The controversial exhibition of Russian art has opened at the Royal Academy of Arts in Piccadilly. The show was threatened after Russian authorities said they wouldn't allow the art to come to the UK in case there were any legal challenges to its ownership, but new laws rushed through by the Government provided the assurances sought.

"From Russia: French and Russian Master Paintings 1870–1925 from Moscow and St Petersburg " will run from today until 18th April 2008 at the Royal Academy, and presents modern masterpieces drawn from Russia’s principal collections: the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Art and the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow and the State Hermitage Museum and the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.
Visit the website of the Royal Academy for more information.