THE WINTER PALACE / THE HERMITAGE--
The former residential palace of the Romanov rulers, called the Winter Palace, and four other buildings together house one of the world's most prestigious and large ((1,057 halls) museums , called The Hermitage...
...and one of the premier art collections!
The Winter Palace, one of the most luxurious places on the face of the planet, and The Hermitage display rooms contain over 3,000,000 art works! To see all the art displayed, you 'd have to cover a distance of about 14 miles!!!
Construction of the Winter Palace that houses the Hermitage was begun in 1754 during the reign of Catherine the Great.
During WWI the Hermitage was used as a hospital, followed by its transition to a state museum in 1917. At the onset of WWII, Russia moved the Hermitage collections to the Ural Mountains for their protection.
One of the first large works of art we saw upon entry was a malachite rotunda....
...Large quantities of malachite have been mined in the Ural Moutains in Russia, so there was even a malachite room in the Hermitage.
Beautiful candelabra in entry hall
The throne of Peter the Great with a painting of the Czar and Czarina
What was amazing to me was TOTAL decoration of not only the walls, but the floors and especially the ceilings in the palace!!! Remember, Catherine's Palace and Peterhof were SUMMER palaces where they would live only in the summer!
Wall tapestries
Crystal and gold chandeliers in Pavilion Hall above Peacock Clock
Peacock Clock in the Pavilion Hall--is the only large 18th Century automation in the world to still be functioning in its original unaltered condition.
Arch decoration in Pavilion Hall
On the Pavilion Hall floor is a mosaic shield depicting Medusa and mythological scenes....
...There is also a table with the same Medussa shield!
Large malachite and gold vase near the Council Staircase
Beautifully decorated door...
...with wood inlay!
Gobelin tapestry on the right in Leonardo da Vinci Room
"Madonna with a Flower"--DaVinci
Of about 12 original works by Leonardo known today...
...The Hermitage possesses both.
"The Little Madonna"--(Madonna Litta) by Leonardo Da Vinci
Doors in Leonardo da Vinci Room
The Raphael Loggias (an arcaded or roofed gallery) of the Hermitage are almost an exact replica of the loggias at the Vatican.
Close-up of the Frescoes on the Raphael Loggias
Drawing Room
"Madonna and Child" (Madonna Conestabile)--Raphael
"The Holy Family" (Madonna with a Beardless Joseph)--Raphael
"Crouching Boy" statue by Michelangelo...
...in the Cabinet of Italian Art.
This was an amazing blue table
Knights' Hall
Two of four stuffed horses showing how armor was worn by horses and knights!
The Gallery of Ancient Painting adorned with sculptures by Antonio Canova and his school.
Painted roof over the hall, as well as pictures mounted on the walls, etc. are painted on subjects that remind us of the traditions of antique art, its history and works.
Sculpture in History of Ancient Painting Hall
I think this hall has one of the most beautiful interiors in The Hermitage.
Main Staircase of the New Hermitage with ceiling below...
...shows there can be beauty with gray and white coloring!
Large lamp made by 19th-Century Russian craftsmen from colored stones...
...as well as a this large vase.
The famous Rembrandt painting--"Danae"--Circa 1636
"The Sacrifice of Isaac"--Rembrandt--Circa 1635
Rembrandt's most famous painting in the hermitage--"The Return of the Prodigal Son"--Circa 1668.
Portrait of the Roman Emperor carved in black basalt
The Hall of Graeco-Etruscan Vases--designed in the form of an ancient temple with two rows of grey granite columns. The walls, frieze and coffered ceiling are covered with painting inspired by the decoration of ancient pottery.
Jasper Vase-Art of Ancient Rome of the 1st Century BC--4th Century AD
There was a small collection of Egyptian antiquities, including this wooden coffin with highly decorated cover for the mummy...
...this huge granite sarcophagus (6th Century BC)...
and wooden coffins.
Although we think of the Hermitage as primarily a museum, it was the main home of the imperial Romanov family from Peter II to the last Czar, Nicholas II.
Even though we only had two hours at The Hermitage, we saw some incredibly decorated rooms, paintings and art of all kinds!!
This definitely is a museum where a person could never see everything...
...but our guides did a wonderful job showing us the most important things!
On our way back to the ship from The Hermitage, we saw this unusual building; I think they said it was a new subway station.
We also saw this submarine (in front of the ship)--our first sighting of a Russian sub!
Our two Russian guides. They did a wonderful job, were extremely knowledgeable and helped us learn so much about Russia!!!
My next posting with be the medieval city of Tallin, Estonia--a pleasant surprise!!!
4 comments:
Joyce, I hope that you aren't running out of places you visited. This is becoming my cultural lesson every day. I need my fix reading your posts of all the interesting places to be. I loved seeing the Hermitage!!
Maybe you should be a history teacher? I don't know how you keep track of what all of these pics are! Thanks for sharing!
I can't believe you saw all this in only two hours! Like you said, you needed all day and then some! You seriously have been some of the world's most famous museums, haven't you?!
This place reminds me of Versailles in Paris. Wow!! How did you remember all that info? I'm impressed, and yes I agree with Michele, after all these trips you are taking, you need to be a history teacher for sure!
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