Hermitage map. Hermitage: let's go to the museum! Gallery of the history of ancient painting

The Hermitage is a huge museum. Its rich collections contain about 3 million exhibits, and its exhibition area is about 50 thousand square meters. m. It’s not surprising to get lost in it. Therefore, take a map of the museum at the entrance and select those rooms that particularly interest you - you still won’t be able to see everything in one visit.

If you want to get a general idea of ​​the museum, we recommend that you climb the main Ambassadorial staircase to the second floor of the palace and go through the solemn and luxurious Field Marshal, Peter and Armorial halls to the Military Gallery of 1812, dedicated to the victory of the Russian army over Napoleon. Pushkin sang this gallery in the famous lines:

The walls of this gallery are hung with hundreds of portraits of Russian generals who took part in the war with Napoleonic army. Immediately behind it is the majestic Great Throne (Georgievsky) a hall with a royal throne under a canopy, from where we go to the Small Hermitage, famous for its magnificent Pavilion Hall (note the mosaic on the floor and the famous Peacock clock with moving animal figures).

From the Small Hermitage we move to the Big Hermitage, where the Pinakothek itself begins (collection of paintings). Italian painting is presented in the Hermitage in more than 40 halls. One of the oldest paintings in the Italian collection is “Madonna” by the Siena master Simone Martini. This is one of the wings of the folding diptych “The Annunciation”, created in the 14th century. Two parallel galleries of the Great Hermitage are dedicated respectively to Florentine and Venetian painting. Any of them will lead to the Leonardo da Vinci hall (Florentine - straight, from the Venetian you will need to turn left from the Titian Hall).

There are usually always a lot of people in the magnificent Leonardo da Vinci hall. You'll have to stand in line to see his early painting "Benois Madonna" ("Madonna with a Flower") and to the famous “Madonna Litta” of the master’s Milanese period. From the Great Hermitage we will move to the New Hermitage, where the Italian collection continues, be sure to look at two paintings by Raphael - the “Conestabile Madonna” painted at a very young age and the later “Holy Family”, the sculpture “Crouching Boy” by Michelangelo and go into the stunning Loggias of Raphael - an exact copy of the Vatican creation of the great master, created for Catherine II by the architect Quarenghi. And everywhere you look, there are not only great paintings and sculptures, but also magnificent interiors, breathtaking parquet floors, fireplaces, paintings, huge malachite and lapis lazuli vases and tables, lamps made of rhodonite, jasper and porphyry, bronze candelabra and chandeliers. Even ordinary doors here are real, richly decorated works of art.

Let's move from the Italian halls to the Spanish ones, there are only two of them, but the names of the presented masters are one more famous than the other: El Greco, Murillo, Velazquez, even Goya is in the Hermitage! Nearby is the famous Rembrandt room, one of the largest collections of his paintings outside of Holland. And what pictures! “The Return of the Prodigal Son”, “The Descent from the Cross”, “The Holy Family” and many other world-famous works by the master. In general, Dutch painting is represented very widely in the museum; almost a thousand paintings by Dutch painters are stored in it. Walk through the Hall of Small Dutchmen, admire their masterfully verified, detailed and stunningly authentic landscapes, still lifes, and everyday scenes. Visit the Rubens Hall (huge collection, about 40 paintings) and to the hall of the famous portrait painter Van Dyck. Then, along the perimeter of the Hermitage complex, but on the other side, return to the Winter Palace - there you will find a magnificent collection of French art - paintings by 18th-century masters, furniture, ceramics, tapestries.

From the Claude Lorrain room, turn right and take the stairs or elevator to the third floor. It is not as ornate as the second one (not kings lived here, but auxiliary personnel), but there is an amazing collection of French impressionists and post-impressionists. Admire paintings by Claude Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Matisse, Pablo Picasso. Then go down the oak stairs again to the second floor and go to the living quarters, decorated for the wedding of Grand Duke Alexander Nikolaevich (future Emperor Alexander II) with Maria Alexandrovna, Princess of Hesse-Darmstadt.

In the spacious White Hall - the largest and most ceremonial room of the “new half” of the Winter Palace - the newlyweds held balls and celebrations. Pay attention to the huge 18th-century Sevres porcelain vase located here, painted in blue and decorated with gilded bronze. Then enter the stunning Golden Drawing Room, with its walls completely gilded and now displaying a collection of cameos. (carved stones), purchased by Catherine II from the Duke of Orleans. The next room is Maria Alexandrovna’s Crimson Living Room. They played music here, as is reminiscent of the crimson silk on the walls depicting musical instruments. Behind the Raspberry living room there is a red and gold boudoir, decorated in the style of the second Rococo, the Blue bedroom, the bathroom and dressing room of Maria Alexandrovna. The bedroom space is now used for temporary exhibitions.

Then we go out into the hall where there is a carnival sleigh of the 18th century, made in the shape of the figure of St. George with a spear, from where we can continue our journey either along a long Dark corridor without windows, where unique trellises are stored, which are harmful to sunlight, or through the halls dedicated to the Russian art of the 18th century Both of these paths will lead us to the rotunda - a round room with a wonderful parquet floor, which served as a connecting link between the apartments located in different parts of the palace. Behind the rotunda there were living quarters, among which it is worth noting the White (Small) the dining room of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II, famous for the fact that it was there that the ministers of the Provisional Government were arrested during the October Revolution (the clock on the fireplace shows the time when this historical event occurred - 2 hours 10 minutes at night). In general, the meeting place of the Provisional Government was the adjacent room - the magnificent Malachite living room, decorated with columns, pilasters, fireplaces, tables, vases and other decorative items made of malachite using the Russian mosaic technique.

Then along the long corridor we return again to the front embassy (Jordanian) stairs On the way, be sure to check out the Concert Hall, where the silver shrine of St. Alexander Nevsky from the Alexander Nevsky Lavra is now located, and the stunning size (more than 1100 sq. m) huge Nikolaevsky (Big) hall. From the Nicholas Hall, in which the most magnificent palace holidays were once held, and now temporary art exhibitions are held, through the Antechamber, decorated with a malachite rotunda, presented to Nicholas I by the richest family of owners of the Ural factories, the Demidovs, we go out again to the Ambassadorial Staircase.

Then, if you still have the strength to continue the inspection, you can go to the first floor. After descending the stairs, turn left, where the museum cafeteria is located. You might also want to take a break and relax a bit with a cup of coffee. Then go further along the same corridor and turn left - you will find yourself in a large gloomy hall of Ancient Egypt, where, among other things, a real mummy of an Egyptian priest of the 10th century is exhibited. BC. The Egyptian collection of the Hermitage is interesting because it represents all periods of the history of Ancient Egypt.

Leaving the Egyptian Hall and walking a little forward, we turn left and find ourselves in the hall with the huge Kolyvan Vase - the largest of all the Hermitage vases. Its weight is almost 19 tons, its height is 2 m 69 cm. It was carved from a monolith of Revnev jasper over 14 years, from 1829 to 1843. The vase, made at the Kolyvan factory in Altai, was transported to St. Petersburg on special carts by more than 120 horses. It was installed in this hall when its walls were not yet finished. Now the vase can no longer be taken out of here - its dimensions do not allow it to pass through the doors, so you can be sure that you will always find the Kolyvan vase in its place.

Walking a little forward, you will find yourself in a huge Twenty-Column Hall, decorated with monolithic columns of gray granite and mosaics on the floor, made in the likeness of Roman ones. In this hall there is a real kingdom of antique vases and amphorae, the most famous of which - the black-glazed Kumeka vase, the so-called “Queen of Vases” - is located in the center of the hall, under a special glass cover. Created in the 4th century. BC, it was found in the ruins of a temple in Cumae. This vase, dedicated to the underground and fertility deities, is decorated in relief and retains gilding and traces of bright colors to this day. The far part of the hall is occupied by a small but very interesting and original Etruscan collection.

From the Twenty-Column Hall, return to hall 129 and turn left into hall 127. Walking in this direction, you will be able to walk around the entire first floor of the New Hermitage and see wonderful collections of ancient art. The most notable are the huge statue of Jupiter and the famous Venus of Tauride. The statue of Jupiter, 3 m 47 cm high, was found in the country villa of the Roman emperor Domitian. The Tauride Venus was purchased from the Pope during the time of Peter I and became the first ancient monument to appear in Russia in the 1720s. At first it stood in the Summer Garden, then it ended up in the Tauride Palace, which is why it began to be called Tauride. In general, the museum has more than 20 halls dedicated to the art of the ancient world. Ancient Greece, Ancient Italy and Rome, the Northern Black Sea region are represented here by the richest collections of vases, carved stones, jewelry, sculptures, and terracottas. In addition, pay attention to the design of the halls themselves on this floor - one is more beautiful than the other. Having completed the circle around the first floor, through the hall of Ancient Egypt you again exit into the central lobby of the museum.

In addition, the Hermitage has another unique opportunity - to visit the Gold and Diamond Storerooms, where stunning items made of precious metals and stones are stored. What's missing here! Jewelry for every taste, from different countries and eras - from Scythian and Greek gold to jewelry masterpieces of the early 20th century. Pendants, bracelets, rings of Athenian dandies and Russian royal fashionistas, watches, snuff boxes, precious weapons and much more. The famous geologist and expert on natural minerals, Academician Fersman, wrote about this collection: “The Gallery of Jewels, now called the Special Storeroom, creates a complete picture of one of the most beautiful arts - jewelry. In the department of trinkets, fans, snuff boxes, toiletries, watches, bonbonnieres, knobs, rings, rings, etc. “So much taste has been demonstrated, such an understanding of the decorative features of stone, such mastery of composition, such virtuosity of technique that, admiring these things, you recognize their modest, now forgotten authors as worthy brothers of the great artists whose works hang side by side on the walls of the Hermitage art gallery.”

If you want to see these wonderful collections, then you need to buy a ticket for one of the sessions at the box office in the morning, as soon as you enter the museum. Visits to special storerooms are organized in sessions, only accompanied by a museum guide and are paid separately. You can visit both pantries or choose one of them.

The Golden Treasury presents works of ancient Greek masters, Scythian gold, jewelry from the countries of the East, and magnificent examples of oriental ceremonial weapons. In the Diamond Storeroom you can see ancient gold items, jewelry from the collections of members of the Romanov imperial family and private collections in St. Petersburg, monuments of church art, diplomatic gifts to the Russian court, and products of the famous Faberge company.

Summer, white nights, school holidays - a time of incredible queues at the State Hermitage. If you are not ready to overpay for a ticket in the terminal or on the Internet, then you are guaranteed a long wait among those wishing to get into one of the main museums in Russia.

When, after all, is it better to visit the State Hermitage on Palace Square, so as not to waste your precious time in queues?

July 2016

July 2016

— Not during the high tourist season (from May to September), summer holidays and holidays.

— Don’t try to get into the Hermitage on Tuesday morning. Monday is a day off, and many tourists come for 2-3 days with the desire to visit “everything”. A missed Monday will show itself in a large queue on Tuesday morning.

— On the day when you can enter the museum for free. The queues can stretch across the entire Palace Square. Your time and nerves are not worth this test.

— On Wednesday the museum is open until 21:00. If you come at 17-18 hours, when the bulk of tourists have already subsided, there is hope to get into the museum without waiting in line and quietly look at the works of art. Please note that most wardrobes are open until 6pm on Wednesday.

— Come in the morning, about half an hour before the museum opens. At 10.30 4 cash registers will open, two on the left and two on the right. You will be able to get into the Hermitage in the first rows.

— You can buy a ticket at any travel agency. Travel agencies purchase tickets for groups. And if they tell you that the excursion is at 11 o’clock, then at 11.00 you and the group will enter the museum. In just one hour, everything will be quickly shown and told. You may not even see or hear everything, but you are already in the museum. And you can spend your “free” time after the excursion on a thorough tour of the exhibitions.

- The main secret. The best day to visit the Hermitage is December 31st. There are no queues and the halls are almost empty!

You can also visit the Hermitage, bypassing the huge queues, with more expensive tickets:

— By purchasing an electronic voucher on the website www.hermitageshop.ru/tickets (ticket price 580 rubles). The e-voucher is valid for 6 months from the date of order. The voucher is exchanged at a special ticket office, under the arch behind the Main Gate of the Winter Palace (entrance from Palace Square).

— In the terminals installed in the Great Courtyard of the Winter Palace (ticket price 600 rubles). After purchasing tickets, you can immediately enter the exhibition. Please note that discount tickets cannot be purchased through the terminal.

But during the high tourist season, there may also be queues at the terminals and special ticket offices for exchanging an electronic voucher.

If you go to a museum and need to return things, but there are no places in the wardrobe, be prepared for this. Bring a large bag with you and put your things in it. There are no spaces in the wardrobe, but there are free metal cells where you can put your things.

In the wardrobe, go to the very end, there may still be space there. There are almost always “NO PLACES” signs at the beginning. Sometimes cloakroom attendants leave a few places for foreigners, who can give them tea and sugar.

Opening hours of the Hermitage on Palace Square:

Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 10-30 to 18-00 (ticket office open from 10-30 to 17-30).

Wednesday from 10-30 to 21-00 (ticket office open from 10-30 to 20-30).

Every first Thursday of the month is a free day.

The brainchild of two empresses of the Russian state, Elizabeth and Catherine, the Winter Palace and the Hermitages have been exhibiting treasures of world art within their walls for more than 250 years. The plan of the Hermitage is impressive in the number of buildings, the length of museum halls, the names of which are associated with stages in the development of world art.

The magnificent creation of Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the Winter Palace, adorns the architectural ensemble of Palace Square in St. Petersburg.

In 1762, the grandiose construction of the Winter Palace, which had been going on for 7 years, was completed. The walls were laid by 2,500 masons at the same time, and 23 thousand pieces of glass were used to glaze the windows. More than 460 rooms of the palace were decorated in a royal style, in a magnificent Baroque style, emphasizing the majesty of the person for whom the palace was built.

The meaning of the French word “Hermitage” speaks of the secluded place that Great Catherine so wanted in the center of St. Petersburg. Her reign was immortalized by the construction of the Hermitage - the Small and the Old, which housed the museum's paintings collected by the empress, as well as the Hermitage Theater. During the reign of Nicholas I, the New Hermitage was later erected.

Nowadays, the Hermitage is a complex of buildings and museums:

• Winter Palace:

1. halls of the Great Enfilade;
2. halls of the Neva Enfilade;
3. the Empress's chambers;
4. memorial hall of Alexander I;
5. malachite living room;
6. white dining room;
7. rotunda.

• Small Hermitage:

1. pavilion hall;
2. art of the Netherlands;
3. Western European Middle Ages.

• Old (Great) Hermitage:

1. art of Italy.

• Hermitage Theater.
• New Hermitage:

• Menshikov Palace.
• Eastern wing of the General Staff building:

1. modern;
2. Empire;
3. impressionists and neo-impressionists.

• Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory.
• Exchange building.

History of the Hermitage

The year of creation of the Hermitage as a collection of cultural and artistic creations can be called 1764. Catherine the Great acquired a collection of paintings from Germany and laid the foundation for the future museum. Being one of the largest museums in the world, the Hermitage occupies 66,842 sq.m. premises from the total area of ​​the museum complex - 230 thousand sq.m.

The oldest collection stores in its storerooms more than 3 million exhibits of painting and decorative art, sculptures. Numismatic monuments amount to more than 1 million, 800 thousand are archaeological finds, 14 thousand are weapons, 200 thousand are various exhibits. The time period is also vast, represented by exhibits from the Stone Age to the present day.

The construction of the Winter Palace occurred at the end of the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna. In September 1762, Catherine the Great was crowned king, and returned from Moscow to the Winter Palace, almost completed and ready for delivery. But the Empress decided to make changes in the style of classicism, making adjustments to the plan of the architect Rastrelli.

And next to the royal residence from 1764 to 1766. A two-story outbuilding was erected, nicknamed the Small Hermitage. Architect Yuri Felten combined in appearance the features inherent in Baroque and Classicism. The result was a beautiful, refined and elegant building, to match the young empress.

Collection of Catherine the Great

The plan of the Hermitage with the names of the halls leads tourists to the Small Hermitage, which became the home of the first large collection of paintings by the Empress. Arrived in 1764 The paintings belonged to the Prussian merchant Gotzkowsky, who paid with paintings for undelivered goods.

In 1768, Catherine’s repository was replenished with 5 thousand graphic works sent from Brussels. Among them is a drawing by a French artist of the 15th century. Jean Fouquet.

In 1769, paintings (600 pieces) were bought on a large scale in Dresden from the first minister of the Saxon Elector and the Polish king. Paintings were represented by paintings by artists from Italy, France, Holland and Flanders. The works by Titian and Belotto stood out clearly.

In 1771, construction of the Great Hermitage began. The direct purpose of the palace is to house artistic treasures. The author of the creation is Yuri Felten. 1787 — the construction of a 3-story building in the classicist style, in harmony with earlier buildings, was completed.

In 1772, the empress's gaze fell on a collection of paintings by the famous Parisian gallery owner, P. Crozat. This time we are purchasing paintings by contemporary artists (18th century) and old masters (16th-17th centuries) from European countries. A new vision for the future museum is emerging.

In 1781, 119 paintings were purchased, 9 of which belonged to Rembrandt. 6 paintings by Van Dyck. Objects of ancient art are purchased, including the work of Michelangelo.

From 1783 to 1787 The building of the Hermitage Theater was built, distinguished by a harmonious and balanced facade. The style of the theater represents classicism. Celebrations and performances of the imperial court were held here.

During her 34-year reign, Catherine the Great, an enlightened and educated woman, accumulated a sufficient number of priceless creations by Western artists from different eras.

For gold, which the generous empress did not skimp on, private collections of the European nobility were purchased en masse, selling the greatest examples of Western European culture and art.

The treasury is replenished:

• carved stones from the Duke of Orleans;
• libraries of the enlighteners Diderot and Voltaire;
• furniture to order;
• paintings by famous contemporary artists;
• miniatures.

By 1792, the number of funds reached almost 4 thousand. In the annex of the Great Hermitage, built by Quarenghi, with the permission of the Pope, the Raphael Loggias, a copy of the galleries of the Vatican Palace of the Pontiff, were designed.

First half of the 19th century

The piggy bank was replenished with new treasures, which were available only to guests and a select public.

The grandchildren of Catherine the Great continued the work begun by their grandmother - Alexander I and Nicholas I. Works by 17th-century artists are purchased at auction sales. At the same time, they tried to buy works by those artists who were not listed in the storerooms of the already large museum - paintings by Spanish artists.

Late 19th and early 20th centuries

Nicholas I, who succeeded his brother on the throne after his unexpected death, opened up access to the private collection of paintings and objects of applied art to everyone. Under Nikolai, the expansion of the fund of the future museum was successful.

Paintings by Renaissance artists, Dutch and Flemish authors, famous works by Titian, Raphael, van Eyck and others were purchased. A new building was needed, and the New Hermitage was built, according to the design of Leo von Klenze, a German architect.

The construction was entrusted to the unique “Russian style” architect Vasily Stasov, and he was assisted by the “gold medalist” of the Academy of Arts, Nikolai Efimov. After Stasov's death in 1848, Nikolai Efimov single-handedly supervised the construction of the palace, completed in 1851.

A.I. took a significant part in the development of the Hermitage. Somov, senior keeper since 1886. to 1909. Member of the voluntary society of the Academy of Arts of the Imperial Court, founder of cataloging the works of Russian artists. Thanks to his activities, the beginning of Russian art history in the 19th and early 20th centuries was laid. The museum begins collecting works by Russian artists.

By 1895, part of the Hermitage funds was transferred to the Imperial Russian Museum. Archaeological exhibits and monuments are donated to the newly opened ethnography department.

Compiling catalogs of paintings and exhibits stored in the Hermitage leads to an understanding of the collection of paintings from a scientific point of view. The museum becomes an institution that develops a movement in Russian science - art history.

Opening of a public museum

In 1852, the Hermitage of his Imperial House was opened to the people to demonstrate centuries-old artistic creativity and art. In those years, the museum's funds were actively replenished with works by distinguished graduates of the Academy of Arts. Unique cultural monuments have been collected - oriental, Egyptian, ancient, European, Russian.

After the revolution

In 1917, the Soviet government replenished the museum with works of art from the private collections of the nobility and wealthy merchants, who unwillingly parted with priceless works. Since 1918, some of them were lost forever, sold at auctions.

The young state needed currency for development. In the period from 1929 to 1934, 48 paintings, sold to Western collectors of masterpieces of world art, were lost forever.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Hermitage did not stop working. The employees, despite great difficulties, carried out scientific and research work, carried out restoration work on halls and premises destroyed by bombing. In the basements they set up shelters for the population from enemy bombs.

In the late 40s, after the war, work continued as before. The Hermitage welcomed art lovers. The evacuated items were returned to their places. Active work replenished the collection with objects and exhibits from Europe (late 19th and early 20th centuries).

The banners collected in the Artillery Museum were also handed over. Porcelain monuments from the factory named after them became a priceless and fragile gift. Lomonosov.

Works by the impressionists and modernists replenished the collections in the post-war period. In 1957, the 3rd floor of the Hermitage was opened to exhibit works of contemporary art. Some of the trophy monuments taken from Berlin were returned back in 1958.

With the opening of the borders of the USSR, captured works by impressionist artists became public. In world museum practice they were considered lost. In 2002, trophy stained glass windows from the 14th century from Frankfurt were also returned to Germany. All these years, the Hermitage has been working to collect monuments and paintings by authors of the 20th century.

In 2006, a program was announced to contribute to the replenishment of funds with contemporary art.

Main halls of the Winter Palace

The plan of the Hermitage with the names of the halls suggests that the Winter Palace, which from 1754 to 1904 remained the residence of the imperial family, the House of Romanov, and had a rich history.

In 1915-1917 there were medical rooms of the Red Cross. The hospital was named after Alexei Tsarevich. The Soviet government from January 1920 to 1941 housed the Museum of the Revolution here, a neighbor of the State Hermitage Museum.

Unique exhibits from all over the Eurasian continent are stored here - collections of paintings, objects of decorative and applied art, examples of monumental art, archaeological finds.

Fierce fire of 1837 incinerated almost everything that was created by Bartolomeo Rastrelli. But subsequent talented restoration work carried out by Vasily Stasov and Alexander Bryullov made the Winter Palace a majestic and unique structure that has survived to us, and conveys all the plans of the great Rastrelli.

The main front enfilade. It begins with the Jordan Staircase, which has not been preserved in its original form, as Rastrelli intended it.

Memorial Petrovsky Hall. The portrait of Peter I above the throne seat is framed by two jasper columns, emphasizing the greatness of the emperor, who is depicted as a warrior. Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, stands nearby. The creator of the hall is O. Montferrand (1833).

Armorial Hall, intended for ceremonial celebrations. Impresses with the splendor of the golden columns. The decor and design of the gilded chandeliers contain images of Russian provincial coats of arms. The author of the project is V. Stasov. Before the fire there was a reception hall and large balls were held here.

The War Gallery of 1812 exalts the heroes of the Napoleonic War. The brave generals look out from their portraits in even rows. The gallery is a tribute to their heroism and feat.

The names of 13 generals were left without portraits, since by the time the gallery was created they were already in another world, and no ceremonial portraits were preserved. The gallery is crowned by a portrait of the main warrior who led the army to victory, Alexander I, against the backdrop of Paris.

St. George's Hall amazes with its splendor and size, golden and white marble radiance. Copper vaults and stacked parquet floors mirror the patterns. The majestic throne place brought together the symbols of autocracy and state. Above the throne seat is an image of the patron saint of Russia, St. George the Victorious, made of snow-white marble.

Big church. Temple of the Savior Not Made by Hands. The sacraments of baptism and wedding took place here. The enlightenment and spirituality of the style, the rich and ornate gilded stucco molding, is amazing. The lampshade of the “Resurrection of the Lord” emphasizes the beauty of the design.

Picket Hall, dedicated to the art of war, completes the ceremonial suite. Vasily Stasov made full use here, emphasizing the theme, bas-reliefs and reliefs with images of armor, shields, helmets, spears, banners. During Soviet times, the room was closed to viewing, storing the funds of the Department of the East. Since 2004 it has been open to visitors.

Antechamber. The main decoration of the hall is the ceiling lamp “Sacrifice of Iphigenia”, which survived the terrible fire of 1837. There is a monumental rotunda made of malachite, commissioned by the Demidovs, owners of mountain mines in the Urals. The rotunda was presented to Nicholas I, but was kept in another place for a long time.

Nikolaevsky Hall. Majestic, designed to exalt and glorify Nicholas I. Significant celebrations, balls, and ceremonies took place here. Architect Stasov preserved the proportions and restored the former harmony and beauty of the hall’s design.

Concert hall. It hosted musical evenings, concerts and balls for a narrow circle of people. The interior and decor are in tune with the main theme - music, which is emphasized by sculptures depicting ancient Greek goddesses, patrons of art.

An undoubted decoration is the silver pyramid - the tomb of Alexander Nevsky, made at the behest of Elizabeth Petrovna.

The plan of the Hermitage with the names of the halls leads tourists to very interesting and rich rooms of the Palace.

Chambers of Empress Maria Alexandrovna. The wife of Alexander II spent a lot of time in the palace, and at her discretion ordered to change some parts of the residential apartments in the 50s and 60s of the 19th century.

Luxurious dance hall (White) amazes with its diverse style, which combines rich stucco decoration with sculptures of warriors, ancient Greek goddesses and gods. Heavy bronze chandeliers are intertwined with patterns of war trophies. The author A. Bryullov completed the work in 1841 for the wedding of Grand Duke Alexander, the future emperor.

The richly gilded hall (Golden Living Room) is decorated with a fireplace with a powerful jasper base supported by caryatids. The shelf is decorated with reliefs of cupids. The upper part is decorated with a mosaic panel using the Roman mosaic technique. These details give the fireplace the monumentality of an architectural structure. Architect - Alexander Bryullov.

The interior design and furniture were done later, in 1863, by Stackenschneider. The hall is a historical place for the fate of the Russian state, where Alexander III, after the assassination of Alexander II, made the decision to continue the reforms that his father began.

Raspberry office. True to its name, the walls of the office are covered with crimson-colored fabric. The furnishings and furniture are made to match the walls and the general style, which was created by A. Stackenschneider. Medallions depicting instruments of musicians, artists, and sculptors are used in the stucco molding.

The interior is decorated with an exhibition of decorative and applied arts. Porcelain dishes and utensils. The 19th century piano, painted and gilded, is destined to be the main exhibit of the cabinet. The Empress held meetings with relatives here and convened salons in a narrow circle.

Boudoir. Built by Alexander Bryullov. Completely rebuilt in 1853. in the style of the “second Rococo”, a style fashionable at that time, similar to the Rococo style of the 18th century. Gilded details and interior chandeliers echo 7 mirrors of different shapes in complex frames.

The furniture is also ornate, carved, covered with burgundy-colored fabric, echoing the color of the alcove draperies, curtains and drapes. The interior of all the empress's rooms resembles a fairy tale, with a luxurious appearance, grace and gilding. A staircase leads from the boudoir to the children's room.

The blue bedroom is decorated in sapphire blue. In combination with gilding and a white ceiling it looked luxurious and noble. Temporarily not working.

Memorial Hall of Alexander I. The front room in the south-eastern part of the palace was designed by A. Bryullov. Powerful columns support Byzantine vaults. The portrait of the king in a drapery of velvet brocade was supposed to decorate the hall and become a real memory of the emperor. But time played against us. There is an exhibition of silver from the 17th-18th centuries.

Malachite living room. The front living room of Nicholas I's wife, Maria Fedorovna. Decorated with malachite. In the 30s of the XIX century, active mining of malachite began in the Urals, which was used to decorate columns and the fireplace of the hall. The gilding of the doors and vaults goes perfectly with the green color of the columns and pilasters.

White dining room. For the wedding of Grand Duke Nikolai Alexandrovich, several rooms of the Palace were remodeled. Thus, the Small or White dining room, combining details of different styles, acquired a noble and cozy appearance. Parquet floors, elegant trellises, white furniture and walls created an atmosphere of calm. In 1894, the decoration was carried out by A. Krasovsky.

Rotunda. The hall is perfectly round in shape, connecting the two parts of the palace. It was conceived and made by Montferrand in the 30s of the 19th century. After the fire, A. Bryullov raised the dome of the rotunda in the ancient Roman manner, which made it more attractive and “elevated.”

Small Hermitage

The “secluded corner” of Catherine the Great, later called the Small Hermitage, was built on the side of Millionnaya Street. Years of construction: 1764-1766. On the river side (1767-1769) a small building was built, connected to the Small Hermitage (South building) by hanging gardens.

The first collections of paintings by the Empress are exhibited in the Galleries, which cover the gardens on both sides. The light and bright pavilion houses the Peacock Clock, which invariably gathers visitors for a spectacular “performance.” The Galleries present art from the Western European Middle Ages and the Netherlands.

Great Hermitage

Enlightened Catherine wanted to see a building next to her Small Hermitage to house a library and growing collection. Felten in 1771-17-87. built another building.

Called the Great Hermitage, in the Galleries of which are presented:

• art of Italy from the XIII–XVI centuries. (Renaissance);
• paintings by artists of the 15th–16th centuries;
• objects of decorative and applied art;
• works by masters of the school of painting in Venice and Florence (XV–XVI centuries).

Here you can see famous paintings: Titian, Leonardo da Vinci.

New Hermitage

The building, built specifically for the museum of art painting, the New Hermitage, opened in 1852. The architect Klenze took into account all the needs of the art museum, providing the second floor of the building to house the Art Gallery. Clearances allowed the flow of light to see all the nuances of masterpieces of art.

The first floor is dedicated to antique and ancient art, architecture, and sculpture. The impressive sight of 20 granite columns in the hall of ancient Italy causes great delight and surprise.

Second floor – 6 halls present the art of Holland. Works by Rembrandt and his students are exhibited here. 2 rooms are occupied by the art of Spain, 3 large rooms by the art of Flanders, divided into the work of three great artists - Rubens, van Dyck, Snyders.

In the Knights' Hall there is an exhibition of Western European weapons. The remaining 9 rooms are dedicated to the art of Italy.

Since 1792, the annex - a gallery to the Great Hermitage, built by G. Quarenghi, was turned into the Raphael loggias. The work took 11 years, the drawings were copied and carefully transferred to the walls and arches of the loggia. The gallery fits well into the plan of the New Hermitage, like Raphael’s loggias, but is not indicated in the booklets with the names of the halls and exhibitions.

Hermitage Theater

In 1783 The architect Quarenghi, by order and instruction of Catherine the Great, began building a theater for chamber performances, concerts and entertainment for the court, close to the empress. The building was completed in 1787. It looks great and fits into the overall ensemble with other buildings built earlier and later.

The laconic style of Russian classicism was strictly and beautifully maintained. The amphitheater of the auditorium with 6 rows of benches echoes the appearance and interior decoration of the building. The stage is separated by peculiar stall rows of seats and a balustrade.

There are side boxes. Only 280 seats indicate the intimacy of the theater. The location of the seats and the orchestra pit create excellent acoustics. The depth of the stage allows you to stage ballet performances.

Menshikov Palace

The first governor of St. Petersburg, Alexander Menshikov, a comrade-in-arms and friend of Peter I, built a palace on Vasilyevsky Island from 1710 to 1714. Invited foreign architects G. Fontan and G. Schedel are drafting the building. Construction is carried out by Russian craftsmen. The architects had one task - to build a palace that would be both home and work.

A mixture of different approaches and new construction methods made the building unique in its kind, and the first stone palace in St. Petersburg. The interior decoration of the rooms and decor are made of marble. The interior is enlivened by paintings, sculptures and books. Receptions and celebrations held in the palace gave rise to the name - Embassy House.

After the owner was driven into exile, the building fell into disrepair, the gardens and greenhouses withered away. There were fires in it many times, destroying Menshikov’s original belongings. The palace was rebuilt and completed many times. The cadet corps was located here.

Relics of the Menshikov Palace - a portrait of Emperor Peter the Great. A mirror framed in amber, a gift from the Prussian king to Peter I in 1709.

Eastern wing of the General Staff building

Part of the semicircle of the General Staff building on the eastern side, transferred to the Hermitage Museum in 1988, opened new enfilades of exhibitions for visitors in 2014. The five courtyards of the building are decorated into unique atriums, which are used for cultural and various events of the museum.

The impressionists settled on the 4th floor. There are permanent exhibitions of 19th century art on two floors. countries of Europe.

Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory

Porcelain production in Russia began in 1744. 100 years later, Nicholas I ordered the creation of a museum of examples of porcelain art. More than 30 thousand unique and priceless exhibits are collected in the porcelain factory museum.

The museum's library has collected rare copies of books on porcelain production and techniques, with drawings and sketches.

Exchange building on Vasilyevsky Island

The stone exchange was conceived in 1781. Construction began in 1784. architect Giacomo Quarenghi. From 1788 to 1803 the building stood unfinished, and they tried to sell it. In 1805, funds were found for the construction of the Exchange according to a new plan.

The opening of the exchange took place only in 1816. The monolithic Exchange looks impregnable. Granite foundation. The powerful columns on it make the view heavier. Interior area 900 sq. m, ceiling height 25 m.

Since 2013, a decision was made to create a museum of heraldry and awards in the Exchange building, for which it was transferred to the State Hermitage.

Work schedule

How to get there

By public transport to the Hermitage:

• purple metro line to Admiralteyskaya;
• blue metro line to Nevsky Prospekt;
• green metro line to Gostiny Dvor.

You can get to Palace Square by public transport:

• trolleybuses 1, 7, 10, 11;
• by buses 7, 10, 24, 191.

To be in St. Petersburg and visit the Winter Palace with its unique collection is the first task of a tourist. There is no greater pleasure than holding a plan of the Hermitage in your hands, and checking the names of exhibitions, expositions and halls, plunging into the atmosphere of the past, seeing with your own eyes what centuries and years, ordinary people and emperors have seen.

Article format: Mila Friedan

Video about the Hermitage

Secrets of the Hermitage:

The State Hermitage Museum, located in St. Petersburg near the Neva River, is, without exaggeration, known throughout the world. This is a museum that is rich in a huge number of exhibits that help to study the development of world artistic culture and history. It should be noted that the Hermitage as a museum plays a huge role and is not inferior to other museums located abroad.

The uniqueness of the Hermitage

The rich history of this museum began during the reign of Catherine II. As the story goes, the empress first accepted some paintings from a German merchant, who gave the paintings to pay off his debt. The paintings fascinated Catherine, and she created her own collection, which gradually became larger and larger. The Empress specifically hired people who traveled to Europe to purchase new paintings. When the collection became very large, it was decided to open a public museum, for which a separate building was built.

How many rooms and floors are there in the Hermitage

The Winter Palace is a three-story building with 1084 rooms. Among the most famous are:

Note! In total, the museum has about 365 rooms. Among them are the Small Dining Room, the Malachite Living Room, and Maria Alexandrovna’s chambers. A diagram of the Hermitage halls with names will help a tourist navigate all these rooms.

Hermitage: floor plan

The Hermitage is a whole complex, which includes 5 buildings built in different years.

Winter Palace

This is the central building, built by the famous architect B.F. Rastrelli in the second half of the 18th century in the Baroque style. We must also pay tribute to those craftsmen who restored the building after the fires.

On a note. Now inside the Winter Palace, which previously served as the imperial palace, the main exhibition of the Hermitage is located. The building is built in the shape of a quadrangle, inside of which there is a courtyard.

Small Hermitage

It was built a little later than the Winter Palace. Its architects: Y. M. Felten and J. B. Wallen-Delamot. It was so named because Catherine II spent entertaining evenings here, which were called small hermitages. The building includes 2 pavilions - the Northern one, which housed the winter garden, and the Southern one. Another component of the Small Hermitage is the hanging garden with picturesque compositions.

Great Hermitage

It was built after the Small Hermitage, and since it was larger than it, it received this name. Although this building is made in more strict forms, it fits perfectly into the ensemble and, moreover, complements it. The interiors are decorated with expensive wood, gilding and stucco. Architect – Yuri Felten.

On the second floor of the Great Hermitage there are halls of Italian painting, where you can see the works of outstanding artists: Leonardo da Vinci, Titian or Raphael. Copies of the latter artist’s frescoes decorate the so-called Raphael Loggias, a gallery located in the Great Hermitage.

Note! The many arches of the gallery divide it into several compartments. The walls are decorated with copies of frescoes. The Apostolic Palace in the Vatican was taken as the basis.

New Hermitage

The main façade of this building is known for its porch. This is a portico that previously served as an entrance. It differs in that there are granite statues of Atlanteans holding a balcony on it. Work on them took 2 whole years. Everything else is made of limestone. The sculptures amaze with their fine workmanship and elegance of execution, giving the building a sublime and noble appearance. The building itself was built in neo-Greek style.

Hermitage Theater

Architect - G. Quarenghi, style - classicism. The theater is connected to the rest of the buildings of the complex by an arch-transition, where a gallery was opened. Many talented artists performed on this stage, and balls were often held here. It should be noted that the theater played a big role in the development of cultural life. The foyer has preserved ceilings from the 18th century. The inspiration for the theater hall was the Italian Teatro Olimpico.

Where can I get the Hermitage guidebook?

To avoid getting lost in the huge halls of the Hermitage, a map of the Hermitage is offered free of charge next to the ticket office at the main entrance. It shows a diagram of the Hermitage with all the halls available for visiting, their names and numbers.

Hermitage map

Museum exhibits

How many exhibits are there in the Hermitage? Their number exceeds 3 million! This is certainly a huge number. What is there in the Hermitage? Among the most unique exhibits with an interesting history are the following:

• Peacock watch in the Hermitage. They were brought by order of Potemkin. The master is D. Cox from England. To deliver the watch safely, it had to be disassembled. But subsequent assembly turned out to be quite difficult due to lost or broken parts. And only towards the end of the 18th century the clock started working again, thanks to the efforts of a skilled Russian master. This exhibit amazes with its beauty and luxury: the cage with the owl rotates, and the peacock even spreads its tail;
• Feodosia earrings. The technique that was used to make them is graining. These are small gold or silver balls that are soldered onto jewelry. These earrings depict a composition showing competitions in Athens. Although many jewelers tried to repeat this masterpiece, they failed, since the method of creating Feodosian earrings is unknown;
• figure of Peter 1, made of wax. Foreign craftsmen were invited to create it. A figure in red robes sits majestically on a throne.

As a separate exhibit, for which it is also worth visiting this museum, one can name its interiors. Inside the Hermitage you can see quite majestic, sometimes sophisticated, halls decorated with a variety of elements. It's a pleasure to walk through them.

Peacock watch

How many paintings are there in the Hermitage?

In total, the Hermitage contains about 15 thousand different paintings from the pens of artists of the 13th-20th centuries. Now such paintings are of great interest and cultural value.

The Hermitage collection began with 225 paintings given by a German dealer. In the second half of the 18th century, paintings collected by Count Bruhl were brought from Germany, and paintings from the collection of the French Baron Crozat were purchased. Thus, works by such artists as Rembrandt, Raphael, Van Dyck and others appeared in the museum.

1774 is a memorable date when the first museum catalog was published. It already contained more than 2 thousand paintings. A little later, the collection was replenished with 198 works from the collection of R. Walpole and 119 paintings from Count Baudouin.

On a note. Do not forget that at that time the museum stored not only paintings, but also many memorable items, such as figurines, stone items, and coins.

The turning point was the fire of 1837, as a result of which the interiors of the Winter Palace did not survive. However, thanks to the quick work of the craftsmen, the building was restored within a year. They managed to remove the paintings, thanks to which the masterpieces of world art were not damaged.

Those who want to visit the Hermitage should definitely see the following paintings:

• Leonardo da Vinci "Madonna Litta"(a work of the Renaissance). There are 19 paintings by this famous artist in the world, 2 of which are kept in the Hermitage. This canvas was brought from Italy in the 19th century. The second canvas by this artist is “Benois Madonna”, painted in oil paints;
• Rembrandt "Return of the Prodigal Son". The canvas is based on the Gospel of Luke. In the center is the returned son, kneeling before his father, who mercifully receives him. This masterpiece was acquired back in the 18th century;
• V. V. Kandinsky “Composition 6”. The canvas of this famous avant-garde artist occupies a place of honor in the museum. There is even a separate room reserved for his work. This picture amazes viewers with a riot of colors;
• T. Gainsborough "The Lady in Blue". It is believed to be a portrait of Countess Elizabeth Beaufort. Her image is very light and natural. Refinement and airiness are achieved with the help of light strokes, a dark background and light colors to depict a girl;
• Caravaggio "The Lute Player". The details in this picture are worked out to the smallest detail. Both the crack on the lute and the notes are depicted. In the middle of the canvas is a young man playing. His face expresses many complex emotions, which the author was able to skillfully portray.

Paintings from the Hermitage collection

More detailed information describing what is in the Hermitage can be found on its official website.

The Hermitage can be called one of the most important cultural centers, which is of great importance for the whole world, because it contains masterpieces of a wide variety of artists from different times. This is one of the richest and most important collections in the world.

IN Hermitage I wanted to get there for a very, very long time! This is one of the largest museums not only in Russia, but also in the world! And given my interest in art in general, this museum was number one on my bucket list!

P.S. Attention! There is a lot of information and about 110 photos under the cut!

State Hermitage Museum, is not just a great museum, because at first the building, where today an endless number of people go, was conceived as the Winter Palace - the main residence of the Russian tsars! It was the center of the empire that Peter I conceived. The fate and history of Russia was decided here! Many years later, the museum fits perfectly here, which originated in 1764, as a private collection Catherine II, after the first 225 valuable paintings were transferred to her from Berlin.

It is not known why she purchased them, because she was not particularly interested in the paintings, but thanks to this purchase, the great history of the museum began!

Hermitage collection was significantly replenished thanks to Catherine’s greed and orders to buy paintings in bulk! The exhibition was complemented by the interest in art of Russian aristocrats, resellers and a large number of excavations of ancient burial mounds. Subsequently, Russian tsars and queens received many works of art as a gift, as a sign of respect! In just 20 years, a huge number of unique exhibits were collected, and new buildings were built to store the best collection in Europe!

Gradually the museum received the name "Hermitage", which is translated from French "Ermitage", means Personal peace, or Hermitage. In general, it was so, under the grandson of Catherine II, Alexander I, only selected high-ranking officials could get here, exclusively on recommendations or passes in the amount of no more than 5 people, accompanied by a footman, and then not in the Palace part, but only in the attached new buildings ! The Winter Palace was closed to everyone for a long time! Then there was a certain division of the collection, which was sorted into cases, something went to be shown to selected people, and vice versa, to hide some exhibits from unnecessary eyes.

The history of the museum is not so long, but it has managed to tell a variety of events, such as December 17, 1837 he survived one of the most monumental fires in the history of the Russian Empire. As a result of a terrible fire, the second and third floors of the Winter Palace were completely burned out, including interiors by F.B. Rastrelli, Quarenghi, Montferrand and Rossi! Surprisingly, a lot has survived. The fire lasted about 30 hours, and the building itself smoldered for almost three days. It took more than a year to restore the damaged palace.

Also, few people know, but until the early 30s of the 20th century, the facade of the Winter Palace was painted in different colors, from yellow to red! In the 1950s it was gradually repainted azure green.

Here is a still from a documentary shown on Russia 2 TV channel - Hermitage, National Treasures.

In the 20th century, the Hermitage also faced a difficult fate! Intensive industrialization was underway and the country needed money to develop the economy. The management decided to start selling collections! It was very difficult to confront the Soviet bureaucratic machine. That’s right, from 1928 to 1934, knight’s armor, ceremonial dinnerware, Scythian gold, antique coins, icons, and then paintings went under the hammer at auctions in London and Berlin. Imagine, it turns out that Catherine and her followers did everything right, because before the collection was made public, they carefully guarded it and only replenished it! Even during the fire, almost everything was saved, but at the cost of many human lives, but then they just took it and decided to sell what was lying badly and collecting dust on the wall. In two years, the number of items confiscated from the Hermitage reaches 20 thousand! Among which there are almost 3000 paintings!

Unfortunately, this is true, but many of the works that Catherine herself bought are hanging in museums in London, New York, Lisbon, Washington, Paris. Even with all this disgrace that happened during the Soviet years, the Hermitage is still considered a world-famous museum and collection!

At that time, only museum employees knew about the sale of the collection, because it was only opened to the public in 1954! For the first time, people saw the richest collections of monuments of ancient Eastern, ancient Egyptian, ancient and medieval cultures, art of Western and Eastern Europe, archaeological and artistic monuments of Asia, Russian culture of the 8th-19th centuries. There were queues for many kilometers!

I visited it in August 2015, and I can say that the number of people wishing to visit the museum has not decreased! A few days before the visit, I purchased an electronic ticket on the Internet, because I knew how much time I could lose in lines. I recommend choosing this method; you bypass all the lines and go straight to the museum’s ticket office, where you exchange your e-ticket for a regular one.

You can purchase it using the link below: Electronic tickets to the Hermitage.

Getting to the museum couldn't be easier! It is located in the very center of St. Petersburg and, as it were, embraces Palace Square cities from all sides! Nearest metro station, - Admiralteyskaya.

Official website of the Gallery: https://www.hermitagemuseum.org/

The main building of the Hermitage, also known as the Winter Palace of Peter I. It was a wonderful day, and the bright sun was shining over St. Petersburg!

Opening hours of the State Hermitage:

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday: 10:30 - 18:00 pm.
Wednesday, Friday: 10:30 - 21:00 pm.

Every first Thursday of every month, admission to the museum is free!

Photography without flash is permitted.

Ticket prices varies from 300 to 600 rubles depending on the number of objects visited. Electronic tickets are usually more expensive and reach up to 1000 rubles per ticket, but they have a number of advantages, which I have already mentioned.

I would like to tell you what is inside the Hermitage today!

Cash register.

Here they exchanged my ticket from an electronic one to a regular one.

Ticket.

They also gave very detailed Museum plan diagram so as not to get lost! I'm posting it here because... I believe that it can be very useful to many for planning their visit.

The Hermitage consists of several buildings, namely the Winter Palace, the Small Hermitage, the New Hermitage, the Large (Old) Hermitage and the Winter Palace of Peter I with the Hermitage Theater.

1st Floor.

2nd Floor.

3rd Floor.

Once inside I realized that Hermitage Museum,- it is also a museum within a museum! After all, the interior of the palace is stunning, and its interior decoration, columns and paintings are amazing! Tour guides say it will take 11 years to explore it inside and out! The total length of the corridors is 22 kilometers!

First I got into Hall dedicated to the Antiquities of the Middle East.

Then he gradually moved into Egyptian Hall, where there were tombs of the rulers of Egypt and limestone tablets with hieroglyphs.

Jupiter Hall with sculptures at the head of which sits the supreme god of the Romans, - Jupiter.

Goddess of love Venus.

IN Antique courtyard I met Eros with a shell.

Asclepius,- Ancient Greek god of medicine.

Athena,- goddess of war. It looked like she was taking a selfie with her phone. :)

Amphora.

And here Hall of Culture and Art of the Ancient Cities of the Northern Black Sea Coast, which displays many exhibits found during excavations on Mount Mithridates, in the city of Kerch And Taman Peninsula, Krasnodar Territory. All exhibits are from the times of the Bosporan Kingdom.

Marble sarcophagus from Myrmekium.

A lion standing on a tomb.

Wooden sarcophagus with carved arches.

And the hall Hellenistic culture coins and jewelry are presented.

Golden laurel wreath.

Gold necklaces and earrings.

And also gold rings.

Plaster cast of Cameo Gonzaga. Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II(located temporarily in the Hermitage).

Cameo. Zeus. Sardonyx. Gold.

Hellenistic gold and silver coins.

Mosaic glass bowl.

Hall of large vases. There is a bowl made of Revnevskaya jasper from Altai. It is considered the largest vase in the world!

Very beautiful Twenty-column hall.

Greater Hydria, also known as "Queen Vaz".

I decided to go up the stairs.

On my return, another Vase was waiting for me, this time from Malachite.

1469-1529. Giovanni della Robbia - Christmas.

There has been a noticeable increase in people here, and they are looking not only at the exhibits framed behind glass, but also at the walls and ceiling! Because he is incredibly beautiful.

And here is the hall of Leonardo Da Vinci. The artist's famous works hang here! To look at and photograph his paintings, I had to stand in line for about 5 minutes.

1478-1480. Leonardo da Vinci - Madonna and Child.

Leonardo da Vinci - Madonna and Child (Madonna Litta).

1512-1513. Sodoma (Giovanni Antonio Bazzi) - Leda.

1508-1549. Giampietrino (Gian Pietro Rizzoli) - Penitent Mary Magdalene.

Foyer of the Hermitage Theater.

Loggia Raphael! It reminded me a lot of a similar corridor in a gallery in Florence!

Italian art didn't end there!

1740. Michele Giovanni - Rialto Bridge in Venice.

1726-1727. Antonio Canal (Canaletto) - Reception of the French ambassador in Venice.

The halls of the Italian schools are magnificent! It’s not for nothing that it was built by Nicholas I and named as "New Hermitage".

1730. Giovanni Batista Tiepolo - Triumph of the commander Mania Curia Dantata.

1647. Paulus Potter - Punishment of the Hunter.

1651. Salomon van Ruisdael - Ferry crossing in the vicinity of Arnhem.

1611-1613. Peter Paul Rubens - Head of an Old Man.

1612. Peter Paul Rubens - Christ crowned with thorns.

In fact, the whole hall was given to Rubens here!

1640. Abraham Mignon - Flowers in a vase.

1530. Lucas Cranach the Elder - Madonna and Child under an apple tree.

1770. Peacock watch made of bronze and silver.

IN Pavilion Hall a copy of the floor of an antique mosaic was laid out, the original is in the Vatican.

St. George's Hall (Great Throne Hall).

Throne footstool commissioned by Empress Anna Ioannovna in London.

Military Portrait Gallery The Winter Palace was created according to the design of K.I. Rossi in 1826 in honor of Russia's victory over Napoleonic France. Built specially by Alexander I.

Armorial Hall! Intended for ceremonial receptions.

1876 Saber of Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolanvich the Elder.

Awards of Nikolai Nikolanvich the Younger.

Suddenly I found myself in Great Church of the Winter Palace or Cathedral of the Savior Not Made by Hands.

From one of the halls of the Hermitage there was an excellent view of Palace Square!

IN Alexander Hall silver products are presented.

In the hall UK arts costs Wine cooling tub, performed by Charles Candler, is a unique work that has no equal in any museum in the world.

1780. Thomas Gainsborough - Lady in Blue.

1779. Joseph Wright of Derby - Fireworks. Castle St. Angela (Girandola).

1766. Vigilius Eriksen - Portrait of Count Grigory Grigorievich Orlov.

Sabers and cuirass breastplate.

Tray dish "Apotheosis of Catherine II" depicting an allegory of Catherine’s journey to Crimea in 1787.

Mug, decorated with Western European coins.

Catherine II's uniform suit.

Malachite living room.

Large malachite bowl on a tripod in the form of winged female figures.

Concert hall.

It costs tomb of Alexander Nevsky! Was under restoration.

IN Nicholas Hall there was an exhibition of British architect Zaha Hadid.

In the center Antechamber was installed in 1958 Rotunda with malachite columns and a gilded bronze dome.

Well, that's all, I went out.

When I left the Hermitage it was almost evening, it turns out that I spent half a day in the museum. And I watched only a small part, and on the blog I told everything in a more condensed version.

I must say, even this gives an idea of ​​the grandiose scale of the museum and its amazing collection!

I went out to Palace Square, on which stood a horse-drawn carriage. It feels like I was transported many hundreds of years into the past during the time of Peter and Catherine!

It was great! The Hermitage left a very pleasant impression! Thanks to everyone who maintains and stores such a priceless treasure in the center of the Northern capital of Russia!

This is not just a museum, it is a real palace and a museum within a museum, which is very pleasant to just walk around. The exhibition shows the development of world art from the Stone Age to the end of the 20th century. This is a huge period that is very difficult to fit into one day. Therefore, many come specifically to St. Petersburg during the off-season to devote a few days to the Hermitage and experience all its value.

If you came to St. Petersburg and did not visit its museums, then you wasted your time! I highly recommend combining a walk around the city and a must visit State Hermitage Museum And