One of several jasper vases in opulent Winter Palace hall

Kolyvan Vase Hall's unique green jasper weighing 19 tons.  Took Siberian stone-cutters 14 years to produce from single block - delivered by 160 horses.

Another jasper vase we were rushed past on our escorted tour (Don on left)

Portrait of Catherine the Great in one of her 1400 elaborate, expensive gowns

My blurred (rushed) photo of most famous painting dating back to 1478

Leonardo da Vinci's "The Madonna with a Flower" (The Benois Madonna)

Elegant framing of painting from early 1480s

Leonardo da Vinci's "The Madonna and Child" (The Little Madonna)

Quickly taken as we were swept through the magnificent museum

Caravaggio's "The Lute-Player), 1595

Rembrant's "The Return of the Prodical Son," painted in late 1660s

Rembrant's "Danae" painted in 1636 - painting was slashed, now restored