December, 23, 2014 — March, 15, 2015.

Exhibition hall of the Assumption Belfry.

The Moscow Kremlin Museums hosts an exhibition, exploring the phenomenon of Russia as the largest state in the world, which has been preserving its status since the late XVIIth century. The key exhibit at the exposition is a unique masterpiece — the map of the Russian Empire, embroidered by students of the Moscow college of the Order of St. Catherine in 1872 and presented to Emperor Alexander II. The map was exposed in Moscow only once and has never been on loan to foreign museums.

The period of Emperor Alexander II is distinguished by the expansion of the Russian Empire through the territories of Central Asia, the Caucasus and Far East. The map reveals the delicate workmanship of the embroideresses as well as the monumental grandeur of the Russian state, the borders of which have extended to its maximum by 1867.

The exposition incorporates remarkable artworks of the XIVth—early XXth centuries, which are to present the history of the development of the Russian state, full of dramatic events, wars, dynastic and political collisions, outstanding achievements in various fields. Articles worthy of special attention are those from the Moscow Kremlin collection which were intended to mark the most important events in the history of the country.