer, a Detroit industrialist, this gallery is part of the Smithsonian complex.
It houses an extensive Asian art and the largest James McNeill Whistler collection.
Freer and Whistler were good friends who valued Asian technique and style. More
than 24,000 pieces are showcased here.