Christophe

Peter, About the L?gion d'Honneur, I think it is the 1st grade : Chevalier (knight). Ch.

Just check on the web. X-Rays can help to see "repentirs" (first attempst suppressed since) of painters. Ch.

They even sell Soviet style magnets at the Museum shop. Ch.

Another one. Ch.

Example of Socialist Realism artwork. Ch.

Hi Jef, Hendrik's option is a clever one. I think that with X-Rays (or others in the same style) you could check this. Cheers. Ch.

Pics inside were not allowed. Several artworks showed orders and medals. But not easy to display them. I have tried to take pics... but the quality... The exhibition catalogue is a real book showing many of them. I bought it as its printing quality is excellent. Ch. PS : I just hope no-one has been disturbed by this art intrusion...

There are hundreds of art items presented, but the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is especially fortunate to be able to present Repin?s Barge Haulers on the Volga (1870?73). It is one of my preferred russian paintings... Ch. Pic : Guggenheim Bilbao Museum website.

Don't be misunderstood. And here, nothing to see with awards or medals... but art !!! I hope this won't shock anyone ... Russia! is a wonderful exhibition taking place in the Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao (Spain) from 29 March to 10 September 2006, after being presented in New York. I paid this exhibition a visit during my summer holidays in Spain and Portugal. Russia! , as said by the Museum, is "the most comprehensive and significant exhibition of Russian art sent abroad since the end of the Cold War. Including more than 300 artworks, many of which have rarely or never traveled outside Russia, this innovative presentation features the greatest masterpieces of Russian art from the 13th century to the present, as well as a selection of first-class Western European paintings and sculptures from the imperial art collections assembled by Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, and Nicholas I in the 18th and 19th centuries, and later in the early 20th century by the Moscow merchants Sergei Shchukin and Ivan Morozov." It is really great!!!! The first section is devoted to the age of the icon from the 13th through the 17th centuries. Following sections deal (not exhaustive) with the royal art collections of the 18th and early 19th centuries, the art of the 1930s and 1940s (and the Socialist Realism)... Is also presented art produced during the Great Patriotic War. The last section focuses on art produced after Stalin?s death. If you are in Spain in the coming days (holidays or business), please have a look at this exhibition; it is more than worthwile!!! And the building itself is a "must see" for all architecture lovers (what I am...) !!!! Cheers. Ch. Pic : Guggenheim Museum bilbao.

So, as the car has been offered to him in France, and the pic has been taken on the Red Square in Moscow; I would guess May 1965. Ch.

Order of Victory, Any comment on this date ? Ch.

Hi Alexandre, Please have a look at this thread : http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=4894&hl= Hope it helps. Cheers. Ch.

I would say April 1965. Ch.

Order of Victory, Are you Ok with the name of the car ? For the date of the pic, I would say it has been taken in Russia, when Gagarin came back. What do you think ? Ch.

These are, for sure, french flags and the arms of the town of Nice. But, I have no idea of what is the star... Does not look so French in fact... Ch.

I think the full name of the vehicle is Matra jet 6. But for the date of the pic, I'm not sure. the pic you posted seems having been taken in USSR... not in Paris. Ch.

OK, Gagarin came in Paris on 26 September 1963. A Matra Jet car has been offered to him. This is the car... but it is French . About the date of the photo, I have to check... Does not seem to be taken in Paris, but maybe I am wrong. Ch.

So, back to Italy.. Maserati will be my guess. But what precise car ? Ch.

Just a thought... Would it be possible the car is a French one (or a t least with a french number plate... ) ? Ch.

Ilja, Nice docs!!! Cheers. Ch.

Order of Victory, Thanks for the question. For the Hero others have already found, so nothinf to add. For the car and the date... I will try to investigate. The car looks italian to me... but maybe am I wrong... Cheers. Ch.

Ed, my pleasure . Ch.

Just to add that Yu Tsedenbal also got a Kutuzov 1st Class on 8 Sseptember 1945. Ch.

According to the collective research we made at www.soviet-awards.com, the Mongolian cosmonaut Major General Gurragcha Zhugderdemidiyn has been awarded an HSU on 30 March 1981. Its SN could be #11454, but this is not confirmed. Ch.

K. Choibalsan has got his Order of Suvorov 1st Class on 8 September 1945. Ch.