Hermitage Museum

The Hermitage is among the greatest museums in the world. Its fame is founded in equal measure on the majestic architectural ensemble, the outstanding collections of objects of art and culture from around the world, and an extremely rich past which is bound up with the foun­dation, rise and decline of the main imperial residence in St Petersburg. The Hermitage owes its origins to the creative and educational activities of the Russian rulers. The winter residence of the Russian monarchs became the centre around which a great museum, its architectural complex and its countless artistic treasures crystallized.

 The Hermitage was the Winter Palace of Peter the Great, and later by Catherine the Great, who took the imperial throne in 1762. While the Hermitage can trace its architectural history back to the first Winter Palaces of Peter the Great, the history of the Hermitage as a museum collection is traditionally held to have begun in 1764. It was then that Catherine II acquired 225 paintings. The first catalogue of the painting collection, published in 1774, already listed some 2,000 works. Apart from paintings, Catherine acquired a host of drawings, engravings, numismatic items, collections of cameos and intaglios, and books, including the libraries of Diderot and Voltaire. It is said that she broke the Treasury with all of her acquisitions.

Severe trials awaited the Hermitage during the Second World War. Before the besieging enemy completely encircled Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), the staff managed to load two trains, sending a considerable part of the museum's collections to the Urals for safekeeping in the Sverdlovsk Picture Gallery. Many items, however, spent all 900 days of the siege in the cellars and ground floor of the museum. Although wounded by bombs and shells, the Hermitage stood firm (unlike Catherine’s Palace and Peterhof, the Nazis never occupied St. Petersburg or the Hermitage). In October 1945, the Hermitage collections returned from evacuation and soon the museum reopened doors to visitors. The restoration of the war-damaged and interiors would take many years, however.

 

The Winter Palace, built by Bartolomeo Rastrelli between 1754-62, during reign of Elizabeth I

Museum began with works of famous art purchased by Peter the Great

Entrance usually has hundreds of tour groups, thousands of visitors, every day

Most of prestigious collections were acquired during the reign of Catherine II

The Portrait Room, supposedly paintings of Catherine II's lady servants

Main staircase leads to four other buildings housing Russia's largest art collection

Sparkling chandeliers and elaborately-designed ceilings are prominent throughout

The St. George Hall, or sometimes called the Large Throne Room

The Hall of Peter the Great

Chandeliers made of crystal and gilded bronze create atmosphere of luxury

Strikingly rich wall carvings

The Boudoir, private living quarters of Maria Alexandrovna

Throne in St. George Hall where Catherine II presided

The Pavilion Hall has four "fountains of tears" - rich parquet and mosiac floors

Peacock clock built in 18th century with all moving parts (on the hour)

The Malachite Room in the Winter Palace

Wonderful setting to take photos of the new bride!

  More St Petersburg                                     Hermitage Art