State Hermitage. Hermitage map What is in the St. Petersburg Hermitage

The largest in Russia and one of the world's largest art and cultural-historical museums first appeared in 1764 as a private collection of Catherine II. The museum was opened to the public in 1852 in the building of the New Hermitage specially built for this purpose. Today, the main exhibition part occupies five buildings located along the Neva embankment.

The beginning of the story

The history of the State Hermitage collection officially begins with the reign of Catherine II. But her great predecessor, Peter I, also contributed. During his reign, many exhibits appeared in the private imperial collection, which are now in the Hermitage. For example, the famous "Scythian gold" - precious jewelry in the form of animals stored in the Golden Storeroom. They were bought by Prince Gagarin for the Siberian collection of Peter.

Until the Catherine era, there were almost no additions to the imperial collection, or they happened by chance. A striking example is the collection of "Mughal gold". In the middle of the 18th century, the Shah of Iran conquered the Mughal Empire, which was located on the territory of India. With the embassy, ​​he sent Tsarina Anna Ioannovna gold jewelry and other jewelry, literally showered with diamonds, rubies, sapphires. They were brought to Petersburg on elephants. However, the gifts were already received by Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, who ascended the throne as a result of a palace coup. Elephants have been disturbing the inhabitants of St. Petersburg for a long time, periodically escaping from enclosures. And the gifts were accepted and safely forgotten; they were transferred to the Hermitage collection after the revolution. At the end of the 20th century, it turned out that there were almost no Mughal treasures left in Iran, and the largest collection of jewelry from their era is in Russia.

Hermitage in tsarist times

One of the most important periods in the history of the museum is undoubtedly associated with the name of Catherine II, who is rightfully called its founder. To the Winter Palace, on her instructions, an extension was made, which was called the Hermitage. Here they gave dinners for the circle of close associates. The guests discussed politics and art. In this part of the palace, there was a special set of rules, such as: “leave all ranks outside the doors”, “argue without vehemence”, etc. A private collection of paintings by Catherine II was also kept here, it began with the acquisition of the collection of the merchant I. E. Gotskovsky , which included works by Dutch artists. During the reign of Catherine II, the collection was replenished with paintings by Titian, Rubens, Raphael and other great masters, the only sculpture in Russia by Michelangelo "Crouching Boy" was bought. Throughout Europe, the Empress's emissaries purchased dozens and even hundreds of paintings for her, often simply buying up already formed collections. In addition to many paintings, the Hermitage now has more than 10,000 coins and medals, more than 10,000 drawings, countless engravings, stones and books.

Paul I, alien to the views of his mother and having a strong dislike for her, nevertheless, continued to collect art, mainly Italian. However, he ordered to put the letter "P" on all the paintings in the collection. Thus, scientists were able to determine exactly which canvases arrived at the Hermitage before the beginning of the 19th century.

The reform carried out by Count Dmitry Buturlin is connected with the reign of Alexander I. The collection was divided into several parts, with each of them a custodian appeared. In the era of Alexander I, the Hermitage collection was replenished with Spanish and English paintings. But the most valuable acquisitions are associated with the central episode of his reign - the war of 1812. Like many members of the French nobility, the Countess of Beauharnais, the former wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, was concerned about maintaining privileges after the victory of the Russian army. She decided to make a gift to Alexander I, who refused to accept it for a long time, but Josephine insisted. Thus, the famous “Gonzaga Cameo” ended up in the Hermitage collection.

Nicholas I, keen on military affairs, left behind 600 paintings depicting battle scenes. During his reign, in 1826, the famous Military Gallery of 1812 was created. The emperor himself was fond of painting and often allowed himself to inscribe images of soldiers on the canvases of masters of battle painting. Under him, some exhibits from the collection were given away or destroyed. However, thanks to him, the New Hermitage appeared, the ensemble of existing buildings was reconstructed.

And in 1852, the museum was first opened to visitors under the name "Imperial Hermitage". For the next half century, his collection was replenished with varying degrees of intensity. One of the famous acquisitions of that time was the Benois Madonna by Leonardo da Vinci, bought in 1914.

The Hermitage in the 20th century

The history of the Hermitage in the 20th century is more reminiscent of an action-packed detective story, among the heroes of which are museum staff, the Soviet authorities and the Russian army. During the revolutionary period, the Hermitage collection surprisingly did not suffer. Serious leaks from it began in the first years of Soviet power.

First, in the 1920s, the collections of the museums of the Union republics were replenished at the expense of the royal collection. The Hermitage partially compensated for these losses with proceeds from nationalized private collections. But in general, the pre-war years of its history will pass under the auspices of maneuvering between the strict requirements of the authorities to open storerooms in order to sell exhibits to the west, and the sincere desire of employees to preserve the most valuable. Nevertheless, Titian's Venus in front of a Mirror, Raphael's Saint George and Alba Madonna, Tiepolo's Feast of Cleopatra and many other masterpieces of French and Italian painting were sold abroad. The confrontation between the Soviet agency Antikvariat, which was engaged in the sale of valuables, and the employees of the Hermitage vividly illustrates the episode with the department of the East, which was headed by Joseph Orbeli. A commission from the Antikvariat agency came to the Hermitage to collect Sasanian silver for sale. Its representatives could not get inside. It is said that Orbeli threatened to swallow the key and bury the collection of the Oriental Department for a long time behind the heavy doors of the museum. A scandal erupted. Director of the Hermitage Boris Legrand and Joseph Orbeli went on a gamble. They wrote a letter to Stalin, who eventually supported them. The letter from the leader became the defense of the museum. All attempts by "Antiques" to confiscate a thing, not even related to the Department of the East, did not lead to anything. Any exhibit that was planned to be withdrawn unexpectedly ended up in storage in the East Department.

Thanks to the employees of the Hermitage, during the periods of the largest “sales” from the Hermitage collection, it lost a minimum number of the most valuable exhibits. But the price for this was very high. Over the years, more than fifty museum employees were repressed.

During the Great Patriotic War, the collection was evacuated to the Urals, but the museum buildings were significantly damaged. The list of building materials needed for restoration testifies to the damage that was done to them. It included 100 tons of cement, more than 60 tons of gypsum, 30 kilometers of fabrics and more.

After the end of the war, work in the Hermitage began with a vengeance. The museum had to accept trophy works of art, taken out in huge quantities from Germany. As you know, Hitler was going to open a museum, collecting all the best that he managed to capture in Europe. At the time of the capture of Berlin by Soviet troops, the museum was preparing to open. Quite by accident, its future director was captured, who told about the location of the storerooms. Works of art were exported from Germany by wagons.

Pearls of the European collection

Diptych by Robert Campin, Benois Madonna by Leonardo da Vinci, Judith by Giorgione, Portrait of a Woman by Correggio, St. Sebastian Titian", Caravaggio's "Lute Player", Rembrandt's "The Return of the Prodigal Son", "Lady in Blue Gainsborough".

Over the following years, something returned to European collections. But much remains on the territory of Russia to this day. Today, the Hermitage exhibits trophy paintings by Manet, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec and others. However, it is likely that the contents of some of the reserves are still not known to either the general public or the scientific community. Disputes around trophy works are still ongoing.

Today the Hermitage is also a major research center.

The complex of buildings of the Hermitage Museum

Winter Palace

The residence of Russian emperors, designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli. Work on its construction began in the era of the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna and completed under Peter III in 1762.

Small Hermitage

Castle. Built under Catherine II by Yu. M. Felten and J. B. Vallin-Delamot.

Big Hermitage

The palace, built by Yu. M. Felten in 1787 to store the replenished collection of Catherine II.

Hermitage Theater

It was built by the decree of Catherine II by the architect Giacomo Quarnegi for performances and masquerades.

New Hermitage

The building was built under Nicholas I by the architect Leo von Klenze specifically to demonstrate the exhibits of the imperial collection.

In recent years, special exhibition halls connected with the Hermitage have appeared in famous museums of the world. Its new branches were opened: the Museum of Porcelain and the Museum of the Guards in the building of the General Staff.

To retell the entire history of the Hermitage is like recounting the history of Russia, this museum is such an important phenomenon in the life of the country. Being directly connected with many events in Russian history, the Hermitage has always remained home. No matter what happens, there is always someone living here. And everyone left behind something of their own.

The State Hermitage Museum located in St. Petersburg is considered one of the largest in our country, as well as throughout the world. What to see in the Hermitage for a person who has visited it for the first time? The answer is not so simple, because the Hermitage consists of five main buildings of the main complex, where the exhibits of the museum are located, four buildings located outside the Palace Embankment, and two outbuildings. The table lists all the buildings of the Hermitage, including service buildings, indicating the years of construction and the architects who created them.

The beginning of the Hermitage

The famous museum began as a personal art collection of Empress Catherine II. The creator of the Russian version of the ideology of “enlightened absolutism” needed the approval in the eyes of Europe of the first part of this ideologeme, which would retouch the second part (absolutism), which looked very unpresentable. For a long time, the collection was available only to the elite, fully justifying its name: “hermitage” in French means a place of solitude. The opening to the general public took place only in the middle of the 19th century.

In 1852, at the end of the reign of Emperor Nicholas II, in a specially built building of the New Hermitage, the entire rich collection that had accumulated by that time was publicly exhibited: exhibits from ancient (Egypt, the East, antiquity) and medieval history, as well as Russian monuments starting from the 8th century . Thirty years after the opening of the Hermitage, the annual attendance of the museum reached 50 thousand people a year, and the exposition was constantly increasing.

Hermitage today

After the revolution, the nationalization of private collections greatly enriched the Hermitage. Treasures of culture, which were previously available to a few, have become the property of all. Despite the fact that some of the paintings were sold abroad in the 1920s (the Soviet Union needed money for industrialization), the Hermitage collections were replenished with exhibits taken from Europe after the Second World War. True, some of these collections were transferred in 1958 to the GDR, and in 2002, united Germany received back the stained-glass windows of the Frankfurt Marienkirche church stored in the Hermitage.

The Hermitage today is:

• more than a million works of applied and fine art;
• more than 1,100,000 numismatic monuments;
• more than 750 thousand archaeological sites;
• almost 14 thousand weapons;
• more than 200 thousand other exhibits.

The exhibits are placed in halls and pavilions with a total area of ​​233,345 square meters. It is clear that it is impossible to survey all this wealth in a day or a week. Usually visitors see only the most famous of the things the Hermitage is famous for, while specialists choose an era, country and area of ​​art or history to get acquainted. The exhibits of the museum show the development of world art from the Paleolithic to the end of the last century. What should a person who has visited the Hermitage for the first time choose for acquaintance?

Permanent exhibitions

The list of permanent exhibitions of the Hermitage includes 36 items. Thematic art galleries (for example, portraits of representatives of the Romanov imperial family), the art of the peoples of Southern Siberia and various European countries are widely represented here. For amateurs, the decoration of the Russian interior at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries and the chambers of Empress Maria Alexandrovna in the Winter Palace are of interest. And the loggias of Raphael, made by order of Catherine II at the end of the 18th century, imitate the gallery of the Pope in the Vatican.

The permanent exhibitions also include the ceremonial halls of the Winter Palace, which largely retained their original decoration. From them you can judge what the interior of the building was like in the 19th century. The collection of applied art of medieval Western Europe will acquaint visitors with church utensils, furniture, as well as stained-glass windows, metal products, ceramics, and bones. Of particular importance are the numerous collections of paintings that are exhibited, grouped by country and era.

Art of the ancient world

The Hermitage presents 106 thousand monuments from the world of Antiquity. Geographically, they belong to Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Etruria and the Northern Black Sea region, where there were many Greek colonies. The oldest exhibits belong to the Aegean civilization - 3 millennium BC. The latest dates back to the 4th century AD - the time of the decline of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the formation of Christianity.

Antique sculptures of the classical (5th-4th century BC) period number 70 copies. About 20 of them are Greek originals, and the rest are later Roman copies. The art of the Hellenistic period (4th-1st centuries BC) is presented somewhat more widely (over 200 exhibits). All antique collections are housed in the building of the New Hermitage.

Art of the East

About 180 thousand exhibits represent the art of the East from antiquity to the present day. Expositions occupy more than 50 halls. They introduce visitors to the culture of Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, the Near and Far East, the Caucasus, Byzantium, and Central Asia. Here you can learn about what Asia was like before the emergence of Islam and Armenia of Tigran the Great, ancient Colchis and the countries of Indochina, the Mongol Empire in general and the Golden Horde, one of its fragments, in particular.

The collection of Japanese art in the Hermitage is the largest in Russia. Mostly these are monuments of two and a half centuries preceding the Meiji revolution - the Tokugawa era (1603-1868). The most valuable part of the Japanese exposition is the collection of netsuke - miniature figurines used as an element of the traditional national costume. In addition, weapons, porcelain, samples of fabrics and clothing are on display.

Art of Europe

The layer of European art is colossal, and in the Hermitage it is represented by a huge number of exhibits. The variety of plots, techniques, styles, trends and performers is so great that some large expositions had to be divided into smaller ones. Like, for example, the visual arts of the Netherlands. Experts distinguish between the art of the Netherlands of the 15th-16th centuries, the painting of Flanders (a province of the Netherlands), and the painting of Holland. The Italian school is subdivided into the Venetian school of the Renaissance, the art of Italy of the 13th-16th centuries, and separately the art of the 16th-18th centuries. Let's consider this layer in more detail.

Malachite Hall

The hall is located in the Winter Palace; it was decorated with malachite in the first half of the 19th century, when large deposits of semi-precious stone were being developed in the Urals. Today it is the only malachite interior preserved in the world. Previously, the hall was part of the chambers of the wife of Nicholas I - Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. In the decoration, the technique called "Russian mosaic" was widely used. Thin plates of malachite were glued onto a stone base, and the joints of the plates were filled with malachite dust and polished. This labor-intensive technique has not been used anywhere else in the world in such volumes.

It took 133 pounds of malachite to decorate Alexandra Feodorovna's living room - more than 2 tons! This is not only wall decoration, but also vases, floor lamps, candelabra, countertops. The hall is rightfully considered the pearl of the Hermitage. It is located on the second floor of the northwestern part of the Winter Palace. In 1917, between the February and October revolutions, it hosted meetings of the Provisional Government.

The iconic art museum of St. Petersburg has huge galleries with ceremonial interiors, unique expositions and rare works of art. Therefore, the Hermitage is included in the list of the most popular art museums in the world, and is also recognized as one of the main prides of Russia.

The museum complex includes 5 branches located on the Palace Embankment. These are the Winter Palace, the Hermitage Theatre, the buildings of the Big, Small and New Hermitage. All listed objects are recognized as monuments of Russian architecture of the 18th-19th centuries. In them you will find more than 3 million paintings, sculptures, objects of applied art and archaeological finds.

Of course, one visit to see all the treasures of the museum is not enough. That's why .

How many halls in the Hermitage

Officially, the Hermitage has 365 rooms with expositions. However, their number may change after restoration or rescheduling of temporary exhibitions.

List of the most beautiful and famous halls of the Small Hermitage

pavilion hall

In this room you will not find chiseled statues and paintings, but its interior impresses with its luxury and elegance. The architect Andrei Shtakenshneider created such beauty in the 19th century. The design of the space combines antique, Moorish and Renaissance styles. Snow-white columns, openwork gilded lattices, arches, huge crystal chandeliers create the atmosphere of an oriental palace here.

Each corner and element of the Pavilion Hall is a separate exposition. Here you will see skillfully made shell fountains, copies of the Bakhchisaray fountain of tears in the Crimea, medallions with painted inserts. As you walk through the exhibition, don't forget to look down. The floor of the chambers is decorated with a mosaic that was found in Rome. It depicts the head of the Gorgon Medusa and various scenes from Greek mythology. Emphasize the beauty of the room marble statues and countertops, decorated with mosaics - the creations of masters of the 19th century.

The most precious exhibit of the Pavilion Hall is the Peacock mechanical clock. At one time, Prince Potemkin presented them to Catherine II. They are made in the form of a sculptural composition consisting of a tree trunk with a dial and animals and birds sitting on the branches. Once a week, the clock is wound up in the museum, and at this time visitors can see them in action.

Loggias of Raphael

A magnificent ensemble that combines the subtlety of architecture, the richness of painting and sculpture. The loggias are a separate gallery, consisting of 13 buildings. The source of inspiration for this place was the Vatican paintings, from which the frescoes were copied.

Every corner of the loggia, including columns and ceilings, is painted with biblical motifs. The entire composition includes 52 canvases dedicated to the Old Testament and 4 to the New. Thanks to the sequence of masters, you will be able to enjoy the beauty of the paintings and read the main biblical motifs starting with the story of Adam and Eve. Separate reliefs of the gallery are decorated with outlandish drawings of animals and people made in the grotesque style.

Main halls of the Winter Palace

Armorial Hall

One of the most spacious and majestic halls. The hall was designed by Vasily Stasov in 1839 for holding gala evenings. This is evidenced by huge chandeliers, golden columns and arched windows decorating the chambers. Today it houses a collection of Western European silver, in particular the work of French masters dating back to the 18th century. The most interesting example was the service of Thomas Germain, which belonged to Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. You can also see German silverware in the showcases of the exhibition.

Alexander Hall

This spacious hall is dedicated to the memory of Alexander the Great and combines elements of Gothic with Classicism. High snow-white-blue ceilings, arches decorated with stucco, chandeliers, massive columns together resemble the atmosphere of a temple. In the northern part of the chambers you will see a majestic portrait of the emperor.

On the walls of the Alexander Hall there are 24 medallions telling about the important stages of the Patriotic War. The dark blue showcases display an exposition of Western European silver dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

Malachite living room

Another creation of Alexander Bryullov, created in 1837 on the site of the Jasper Room. Thanks to the design of precious stones, this small room is recognized as the most valuable in the building.

The main accents in the design belong to the malachite columns, pilasters and two fireplaces. Many other exhibits are also made of stone: countertops, bedside tables, vases. The walls are finished with marble, the ceiling is decorated with a gilded pattern that copies the pattern on the floor. Crimson curtains, as well as fabric on the chairs, add contrast and solemnity to the hall. Among the exhibits, the tallest flowerpot made of malachite and furniture preserved after the fire are considered the oldest.

Living room of Maria Alexandrovna

A very small room in terms of area is distinguished by the luxury of decoration. Its decoration was designed by the architect Harald Bosse, and the style is defined as rococo. A distinctive feature of the chambers are thin ornate ornaments. They decorate every corner of the space. They are made of gilded carved wood and metal, and their abundance and subtlety of curves make the space lively and very ornate. A special solemnity is given by the red silk trim that adorns the walls, chairs, windows and doors. Mirrors on the walls and ceiling create an unusual play of light. Sculptural elements and paintings complete the luxurious composition.

Living room of Maria Alexandrovna

This hall ranks first in the list of the most luxurious corners of the museum. Another name for the premises is the private living room of Maria Alexandrovna, the wife of Emperor Alexander II. Its interior was created by the famous architect Alexander Bryullov.

The atmosphere of the room is fully consistent with its name. The walls, floor and stream literally shine with gold. Along the perimeter of the chambers are small showcases in the form of pyramids. Here you can see French and Italian jewelry. The walls and ceiling of the hall are decorated with fine patterned carvings and painted ornaments. The composition is complemented by heavy curtains, crystal chandeliers and golden doors.

From the guide, you will learn that the Golden Living Room became the place where Emperor Alexander the Third made important decisions on state reforms for the first time.

Concert hall

During the history of its existence, it was changed three times and acquired its final form in 1837. This hall has no equal in the richness of the sculptural decoration. The second tiers of its walls are decorated with statues of goddesses and ancient muses. Sculptural compositions smoothly connect with the ceiling, which gives the space additional volume. In addition to luxurious decoration, here you can see a rich collection of Russian silver of the 17th - 20th centuries. The most valuable exhibit is Alexander Nevsky's silver shrine, made of 1.5 tons of precious metal.

white hall

It is located in the southwestern part of the Winter Palace. The hall was created from three living rooms and was supposed to be a place for celebrating the wedding of Alexander II. The design of the hall does not differ from the name at all. Its white walls are decorated with columns crowned with sculptures of female figures. They symbolize various types of art. The Empire style of the hall is emphasized by bas-relief figures depicting the gods of Olympus, as well as graceful arched openings.

Today, the White Hall houses an exposition of French paintings of the 18th century, a collection of porcelain and pieces of furniture in the classicist style.

Halls of the New Hermitage

Halls dedicated to ancient Egypt

Fans of Egyptian culture should definitely look at the Winter Palace exhibition, as well as visit Hall No. 100, located on the first floor of the New Hermitage. It is here that you will find exhibits belonging to different historical periods of Ancient Egypt.

At the exposition you will see how culture developed in Egypt from the rise to the disappearance of the Middle Kingdom. In one room there is a large collection of sculptures, sarcophagi and household items. In the other you will find papyri, texts from the Book of the Dead, amulets with scarabs, jewelry, and various works of artistic crafts.

The list of the most valuable items of the Egyptian halls includes the statue of Amenemhat III, depicting the pharaoh sitting on the throne. Another magnificent exhibit is the sculpture of the goddess Sekhmet. This is a granite figure of a woman with a lion's head, which is one of the most ancient Egyptian monuments.

Around the granite statue of Sekhmet, beliefs have been circulating for years. Museum staff report that from time to time blood is visible on her knees, or rather a red-orange wet coating. Most often, he appears before catastrophes or tragic events.

Halls with monuments of Greece and Rome

A huge part of the New Hermitage, 100-131 rooms, is dedicated to the culture of antiquity. Here you will see not only exhibits belonging to Roman and Greek culture, but also a stylish antique interior that adds brightness to the atmosphere.

Each room deserves a separate viewing and represents an art collection belonging to a specific period of history. For example, in hall number 128 you will see a large Kolyvan vase, reaching 5 meters in height and 3 meters in width. Exhibition No. 130 impresses visitors with huge paintings in the Greek-Egyptian style, a collection of amphoras, vases, statues.

Rooms 107-110 house a collection of sculptures of gods and Atlanteans. The most grandiose are considered to be a huge statue of Jupiter, "Venus Tauride", "Cupid and Psyche", "the death of Adonis", the sculpture "Muse of Tragedy". Hall 109 is dedicated to Dionysus, the god of wine. Its walls are painted in grape tones, contrastingly emphasizing the snow-white sculptures. We also recommend visiting rooms 111 - 114. They house antique vases of various shapes and sizes. The dominant feature of the exhibition is the statue of the "Resting Satyr" - a copy of the famous masterpiece by Praxiteles. Another interesting room is No. 121, where a collection of stones is located.

Knight's Hall

It has a huge collection of weapons, covering more than 15 thousand items. Here you can see tournament armor, swords, swords, hunting and firearms.

The main decoration of the hall is an exhibition of figures of knights in armor on horseback. The spectacularity of the exhibits is emphasized by huge paintings depicting military operations.

Small and Large Italian skylights

The Small Clearance Gallery covers 29 rooms, which exhibit paintings by Italian artists from the 13th to the 18th century. In the Big Clearance, the main emphasis is on furniture and decor. Here you will see malachite vases, chairs, foyers. All rooms with works of art are decorated with stucco and gilded paintings.

Halls of the Great Hermitage

Hall of Titian

There is a room that was intended for noble imperial guests, on the second floor. Its luxurious interior is complemented by works by Titian, a famous Renaissance artist. Among the most famous paintings you will find "Saint Sebastian", "Penitent Magdalene" and "Danae".

Leonardo da Vinci Hall

One of the most popular places in the Great Hermitage. Here you will find two legendary masterpieces of the famous artist. These are Madonna Benois and Madonna Lita. The significance of works of art is emphasized by jasper columns, lapis lazuli inlays, picturesque panels and plafonds.

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The State Hermitage is the pride of Russia, the largest cultural and historical museum in the country, occupying 6 historical buildings, the main among which is the majestic Winter Palace. Today, the Hermitage has collected almost 3 million exhibits: paintings, drawings, sculptures, objects of applied art, a collection of numismatics and archaeological sites.

And the Hermitage began in 1764 as a private collection of Catherine the Great, who bought a collection of 220 paintings and placed them in remote apartments of the palace, called the Hermitage, which in French means “a place of solitude”. The museum opened for visitors in 1852, and even then it accumulated the richest collections of works of art. Today, guests of the Hermitage can admire such masterpieces as Madonna and Child (Benois Madonna) by Leonardo da Vinci, Saint Sebastian by Titian, Holy Family by Raphael, Return of the Prodigal Son by Rembrandt, Apostles Peter and Paul by El Greco. A visit to the Hermitage is, of course, an obligatory item on the program of a visit to St. Petersburg.

Main Ensemble of the Hermitage

Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday - from 10:30 to 18:00, Wednesday, Friday - from 10:30 to 21:00, day off - Monday.

How to get there: by metro to st. "Admiralteyskaya", "Nevsky Prospekt", "Gostiny Dvor".

The ticket price for adults to the Main Complex and all other branches is 700 RUB, to one of the branches - 300 RUB. For children, students, pensioners of the Russian Federation admission is free. On December 7 and the first Thursday of each month, admission is free for everyone. Prices on the page are for October 2018.

The famous Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg is rightfully considered one of the most significant art and historical museums in the whole world. The complex of five majestic buildings, which house numerous exhibits, is one of the most unique architectural monuments in Russia.

Today, the extensive collection of the museum complex includes more than three million various works of art, from exhibits of ancient times to modern masterpieces.

Uniqueness of the Hermitage

The State Hermitage Museum is interesting not only for the huge number of exhibits, but also for its location. Before the revolution, it was imperial, so the unique interiors of that era, magnificent marble stairs, gilded furniture and crystal chandeliers have been preserved here.

Visitors have the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere of that time, to appreciate the beauty and luxury of the environment.

History of creation

The year 1764 is considered to be the founding time of the Hermitage, when, by order of Catherine II, an exhibition of paintings was set up in several halls of the Winter Palace, which at that time was one of the imperial residences. These 225 canvases were accepted by the Empress from the German merchant Gotzkowski as payment for the debt of the Russian Empire. The venture was a success. Therefore, the Empress continued to collect exhibits.

On her orders, sculptures and paintings by famous painters were bought up, and an interesting collection of carved stone was acquired. It soon turned out that several halls for the collected masterpieces were no longer enough. We decided to build a separate building. It was erected in 1764-1767 and later became known as the Small Hermitage.

In 1775, on the banks of the Neva, the architect Yuri Felten built a luxuriously finished building, called the Great Hermitage.

In 1783-1787, on the site of the former personal residence of Emperor Peter I, the Hermitage Theater was built by the architect.

Formation of the Hermitage expositions

At the beginning of its existence, the museum's collection was replenished by purchasing art collections belonging to European aristocratic families. Then they began to acquire individual works of brilliant masters. For example, Emperor Alexander I bought the Lute Player painting by Caravaggio.

By the end of the 18th century, the Hermitage collections contained paintings by Rembrandt, Raphael, Giorgione, Rubens and many other famous artists. Various works of art were bought abroad especially for the Hermitage expositions. These are sculptures, gold and silver items, books, coins and much more.

Some masterpieces were ordered from masters specifically to replenish the collection of the Hermitage. At the beginning of the 19th century, the museum also began to exhibit the most interesting archaeological finds.

By the middle of the 19th century, the building of the New Hermitage was built to store and display an ever-increasing number of exhibits. The museum complex acquired its final form.

Museum halls

The layout of the halls of the Hermitage has about 350 different rooms, in which the richest collection of the museum's masterpieces is located. The interiors of the premises themselves are often also works of art, such as the majestic gallery of the Loggia of Raphael, commissioned by Catherine.

It is an exact copy of the Vatican original. The entire gallery, including the ceiling, is decorated with analogues of paintings by Raphael, which were made by a group of artists led by X. Unterberger.

No less remarkable are the ancient halls of the Hermitage, the interior space of which fully corresponds to the collections presented. Often the interior of the halls is painted with Greek and Egyptian motifs and numerous columns. Here are collected items from many places and eras. For example, a huge inscribed slab from the square of ancient Palmyra (Palmyra writing) or realistic antique sculptures.

The Greek halls of the Hermitage amaze with an abundance of genuine antique statues, vases, amphorae, and lamps.

Notable is the famous sculpture "Venus Taurida", which was bought by Peter the Great from Pope Clement XI.

How are the expositions arranged?

It is quite difficult for guests visiting the majestic museum complex for the first time to understand the complex intersections of galleries and passages. Detailed Hermitage with room numbers is located at the entrance to the museum. You can get the same one for free from the cashiers when buying tickets, or you can use a very convenient and detailed online guide to the museum.

All rooms of the museum complex are numbered to make it easier to navigate. But many especially remarkable halls have their own names.

The names of the halls of the Hermitage can also reflect the essence of the collections presented in them. In particular, the Hall of Ancient Egypt or the Leonardo da Vinci Hall.

Sometimes the name of the museum premises may arise from its external features or interior details. For example, this is how the White Hall, built by A.P. Bryullov in honor of the wedding of the future Emperor Alexander II in 1841, got its name. Its interior was done in white tones and decorated with statues of ancient Roman deities and numerous columns.

Often the names of the halls of the Hermitage were given to perpetuate the memory of significant people or events. So, for example, Petrovsky Hall was named after the founder of the city, Peter the Great. It is also called the Small Throne.

Painting masterpieces

In one small article, it is unrealistic to even simply list all the paintings by great painters on display in the Hermitage.

Of the most remarkable, you can see two works by the famous Renaissance painter - Leonardo da Vinci. These are Madonna Benois and Madonna Litta. In total, 14 authentic paintings of his authorship are known in the world, and two of them are in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg!

The museum also has an impressive collection of paintings by medieval Spanish masters. Undoubtedly, one of the pearls of this exposition of the Hermitage is the painting "Breakfast" by Diego Velázquez. This canvas by the court painter of the Spanish King Philip VI surprises with its optical visual illusion: it seems that four people are depicted in the picture, but in fact only three characters are having breakfast.

On the diagram of the halls of the Hermitage, one can see such names as the Rembrandt Hall or Snyders' "Shops". The richest collection of paintings by Dutch painters of the 16th-17th centuries is presented separately.

The works of the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists are on the third floor of the Winter Palace. Here you can admire the paintings of Monet, Renoir, Picasso and many other brilliant masters of painting.

Pantries of the Hermitage

On the scheme of the Hermitage halls, you can see such names as the Jewel Gallery No. 1 and No. 2. They are called Gold and Diamond. Speaking names! Of course, you can see valuable art objects made of precious stones and gold in them.

Admission to these galleries is not included in the price of admission. They need to be paid separately. The visit is only possible with a guided tour. Photo and video filming is prohibited there, but the impressions of the beauty of the creations of the ancient masters will last for a long time.

Almost everyone knows about the famous, but the collection of Siberian gold, formed by Peter the Great, is in no way inferior in skill and expressiveness. It consists of items collected on the territory of Western Siberia at the beginning of the 18th century. This selection of exhibits can rightly be called the earliest archaeological collection in Russia.

Some works of ancient jewelers date back to the seventh century BC. That is why the skill and accuracy of the execution of masterpieces are amazing.

For connoisseurs of the beauty and brilliance of natural stones, a visit to the Diamond Storeroom will be informative. It contains the jewels of Russian autocrats. These are snuffboxes and caskets of all shapes and sizes, watches and fans, decorated with a scattering of diamonds.

You can also see unique creations of the work - ten times smaller copies of the imperial crown, scepter and orb.

With all the desire, it is impossible in one day to even briefly examine all the expositions, halls and galleries of the museum complex. Therefore, it is better to decide in advance on the most preferred collections and think over your route. A more than detailed and understandable interactive guide to the Hermitage can help with this.

It should be taken into account that the ceremonial halls, collections of paintings by Rembrandt and Leonardo da Vinci are the most popular among museum guests. It is more expedient to visit them in the afternoon, when the number of tourists will decrease significantly.

And it’s better to start your tour from the first floor of the Winter Palace, where the halls dedicated to the art of ancient times are located. It is usually deserted in the morning hours.

Although everyone has their own interests, and therefore it is impossible to lay a route that is equally informative for everyone.

Museum visit with children

If you plan to visit the museum with kids, it is better to make this excursion short so as not to “oversaturate” the child with impressions.

Despite the solidity and solidity of the galleries of the museum complex, there are halls for children in the Hermitage that will certainly interest the little ones. The boy will definitely enjoy visiting the Knight's Hall, where the richest collection of medieval knightly armor and weapons is presented. The exposition even has a set of children's armor, which will definitely appeal to the little knight.

And the girl will definitely be impressed and surprised by the beautiful interiors of the main halls, the images of children and animals in the paintings, as well as the unique Hanging Garden.

And, of course, it will be interesting for children to visit the Hall of Ancient Egypt, see a real mummy and many interesting statues with animal heads.

Tours of the Hermitage

The museum complex is simply huge, so navigating through it, despite the presence of a map of the Hermitage halls, is quite problematic. Therefore, it is recommended to use the services of a guide.

Tours are conducted by museum staff who thoroughly know the history of each work of art and many interesting facts about them.

Traditional tour of the Hermitage sightseeing. It lasts approximately four hours. It includes a tour of all the most famous exhibits of the museum. It can be expanded if you plan a visit to the Jewel Galleries or the Menshikov Palace.

There are also thematic excursions for parents with children (at least six years old), during which the kids get acquainted with world masterpieces in a fascinating and understandable way.

Fluffy keepers of the Hermitage

One of the interesting facts about the functioning of the museum is that for 240 years, cats have been protecting its collection from possible damage by rodents. In order to protect the museum's masterpieces, Empress Catherine also ordered that large cats, which were good at hunting mice, be brought to the Hermitage.

This tradition exists to this day - about sixty cats "work" on the territory of the museum. There is even a special holiday dedicated to guard cats; on March 28, museum workers celebrate it.