Hermitage Museum. State Hermitage: Address, History, Museum Collections

general information

The impression of visiting the State Hermitage is difficult to describe in words. From the very first steps on a solemn Jordan staircase, the luxury and splendor reigning here. The time itself, it seems, frozen in majestic halls among huge malachite VAZ, Egyptian sarcophagus, Greek amphorous, paintings of the greatest European painters and sculptures of the most famous masters. Such worldwide recognized masterpieces are kept here as "the return of the prodig son" Rembrandt, "Madonna Litt" and "Madonna Benoita" Leonardo da Vinci, "Madonna Konnestabil" and "Holy Family" of Rafael, "Butterist" Caravaggio, Pictures of Titian, Murillo, El Greek and many other famous painters. Hermitage in St. Petersburg has one of the world's best collections of French painting end of the XIX - early XX century.

History Hermitage

The construction of the complex began with the construction in the middle of the XVIII century by order of the Elizabeth of the Winter Palace. Architect Francesco Rastrelli worked on the building from 1754 to 1762. The initial project was set aside in a magnificent baroque style, but a significant part of the interiors later changed in accordance with the requirements of classicism.

Soon who came to power soon after the construction of Ekaterina II not only authorized the emergence of a large and small Hermitage and the Hermitage Theater, but also laid in 1764 the basis of the collection of the future museum. The first exhibits were Flemish and Dutch canvas of modern titled shopper masters. At the same time, Yuri Felten was built a two-story barky and classic house for entertainment empress. Five years later, an accepted Jean-Batist Michel Wallen-Decamot, the hull, with whom he joined the Gallery of Hanging Gardens was attached to him. The ensemble was called a small hermitage.

In 1771-1787, a large Hermitage was built on the bank of the Neva on the project of Felten, since the collection of books and paintings were rummaged and not placed in old rooms. After 5 years, Jacomo Kurengy, the Creator of the Hermitage Theater, completed an extension to it. In Catherine, the Museum's Funds received the work of the largest Italian masters, Rembrandt, on the second floor of the Winter Palace, a luxurious Georgievsky hall was issued.

Hermitage in the XIX century

After the completion of the war with the French, Hermitage got a collection of Josephine Bogarne, Napoleon's spouses. The Patriotic War of 1812 left an imprint on the appearance of the Hermitage: everything was done in the reign of Nikolai I to perpetuate the memory of the heroes of battles. In the halls of the complex, portraits of the commander, reliefs with patriotic symbolism appeared.

In the Nikolaev period, Alexander Bullylov, the brother of the famous painter, worked on the interior decoration of the Hermitage. He issued the interiors of the Winter Palace, together with Vasily Stasov, restored Petrovsky and the Field Marshal halls after the destructive fire of 1837.

In 1852, a group of architects built a new Hermitage specially for scenic collections, embodying the main details of the German project Leo Background Klenz. Over the interiors of the Big Hermitage and the Winter Palace at that time, Andrei Potakhenshneider worked. In the 60s of the collection of the museum, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, samples of European decorative art were replenished, the meeting of the weapons from the Tsarskoil Arsenal was translated here.

History of the complex in the XX century

During the First World War, the Hospital was organized in the Hermitage. After the February Revolution, a temporary government was traveled here, which was arrested right in the palace during the Bolshevik coup. On November 12, 1917, Hermitage became a state museum. Until the Second World War, the collection has increased significantly due to the nationalization of private collections and associations of different museums, valuable exhibits came from the Union republics. During the war, the meeting was evacuated to Sverdlovsk, from November 1945 everything was returned again to their places.

Since 1981, visitors to Hermitage in St. Petersburg began to take the Palace of Menshikov with an exposition dedicated to the culture and life of Petrovsky time. In the Hermitage Theater in the 90s, "Winter Palace Peter I" opened. Some expositions moved to the main headquarters.

Modern condition

In the XXI century, the State Hermitage opens its representative offices abroad and in the Russian regions: these are exhibition centers in London and Las Vegas, Amsterdam, Kazan, Ferrara, Vyborg. A large frontard courtyard is reconstructed, a new entrance to the Hermitage has been opened. The collection of the Museum of the Lomonomosovsky Porcelain Plant is moving.

Museum Collections

Inspecting the entire meeting for one visit is physically impossible, so visitors are offered to develop routes independently in accordance with their interests. From an architectural point of view, the most attractive interiors of the Winter Palace, picturesque masterpieces are concentrated in the halls of the Great and New Hermitage.

Winter Palace

The main exposition of the first floor of the Winter Palace is ancient art and archeology, the second - painting England and France XVI-XVIII centuries. And the interiors of various epochs, the third - the classic art of Asia countries. Separate mention deserve the rooms of the second floor: TRONER, ALEXANDROVSKIY, BIG, CONCERT, chamber premises of Empress Mary Alexandrovna and the families of the last emperor.

Small Hermitage

With the Winter Palace, the building connects Sivkov to the transition with a platform where the ancient Roman mosaics, sarcophages and reliefs are stored. The name of Alexander Sivkova, the architect of the Hermitage of the Soviet period, which united all buildings in the general museum space was perpetued in the name of the hall. The pavilion hall, the windows of which go to the Neva, in the middle of the XIX century, was decorated with a soldier, who did not regrepace for the walls and the ceiling of gilding and crystal. There are four copies of the Bakhchisarai fountain, mosaic and watches "Peacock". The bronze hour machine work machine of the English masters of the XVIII century is still functioning - its "singing" can be heard every Wednesday, at 19 o'clock. In the Romanov Gallery, from the side of the Winter Palace, medieval exhibits are stored, decorated with enamels, wood carving and ivory, faience dishes. The gallery leads visitors to the hall of Dutch and Flemish painting. In the opposite Romanovskaya, the Petrovsky gallery is kept German paintings and sculptures of the XV-XVIII centuries.

Old (big) Hermitage

From the first floor of an old Hermitage to the second, the exhibition leads the Soviet staircase from white and pink marble. She was erected by the project of the Shockenchneder in the middle of the XIX century on the site of the former oval hall, from which a duddy smelter with images of the goddess Minerva and Russian junior remained. The name, contrary to the problem, does not have any relation to the USSR: in this building, the State Council was located in the 19th century.

The big Hermitage is not at all high compared to the impressive winter palace and the new Hermitage. Modest volumes are compensated by the value of collections - it is here, in Nevskiy Anfilad, the masterpieces of Italian Renaissance are stored: Frescoes Fra Beato Angeliko, Reliefs Antonio Rosselyino, Altar Sandro Botticelli, "Saint Sebastian" Pietro Perugino, "Mailing Christ" Veronese, "Saint George" Tintoretto. In the Leonardo Da Vinci hall, French interiors of the XVII century were reproduced. The famous Leonard "Madonna Benoit" and "Madonna Litta" are exhibited here. In the Hall of Titian you can see "lety" and "Saint Sebastian".

New Hermitage

Since the Neva River embankment no longer had a suitable place, the main facade of the new Hermitage comes to a millionth street. It is decorated with famous powerful granite figures of the Atlanta work of the Sculptor Terebenev. This is exactly about them in the famous song of Alexander Gorodsky:

When in the heart of gravity
And cold in the chest
To the steps of the Hermitage
You come at twilight,
Where without drinking and bread,
Forgotten in centuries,
Atlanta keep the sky
On stone hands.

Project Leo Background Klenza envisaged complete harmony between exhibits and wall design, ceilings, parquet. That is why many halls are decorated with medallions, mosaics in the style of various historical eras. On the first floor of the building presents samples of ancient art. The exhibition halls is maintained by the main staircase of white marble, surrounded by granite columns. The most ancient findings are located in the colorful twelve-column hall with mosaic floors, wall paintings, imitating the ancient Roman, and green granite columns.

In the center of the hall of the big vase, a 19-ton Kolyvan Vase from the greenish-gray jasper is made in 1843. On the perimeter of the room placed marble sculptures of the era of Emperor Trajan. In the vaulted Hall of Jupiter, a huge puzzle statue exported from the country house of Emperor Domitsiana is being exhibited. In an antique courtyard with statues, the decoration of houses of noble Romans and Greeks was reproduced. Marble figures are decorated with the Dionysus Hall. In the Greek Halls of the Classics, copies of the works of famous sculptors are presented: Fidia, Mirone, Polycttte, Genuine Vases.

On the second floor of the new Hermitage, the most valuable pictorial meetings are stored. In the hall of Rembrandt, 23 works of the Dutch Master, including the "return of the prodigal son" and protected after the attack of the vandal especially durable glass "Dana". The Hall of Rafael presents Italian ceramics, the work of students of the famous painter and his masterpieces "Madonna Concreate" and "Holy Family".

The center of the building forms an imfilade of three halls with upper lighting, the so-called "lumen". Small Italian clearance decorates color stucco and works by Russian kamneris. In the Big Hall, the large-format paintings of Italian artists are kept, the original furniture made according to the sketches of the monferran and the background of Klenze. In Spanish, the works of Velasquez, Surbaran, Murillo are exhibited.

The building was erected on the site of the former Winter Palace of Peter I. Architects managed to restore part of the base and first floor in the room under the scene. View the office, a dining room and a parade yard with Sanya Peter I can be from the Palace Embankment.

The interior of the theater foyer is designed in grayish blue tones, emphasizing the magnificity of heavy chandeliers, sophistication of medallions, stucco and ceiling paintings. In the auditorium, as in the ancient amphitheater, 6 semicircular rows of the bench are installed. Here, in ideal for chamber opera speakers, there are performances and concerts by the forces of their own orchestra and invited from the Mariinsky theater of singers.

Palace Menshikov

Baroque building, the first capital structure of St. Petersburg from the stone, stands on the university embankment. While Menshikov was in force, in the palace, the center of a huge manor, held the main entertainment events of the royal yard. Subsequently, the unclaimed building dilated to such an extent that in the twentieth century, the reconstruction was stretched for several decades. Some premises have not been restored so far. After the transfer of the Hermitage building in 1981, it was decided to recreate the interiors of the first third of the XVIII century - the abrasions of the parade halls, the nut office.

Main Staff Building

The last acquisition of the museum is two buildings combined by a semicircular triumphal arch, the creation of architect Carlo Rossi in honor of the victory of the Russian Empire in the war of 1812. The new branch of the museum is a strict three-story building with elongated facades, the monotony of which is violated only by the snow-white Corinth colonnades. For many years, the main headquarters performed only the official function, now representatives of military departments are still in the structure of the structure. At the moment, the halls of the building are reconstructed in accordance with the tasks of the museum - a part of the collections of European painting from the Winter Palace will move here.

Tourists

Hermitage is the largest and most oldest museums in all of Russia. He arose in 1764, being then the Private Assembly of the Empress. Only after almost a hundred years, the doors of the Hermitage opened for visitors, and the gallery turned into a state museum. Then the collection of paintings took only one building, and today the main part of the exposition is located in five buildings, which are located on the very bank of the Neva in the center of St. Petersburg.

The official history of the collection of Hermitage paintings begins with Catherine II, who loved foreign art and ordered pictures of the most famous artists of their time. It all started from the Winter Palace - the buildings near the Palace Square, to which, at the order of the Empress, a new part called the Hermitage was attached. This place was the abdomen of art, science and sophisticated conversations of the most revered guests of the government.

The first large acquisition of Catherine II was the collection of Gor'tkovsky, which is now the basis of the meeting of the Netherlands painting in the Hermitage. Then the Empress acquired the works of Raphael, Titin, Rubens and many other great painting masters. Emissaries Catherine engaged in the purchase of works of art throughout Europe, and as a result, the collection went up to huge sizes.

The following rulers also tried to devote as much attention as possible Assembly of the Hermitage, because he became a business card of Russia. Alexander I replenished the collection of English and Spanish painting, famous for the whole world of "Kamey Gonzaga". Under Nicholas I, hundreds of paintings appeared in the museum, and in 1826, a military gallery was opened.

In 1852, the museum was opened for a general visit and received the official name "Imperial Hermitage". In the 20th century, the collection suffered greatly because of the Soviet power and numerous wars, well-known exhibits were disappeared from it, and practically did not replenish. Employees and Hermitage Guarders as they could have tried to preserve his meeting, and only thanks to them many hundreds still weigh on his walls.

To date, Hermitage is not only the largest Museum of Russia, but also the largest and most successful research and development center in the domestic territory. Every year it is visited by millions of people, and branches appear in other cities. Hermitage is the pearl of St. Petersburg, the favorite place of tourists and the mandatory point of the route to visit each of the Russia who arrived in the northern capital of Russia.

Hermitage Summary.

Hermitage - Museum in St. Petersburg, to visit in which it stands to everyone at least once in life. Glory about him goes around the world. At any time of the year in the halls of the Hermitage, complete guests who came to North Palmyra from different parts of the globe. The museum collections contain almost 3 million more interesting exhibits, and in order to see them all, the tour will have to go through numerous rooms, corridors and stairs of the museum complex. Long 20 kilometers.

What buildings are included in the Museum Complex "Hermitage"

When tourists arrive in the city on the Neva, they dream of visiting many Museums of St. Petersburg. Hermitage is in this list, as a rule, in the first place. But many of them are associated only with a actually in the Grand Museum Complex of the Hermitage, except for the legendary creation of Rastrelli, there are another 5 beautiful and majestic buildings built into a row along the Nevsky Embankment in the center of St. Petersburg.

This is a small Hermitage, erected under the guidance of a talented wallery-delay architect; Big Hermitage - the creation of the architect Felten; Hermitage Theater (Architect Qurangi) and new Hermitage architect background Klenzse. All these wonderful architectural structures were created by different masters at different times, but now they are all one - the Hermitage, Museum and the Cultural and Historical Center.

From the history of the creation

About the Hermitage Museum Art historian scientists say this: In order to inspect all its exhibits carefully, you need at least 9 years old, and someone considers that even this period will not be enough, the collection of cultural treasures stored in the winter and other palaces of the complex will be so extensive. And all began in 1764. It was then that Catherine II gave an order to buy on foreign auctions of all the most valuable works of art in order to set them in the small Hermitage room.

Subsequently, when the collection has grown a lot, and the places in the small palace began to be lacking, the precious objects of art began to be placed in other buildings. So gradually the Hermitage was created - the museum, which we all know. Everywhere, the priceless paintings, sculptures, engravings, drawings, collections of vintage coins, medals, books, antique values \u200b\u200band works of decorative and applied art were bought around the world. After the death of Catherine II, Alexander I continued to collect interesting artifacts.

Until the middle of the XVIII century. Privilege View the Ermitage Exposition was available only to the chosen nobles. Yes, and in subsequent years, the entrance to the halls of the museum was limited for some classes. After the revolution of 1917, the Hermitage and its rich collections of artistic and historical values \u200b\u200bbecame available for a simple people.

Museum and Collection Halls

Today, the Hermitage is a museum in which a set of halls assigned to certain thematic collections. There is a Western European department, the departments of the ancient world and the east, primitive culture and numismatics, a large collection of ancient Egypt, "Golden Storeroom", as well as the extensive department of the history of Russian culture.

Each member entering the museum comes first to the lobby, from which you can go to the second floor, rising through the magnificent Jordanian staircase. Then the visitor enters the largest Hermitage Hall (1103 square meters. M.). It stretches along the Nevsky Embankment and consists of three rooms. Then the concert, Feldmarsh, Petrovsky halls follow. Large TRONER, or St. George Hall, decorate the royal throne, 28 crystal chandeliers and 48 columns from marble. There are also Alexandrovsky, Malachite and White Halls, Golden Living Room, etc.

Art Collection of Hermitage

Separate attention deserves the artistic collection of the cultural and historical center of the Northern Capital. Today, the former residence of Russian emperors is known to the world as the most largest art museum in Europe. Hermitage has an extensive collection of paintings of the most famous artists. Here you can see the canvas of such masters of painting, like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rafael, Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Deken, Poussa, Watto, Thipolo, Roden, Renoir, Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse, and others. Ingenious creators.

In the hall of Western European painting are such priceless masterpieces as Litt ") and" Madonna Benoit "Brush Da Vinci, the adorable small oval picture of Raphael" Madonna Konnestabel ". For the scenic canvases of Rubens, a whole hall is given in which you can look at the pictures" Venus and Adonis "," Portrait of the Camericist Infanta "," Union of Earth and Water ", the Shepherd Scene", "Vakh", "Removing from the Cross", as well as to other works of ingenious Flemish.

There are in the Hermitage and Hall of Rembrandt. Here, together with his other canvases, there is a famous "tax", which is protected to prevent vandalism repeated act. This picture was damaged in 1985 by one of the visitors, and on its restoration and restoration had to work for many years. Visitors are also available to visit the rooms of Michelangelo, Majolika and many others.

Information for tourists

The summary of this article, of course, cannot tell about all exhibits. You need to visit the Hermitage yourself. The museum is open to everyone else's week, except Monday. The main museum complex is located at: 2. Summer, as well as on weekends, not to stand in many hours, it is best to come for half an hour before the discovery that occurs at 10.30.

It is not difficult to get to the Hermitage, because this museum complex is located in the city center. The nearest metro station is Admiralteyskaya. It is worth come out from there, as you need to immediately turn left and go literally a few meters to st. Small marine. Then collapse to the right and walk to Nevsky Prospect. Now right in Nevsky stays to Palace Square - the entrance to Hermitage is located there.

In addition, we would recommend to visit the State Russian Museum, Kunstkamera, numerous suburban palaces of the city (Pavlovsk, Peterhof, etc.) - all these are famous museums of Russia. Hermitage among them, of course, remains the most important and beloved, and not only for Russians, but also for foreign guests.

In Hermitage

The State Hermitage in St. Petersburg is the oldest and largest treasury of foreign art in Russia and one of the world's largest artistic and cultural and historical museum.

His name - Hermitage (ermitage.) - Translated from French, denotes the "place of privacy, closer". This is due to the fact that it is originally a place (a special Palace Flegene - Small Hermitage) conceived Catherine II as an intimate corner of the Imperial Palace, intended for recreation and entertainment. Here were the first 225 paintings of the Dutch and Flemish artists, which she acquired in Berlin through agents from the commissionome I. Gotkovsky. Thus, the private assembly of Catherine II in 1764 was the beginning of the Hermitage.

Hermitage. Large Timing Hall

Collections of CatherineII.

In the XVIII century, thanks to Catherine II, an interest in collecting was awakened in Russia. This passion then reached the unprecedented scope, in Russia, a huge wealth accumulated - the outstanding works of Western European masters. Wanting to approve the glory of the "enlightened sovereign", connoisseurs of arts, and eclipse the magnificence of their yard the palaces of European rulers, she begins to collect works of art. Signs of painting, European erudites, among whom was a French philosopher-enlightener Denis Didro., collected and bought for Russian Empress the collection of paintings. In 1769, the rich collection of the Saxon Minister of Count Brulya, who had about 600 paintings, including the scenery of Titian "escapes, Dresden and Blottoto's views and Pirts of Brush Blotto, and Pirts of the Brush, was acquired for the Hermitage.

Titian "Flight to Egypt" (1508)

Titian "escape to Egypt"

"Flight in Egypt" is the first major work of Titian. It depicts the Mother of God with her son, they flew to Egypt from King Herod, accompanied by Saint Joseph. Angel leads a donkey on which Maria is sitting with Christ, and numerous animals are walking on the grass ...

The artist chose a large canvas of an extended format (206 x 336 cm), which made it possible to include a wide panorama of the terrain, in which the Holy Family is sent to Egypt. And although the main actors traditionally shown in the first plan, they are paid less attention than the landscape depicted with great thoroughness and poetry. Composite location of figures - a group shifted to the left edge, rhythmic accommodation of characters with each other - creates the impression of a long and tedious path.

Georgeon "Judith"

In 1772, Catherine II buys in Paris a collection of painting Baron Croza, in which paintings of Italian, French, Flemish and Dutch masters of the XVI-XVIII century prevailed. Among them - "Holy Family" of Rafael, "Judith" Georgeon, "Dana" Titian, paintings by Rembrandt, works of Rubens, Wang Dequee, Poussa, Landscapes of Claude Lorrena and Watto's work.

Georgeon "Judith" (about 1504)

Negotiations with the heirs of the bridge about the sale of paintings were held at the initiative of the Russian envoy D. A. Golitsyn and with the participation of Didro. "Judith" embodies the ideal of serene beauty. Despite its violence, the Old Testament heroine is interpreted rather as an antique goddess than as avenger from the face of the oppressed people. The picture is written on the Old Testament Plot about the history of Judith and Oloferna. According to the book "Judith", the commander Oloferne, the commander of the army of Nebuchadnezzar, fulfilling his command "to accomplish ... Understanding the whole earth", passed to Mesopotamia, destroyed all her cities, burned all sowing and interrupted men. Oloferne was asked by a small town of Brush, where the young judith widow lived. The woman passed into the Assyrian camp and seduced Oloferna. When the commander fell asleep, the judith killed his head. "Because her beauty captured her soul," the sword was walking around him! " The army, which remained without a manager, could not resist the residents of Vehlui and was scattered. The judith as a trophy received the tent of Oloferna and all its utensils and joined the Triumfor.

Many artists appealed to this plot, but Georgeon created a peaceful picture. Judith, holding a sword in his right hand, relies on a low parapet. Her left leg rests on the head of Oolofer. Behind Yudifi is deployed by a harmonious sea landscape.

In 1779, a collection of painting of the British Prime Minister Walpola was acquired, in which there were several masterpieces of Rembrandt (for example, "Abraham's" sacrifice "and" Aman's "sacrifice) and portraits of Wang Dequean's brush. And in 1781, Hermitage acquired more than 5 thousand drawings from the Kobenzl collection in Brussels, which served as a collection of graphics.

Another significant acquisition was the collection of the English banker Lyde Brown, which included antique statues and busts, including the sculpture of Michelangelo "Furious Boy."

Michelangelo "Right boy" (1530-1534)

"Footing boy" - The only sculpture of Michelangelo in Russia, it is on a permanent exhibition in the State Hermitage. The sculpture is made of marble, height - 54 cm. According to one of the versions, the sculpture was conceived for the draft Capeli Medici in the Church of San Lorenzo. According to another version, she was made by Michelangelo during the Spaniards attack on Florence in 1529-1530, when he found shelter in one of the monasteries. Some art historians believe that in this sculpture, Michelangelo reflected the oppressed state of the Florentine during this period. "Footing boy" was acquired Catherine II in 1785

Michelangelo "Footforward Boy"

Then the collection of carved stones of the Duke of Orleans was bought in Paris. In addition, Catherine ordered the work of Charden, Hudon, X-ray and other masters. She was acquired by Voltaire and Didro libraries. In the posthumous inventory of the property of Catherine in 1796, 3996 paintings are listed.

Further development of the Hermitage

Emperors Alexander I and Nicholas I pay great attention to the further development of the museum: they are already purchased not only collections, but also individual works of artists. In Rome, the sale of the Caravaggio and a picture of the Botticelli "worship of the Magi", which is now in Washington, was acquired in Rome on the sale of the Junistinian collection. In 1819, Madonna was bought in the landscape, presumably brush Georgeon. Josephine Bogarna, Empress France in 1804-1809, First Wife of Napoleon I, presented Alexander I Camele Gonzaga, and after her death was acquired by the entire gallery of Malmeason Palace, which took place mainly from the Kassel. In 1814, a collection of Spanish painting Kuzwell was acquired.

Karavaggio "Butterist" (about 1595)

Caravaggio "Butterist"

This is one of the early paintings of Caravaggio. In the works of this cycle, a love feeling is symbolically transmitted or through the images of fruit (as if inviting viewers enjoy their taste), or musical instruments: Music is a symbol of a mumbling sensual pleasure. The artist himself considered "Butterist" the most successful painting by him.

"Cameo Gonzag" (III century BC)

"Cameo Gonzag"

"Cameo Gunsag" - Famous cameo (jewelry or decoration made in bas-relief techniques on precious or semi-precious stones or on the sea sink) of three-layer Sardonix, belonging to the best antique samples Gliptic. (The art of the thread on color and precious stones). According to generally accepted opinion, is the most famous cam meters of the Hermitage.

Cameo is a steam portrait of Hellenistic spouses, Kings of Libya, Macedonia, Frakia and Bosporus Kimmeria Lisimaha I and Arsinoe II. A paired portrait of Hellenistic spouses rushed to the west. Cameo is made in the III century. BC e. An unknown author in Alexandria Egyptian.

It was under Nicolae I that the idea of \u200b\u200bturning the Hermitage in the Public Museum was implemented: in 1852, Hermitage was opened to visitAlthough the entrance to it was still limited - it was necessary to receive a special pass in the court office. Nicholas I also made a significant contribution to the replenishment of the Art Gallery of the Hermitage, but at the Soviet rule, the most important from their purchased webs were sold in the United States. At the second sale of the Collections of Cuzvelt, the masterpiece of Rafael "Madonna Alba" and "Three Mary at the crypt of Christ" Annibal Karracchi was bought.

In 1845 on the will Tatishchev (Diplomat and collector) Diptyh Robert Kampena "Trinity" added to the Assembly. Mother of God by the fireplace ", early diptych van Eyka" Crucifixion. Scary Court "and other works of old masters. In about the same way at the auction of the collection of the King of the Netherlands Willem II, "Annunciation" Wang Eki, Pieta Sebastian del Pjaombo and "Removing from the Cross" of GosSarta were acquired. In Venice, they bought the works of the Masters of the Italian Renaissance, including the masterpieces of Titian (for example, the "cross of the Cross") and Palm Vecchio.

New Hermitage

New Hermitage - the first building in Russia, specially built in 1852 for the public artistic museum. It is part of the Museum Complex of the State Hermitage. It is known for its portico with ten giant statues of Atlanta. By this time, the museum was kept by the richest collections of monuments of the Ancient, ancient and the ancient and medieval cultures, the art of Western and Eastern Europe, archaeological and artistic monuments of Asia, Russian culture of the VIII-XIX centuries. By 1880, the museum was attended up to 50,000 people per year.

New Hermitage

In the XIX century, the works of Russian painters began to systematically enter the Hermitage. But in 1895 they are transferred to the Russian museum, which founded the emperor Nicholas I.

Important sources of replenishment of funds in the second half of the XIX century are also domestic purchases from domestic collectors. The Museum shows the materials of archaeological excavations. By the beginning of the 20th century, thousands of cloth were kept in the museum, then new works of art appeared in his collection.

The museum began to enriched significantly at the expense of nationalized private collections and meetings of the Academy of Arts. Pictures of Botticelli, Andrea Del Sarto, Korredjo, Wang Dequean, Rembrandt, Canova, Engra, Delacroix. Of the main assembly of the Winter Palace, the Museum received many subjects of the interior, as well as the treasures of the great Mughal, presented by Nadir-Shah.

Canova "Three Graces" (Harites)

Canova "Three Graces"

Harita - In ancient Greek mythology, beneficial goddesses that are embodied good, joyful and eternally young onset of life. Names Harit from the Gesiod: Aglaya ("shining"), Euphrosina ("Bladiness"), waist ("blooming").
Names Harit and their number in the variants of myths are different. Harrit could be two, sometimes four. Xarites are close to Apollon. In the Delos Temple, he holds three Harrit's palm, and in the Pythi temple of Apollo (Pergam) there was their image.
Harites correspond to Roman grazies.
In the art of Harita graces, they are usually depicted in such a way that the two extreme faces face to the viewer, and that in the middle, - back, with a head turned around. Such was their antique pose, known and copied in the Renaissance Epoch. In different centuries, grazies were endowed with different allegorical meaning. Seneca describes them as radiant girls, naked or dressed in loose clothes, they personified the three-way aspect of generosity: the provision of benefits, gaining benefits and pay for benefits. Florentine philosophers-Humanists of the XV century have seen in them the personification of three phases of love: Beauty, exciting desire, which leads to satisfaction. There is another interpretation: chastity, beauty and love.

In 1948, the Museum of New Western Art was closed and his cultural heritage was redistributed between Museums of St. Petersburg and Moscow. Parts of the Moscow meetings of Sergei Schukin and Ivan Morozova joined the Hermitage. Now the chronological framework of the collection has significantly expanded thanks to the work of impressionists, Cesanna, Van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso and other artists of new directions.

Impressionism (Fr. impressionNisme, OT. impression - impression) - direction in the art of the last third of the XIX-early XX centuries, originated in France and then spread around the world, whose representatives sought to most naturally capture the real world in its mobility and variability, transfer their mimful impressions. Usually, under the term "impressionism" means a direction in painting, although his ideas also found their embodiment in literature and music.

Paul Cezanne "Marina Coast"

Paul Cezanne "Marins Coast"

Landscape Cezanne is stressed static: almost horizontal line of the river banks are opposed to strict verticals of houses and trees on the shore. The landscape immobility is intensified by the fact that it is reflected in the mirror, as if frozen, water. The river seems to be frozen as a mirror, still the trees are trees on the shores.

If the Impressionists sometimes dissolved in the solar shine, in a constantly changing light-air atmosphere, then in Cesanna, he again acquires weight: the structure of the building and the volume of the mass of trees is emphasized in the landscape. Trees in the picture form a generalized mass, which is characteristic of impressionists.

But together with acquisitions, heavy losses took place during this period. The diamond room of the Winter Palace was translated into the Moscow Kremlin, serving the basis for the diamond fund. Part of the collection of painting of old masters (including some works of Titian, Kranech, Veronese, Rubens, Rembrandt, Poussin) was transferred to the Moscow Museum of Fine Arts.

As a result of the sale of 1929-34, 48 masterpieces left Russia forever: the Hermitage lost the only work of Wang Eyka, the best things of Raphael, Botticelli, Hals and a number of other old masters.

During the Great Patriotic War, the main part of the Hermitage collection (more than two million units) was evacuated to the Urals. The cellars of the Hermitage buildings turned into a bomb shelter, and as a museum he did not work. But Hermitage staff continued to conduct scientific work and even arrange lectures on art historian. Even before the end of the war in the halls of the museum, restoration work began, and soon after the war, all evacuated cultural values \u200b\u200breturned to Leningrad, and the Hermitage was again open for visitors. None of the exhibit was lost during the war, and only a small part of them took restoration.

At the end of the war, a trophy art of Berlin museums began to enter the Hermitage, including the Pergami altar and a number of exhibits of the Egyptian Museum. In 1954, a permanent exhibition of these revenues was organized, then the Soviet government at the request of the GDR government returned them to Berlin in 1958. In early 1957, it was opened for visitors the third floor of the Winter Palace, where the works from the Museum of New Western Art were exhibited.

Currently

Hermitage Museum Complex

Now the Hermitage Museum Complex is five buildings associated with each other on the Palace Embankment:

• Winter Palace of Architect B. F. Rastrelli;
• Small Hermitage Architects J. B. Wallen-Demotus, Yu. M. Felten, V. P. Stasova. The complex of the Small Hermitage includes the northern and southern pavilions, as well as the famous suspension garden;
• Big Hermitage architect Yu. M. Felten;
• New Hermitage Architects Leo Background Klenzez, V. P. Stasova, N. E. Efimova;
• The Hermitage Theater of the architect J. Kurengy, which is erected over the partially preserved Winter Palace of Peter I;

Also in the complex of buildings of the State Hermitage are included service buildings:

• Spare House of the Winter Palace;
• Hermitage garage architect N. I. Kramsky.

To date, the collection of the museum has about three million works of art and monuments of world culturestarting from the Stone Age to our century.

The Hermitage Museum of St. Petersburg is one of the largest museums around the world. Each guest of the northern capital considers it its duty to visit this historic heritage.

Hermitage in St. Petersburg has a colorful and diverse collection of exhibits. These include paintings, art objects, sculptures, paintings, graphics and many more diverse and interesting objects. To date, the collection has over 3,000,000 exhibits. By their scale, the Hermitage of St. Petersburg is not at all inferior to Louvra in France, or the Metropolitan in the United States. An interesting fact was established by scientists: if every work of arts is considered for about a minute, it is not enough even eight years to get around the whole museum. All exhibits are located in certain halls, they are numbered about 350 pieces.

Hermitage was founded in St. Petersburg in 1764. It was then that the museum was replenished with the first historical exhibits. Catherine II bought several paintings at the trader from Berlin, which belonged to the Dutch artists. And since then I constantly tried to diversify your collections. Later it was customary to celebrate the foundation of the museum on the day of St. Catherine, i.e. seventh December.

The Hermitage Museum consists of five separate buildings. The most famous is the Winter Palace. Previously, he was considered the chief Palace of the emperor, representing a closed rectangle. Compared to the rest of the buildings, the Winter Palace is higher and more. Because of the fire that emerged in 1837, the building was never subjected to reconstructions.

Also in the complex of the museum includes an old Hermitage, new Hermitage, Hermitage Theater and Small Hermitage. All buildings are combined with each other with stairs and underground transitions. In the aggregate, they represent a solid architectural structure.

In the small Hermitage there is a famous collection of painting Catherine II. The empress constantly tried to replenish his collection, buying various sculptures, paintings, art objects. The work of the most famous and unsurpassed artists were conquered in her gallery: Rembrandt, Rafael, Rubens, etc.

Also Catherine II gave a deep preference to the pictures of little-known European masters, whose path then only began. The Empress loved collecting decorative stones: various figurines, souvenirs and decorations for women. One of the significant acquisitions in such a kind was the collection of stone products of the Duke of Orleans. As a result, in a small Hermitage, there was a lack of space for all the acquisitions of Catherine Great. Since 1771-1778, it was decided to build a new building adjacent to the Museum of the Empress. This building was very different from the Winter Palace and Small Hermitage. It had a strict and inconspicuous style. Big Hermitage was allocated for unique collections of painting.

The famous Palace Square was spread before the Winter Palace. Which is about five hectares. According to its size, it is twice as long as the Red Square in Moscow. Now it is a bright historical object and thousands of tourists are going to the square daily on the square, the wallace and beauty of the museum.

There are two more buildings that currently belong to the Hermitage of the Northern Capital: Menshikov Palace and the main headquarters building. In the main headquarters used to be posted various military institutions. And the Menshikov Palace was built specifically for the "right hand" of Peter I - Alexander Menshikov.

One of the main attractions of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg is the Jordan staircase. It is located in the Winter Palace. For all the time, she practically did not change her pristine species. A staircase is performed in an excellent baroque style. She enchants his ornament from white marble and monumental painting of sails. The Jordanian staircase received its name in honor of the baptism's rite on the Neva River.

After passing through the Jordan staircase, you can find yourself in the most huge hall of the museum. Its area is 1103 square meters. m. and consists of three large rooms. Then follows the concert hall, which collected many noble people in his walls during the Emperor's times. Passing through the extreme passage from the stairs, you can get to the Field Marshal Hall. Previously, he was decorated with portrait pictures of Field Marshals.

The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg is a real cultural and historical heritage. Millions of tourists come every day to admire the objects of art and architecture, as well as to join the Russian spirit of that time, full secrets and mysteries.