The Hermitage is one of Russia’s many masterpieces of architecture and it contains collections of many different masterpieces made by many well-known artists from an array of countries. By just looking at this magnificent building, located on an embankment of the Neva River, it can be seen how powerful and important it really is. The Hermitage was built by the order of Catherine the Great so she could store her art collection. This great museum collection has grown immensely since Catherine’s day. Although the Hermitage holds mostly a foreign art collection it still contains Russian artwork. However, the majority of Russian art is located in the Russian Museum. The Hermitage museum is not only a place to keep precious pieces of art, but also a place of learning and culture.
At first the Hermitage was just a small building adjacent to the Winter Palace with an original collection of items bought Catherine the Great. This building was designed by Vallin de la Motte and built in 1768 (“Hermitage”). It has grown into more than one building since that time. The Small Hermitage connected to Catherine the Great’s private apartments in the Winter Palace for her convenience. Connected to the Small Hermitage is the Large or Old Hermitage and then an additional wing called the New Hermitage. Located in the Large Hermitage there is a Theater that was used for private showings for Catherine the Great and her guests. All of these buildings together, including the Winter Palace, are named the ‘State Hermitage.’ (Fodor’s 155)Catherine’s collection included fine jewels, sculptures and various other artifacts from around the world (Norman 22). Famous painters such as El Greco, Rembrandt, Van Dyke, van Gogh and Ruben have art forms at the Hermitage. There are also many themes represented, including the Russian Revolution, the reign of Peter the Great and also the work of Pushkin. The Hermitage thus has art forms from furniture to jewels to drawings. In the Hermitage there are nearly four hundred rooms and it houses approximately three million pieces of art (Ragghianti 9). The Hermitage started off growing very strong in the ways of art. In 1764 the Hermitage had 225 paintings and in 1774 had approximately 2,080 paintings and drawings and sculptures etc (Kann 229). Some striking art forms are here as well. Leonardo da Vinci’s Madonna and Child (Litta Madonna) is located in the Leonardo room, there is also a hanging garden room with many plants and sculptures and fountains from the 18th century (“The State Hermitage Museum”). Another unique room is the Greek Vase room. This room is in the New Hermitage and holds many items from the BC centuries (“The State Hermitage Museum”). There is not only interesting art in this building, but a whole non-tangible history as well.
The many buildings of the Hermitage are an enormous adventure. There is so much art to see and so many different places to go. One can not possibly see everything and go everyplace in one day. The buildings and floors are divided into sections depending on what era they are from. Several of the different sections include: Classical Antiques, Ancient Egypt, German art (15th-18th century), Treasury collection, Stamp collection, Prehistory, Original antiques and Middle Eastern art (Knopf 170-171). These places in the Hermitage are pretty general, but there are also some other more specific popular places to visit.
The Hermitage has acquired many paintings with religious themes. It is striking the number of Madonna based paintings there are. Room 214 displays the Benois Madonna or simply the Madonna with the Flower as well as the “Madonna Litta” both by de Vinci. In Kann, the Benois Madonna is described“The streams of light bring out form and warmth of the human body” (237). Both of these paintings portray maternal love and affection. Another painting of Madonna is in room 229, which is by Raphael and named Madonna Conestabile. The scene of this painting is in nature with meadows, a blue sky and a lake. He has another painting here as well, which is of the Holy Family. This is a calm painting, nothing overly dramatic. (Kann 237)
This museum houses an abundance of brilliant art work, too much to even touch on all of it. Here are some of the more outstanding pieces of work. The Grand Staircase, the first thing seen upon walking entering the building, has gilded wall mouldings and astounding white marble statues, also a plafond representing the Greek Gods on Olympus. The staircase was build first by Rastrelli and then restored by Vasily after the fire of 1837. If you pay close enough attention you can see the sunlight hitting 28 crystal chandeliers in the Small Hermitage and listen to the water dripping from the four Fountains of Tears. The Peacock Clock will grab your attention, for a peacock is standing on top of a tall oak tree stump. This clock has so many detailed parts on it such as squirrels, acorns, lizards, mushrooms, leaves etc, which all move on the hour. James Cox made the Great this clock which was bought by Prince Grigori Potemkin for the Empress Catherine the Great. (Kann 229-232) There are many, many other fascinating features to this museum as well as many stories and histories about it.
The Hermitage has some interesting facts behind it, starting with its name: in Russian it is pronounced phonetically like ‘Ermitazh,’ with a silent ‘H’. Catherine did many things to the Hermitage. She started collecting the art to put in it and she basically had it all built for her. Catherine was pretty selfish about the buildings and there possessions and wrote, “all this is only for the mice and myself to admire!” (Kann 229). She took the liberty to make her own rules for her Hermitage. The Small Hermitage was her own private place to entertain her guests. She felt relaxed here and wanted the environment to be safe and comfortable both for her guests and herself. For this reason she posted a list of rules:1. All ranks shall be left behind at the doors, as well as swords and hats.
2. Parochialism and ambitions shall also be left behind at the doors.
3. One shall be joyful but shall not try to damage, break or gnaw at anything.
4. One shall sit or stand as one pleases.
5. One shall speak with moderation and quietly so that others do not get a headache.
6. One shall not argue angrily or passionately.
7. One shall not sigh or yawn.
8. One shall not interfere with any entertainment suggested by others.
9. One shall eat with pleasure, but drink with moderation so that each can leave the room unassisted.
10. One shall not wash dirty linen in public and shall mind one’s own business until one leaves.
(Norman 6)
For a surprise gift to her lover, Grigory Orlov, she purchased a 300-piece breakfast set with scenes from his military profession. There are many original pieces and Catherine took the initiative to collect all types of different art. This museum has grown into a great center of art. It has lasted through many wars, good and bad times. Now the Hermitage is not only a museum, but also a place to learn from.
The Hermitage is entertaining all of Russian from the old to the young. In this museum there is a children’s center. Children can interact and learn about the Hermitage in fun ways. There is everything from lectures and drawing to computers and clubs to belong to (“TheState Hermitage Museum”). This is a fantastic way of getting the children involved with history and art forms. They will learn to appreciate the arts as well as become very knowledgeable about art. To learn more about this topic area of the Hermitage be sure to read about it here.
The Hermitage Museum has come a long way since 1768. It has kept up with the times and modernized itself during many transitions. The Hermitage is unique to St. Petersburg showing much of the city’s history, glory and pride. This brief introduction to what this museum is all about is a collage of some of the highlights introduced by Catherine the Great, gifts to Tzars or Tzarinas, and other artwork collected though the years. The magnificent architecture is also an attracting feature, standing powerful at the edge of the Neva.
