Scheme of the Hermitage with the names of the entrance halls. Hermitage: let's go to the museum! Pavilion Hall of the Small Hermitage
IN Hermitage I wanted to get there for a very, very long time! This is one of the largest museums not only in Russia, but also in the world! And given my interest in art in general, this museum was number one on my bucket list!
P.S. Attention! There is a lot of information and about 110 photos under the cut!
State Hermitage Museum, is not just a great museum, because at first the building, where today an endless number of people go, was conceived as the Winter Palace - the main residence of the Russian tsars! It was the center of the empire that Peter I conceived. The fate and history of Russia was decided here! Many years later, the museum fits perfectly here, which originated in 1764, as a private collection Catherine II, after the first 225 valuable paintings were transferred to her from Berlin.
It is not known why she bought them, because she was not particularly interested in the paintings, but thanks to this purchase, the great story museum!
Hermitage collection was significantly replenished thanks to Catherine’s greed and orders to buy paintings in bulk! The exhibition was complemented by the interest in art of Russian aristocrats, resellers and a large number of excavations of ancient burial mounds. Subsequently, Russian tsars and queens received many works of art as a gift, as a sign of respect! In just 20 years, a huge number of unique exhibits were collected, and new buildings were built to store the best collection in Europe!
Gradually the museum received the name "Hermitage", which is translated from French "Ermitage", means Personal peace, or Hermitage. In general, it was so, under the grandson of Catherine II, Alexander I, only selected high-ranking officials could get here, exclusively on recommendations or passes in the amount of no more than 5 people, accompanied by a footman, and then not in the Palace part, but only in the attached new buildings ! The Winter Palace was closed to everyone for a long time! Then there was a certain division of the collection, which was sorted into cases, something went to be shown to selected people, and vice versa, to hide some exhibits from unnecessary eyes.
The history of the museum is not so long, but it has managed to tell a variety of events, such as December 17, 1837 he survived one of the greatest fires in history Russian Empire. As a result of a terrible fire, the second and third floors of the Winter Palace were completely burned out, including interiors by F.B. Rastrelli, Quarenghi, Montferrand and Rossi! Surprisingly, a lot has survived. The fire lasted about 30 hours, and the building itself smoldered for almost three days. It took more than a year to restore the damaged palace.
Also, few people know, but until the early 30s of the 20th century, the facade of the Winter Palace was painted in different colors, from yellow to red! In the 1950s it was gradually repainted azure green.
Here's a shot from documentary film, shown on the Russia 2 TV channel, - Hermitage, National Treasures.
In the 20th century, the Hermitage also faced a difficult fate! Intensive industrialization was underway and the country needed money to develop the economy. The management decided to start selling collections! It was very difficult to confront the Soviet bureaucratic machine. That’s right, from 1928 to 1934, knight’s armor, ceremonial dinnerware, Scythian gold, antique coins, icons, and then paintings went under the hammer at auctions in London and Berlin. Imagine, it turns out that Catherine and her followers did everything right, because before the collection was made public, they carefully guarded it and only replenished it! Even during the fire, almost everything was saved, but at the cost of many human lives, and then they just took it and decided to sell what was lying badly and collecting dust on the wall. In two years, the number of items confiscated from the Hermitage reaches 20 thousand! Among which there are almost 3000 paintings!
Unfortunately, this is true, but many of the works that Catherine herself bought are hanging in museums in London, New York, Lisbon, Washington, Paris. Even with all this disgrace that was happening in Soviet years, The Hermitage is still considered a world-famous museum and collection!
At that time, only museum employees knew about the sale of the collection, because it was only opened to the public in 1954! For the first time, people saw the richest collections of monuments of ancient Eastern, ancient Egyptian, ancient and medieval cultures, art of Western and Eastern Europe, archaeological and artistic monuments of Asia, Russian culture of the 8th-19th centuries. There were queues for many kilometers!
I visited it in August 2015, and I can say that the number of people wanting to visit the museum has not decreased! A few days before the visit, I purchased an electronic ticket on the Internet, because I knew how much time I could lose in lines. I recommend choosing this method; you bypass all the lines and go straight to the museum’s ticket office, where you exchange your e-ticket for a regular one.
You can purchase it using the link below: Electronic tickets to the Hermitage.
Getting to the museum couldn't be easier! It is located in the very center of St. Petersburg and, as it were, embraces Palace Square cities from all sides! Nearest metro station, - Admiralteyskaya.
Official website of the Gallery: https://www.hermitagemuseum.org/
The main building of the Hermitage, also known as the Winter Palace of Peter I. It was a wonderful day, and the bright sun was shining over St. Petersburg!
Opening hours of the State Hermitage:
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday: 10:30 - 18:00 pm.
Wednesday, Friday: 10:30 - 21:00 pm.
Every first Thursday of every month, admission to the museum is free!
Photography without flash is permitted.
Ticket prices varies from 300 to 600 rubles depending on the number of objects visited. Electronic tickets are usually more expensive and reach up to 1000 rubles per ticket, but they have a number of advantages, which I have already mentioned.
I would like to tell you what is inside the Hermitage today!
Cash register.
Here they exchanged my ticket from an electronic one to a regular one.
Ticket.
They also gave very detailed Museum plan diagram so as not to get lost! I'm posting it here because... I believe that it can be very useful to many for planning their visit.
The Hermitage consists of several buildings, namely the Winter Palace, the Small Hermitage, the New Hermitage, the Large (Old) Hermitage and the Winter Palace of Peter I with the Hermitage Theater.
1st Floor.
2nd Floor.
3rd Floor.
Once inside I realized that Hermitage Museum,- it is also a museum within a museum! After all, the interior of the palace is stunning, and its interior decoration, columns and paintings are amazing! Tour guides say it will take 11 years to explore it inside and out! The total length of the corridors is 22 kilometers!
First I got into Hall dedicated to the Antiquities of the Middle East.
Then he gradually moved into Egyptian Hall, where there were tombs of the rulers of Egypt and limestone tablets with hieroglyphs.
Jupiter Hall with sculptures at the head of which sits the supreme god of the Romans, - Jupiter.
Goddess of love Venus.
IN Antique courtyard I met Eros with a shell.
Asclepius,- Ancient Greek god of medicine.
Athena,- goddess of war. It looked like she was taking a selfie with her phone. :)
Amphora.
And here Hall of Culture and Art of the Ancient Cities of the Northern Black Sea Coast, which displays many exhibits found during excavations on Mount Mithridates, in the city of Kerch And Taman Peninsula, Krasnodar Territory. All exhibits are from the times of the Bosporan Kingdom.
Marble sarcophagus from Myrmekium.
A lion standing on a tomb.
Wooden sarcophagus with carved arches.
And the hall Hellenistic culture coins and jewelry are presented.
Golden laurel wreath.
Gold necklaces and earrings.
And also gold rings.
Plaster cast of Cameo Gonzaga. Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II(located temporarily in the Hermitage).
Cameo. Zeus. Sardonyx. Gold.
Hellenistic gold and silver coins.
Mosaic glass bowl.
Hall of large vases. There is a bowl made of Revnevskaya jasper from Altai. It is considered the largest vase in the world!
Very beautiful Twenty-column hall.
Greater Hydria, also known as "Queen Vaz".
I decided to go up the stairs.
On my return, another Vase was waiting for me, this time from Malachite.
1469-1529. Giovanni della Robbia - Christmas.
There has been a noticeable increase in people here, and they are looking not only at the exhibits framed behind glass, but also at the walls and ceiling! Because he is incredibly beautiful.
And here is the hall of Leonardo Da Vinci. Hanging here famous works artist! To look at and photograph his paintings, I had to stand in line for about 5 minutes.
1478-1480. Leonardo da Vinci - Madonna and Child.
Leonardo da Vinci - Madonna and Child (Madonna Litta).
1512-1513. Sodoma (Giovanni Antonio Bazzi) - Leda.
1508-1549. Giampietrino (Gian Pietro Rizzoli) - Penitent Mary Magdalene.
Foyer of the Hermitage Theater.
Loggia Raphael! It reminded me a lot of a similar corridor in a gallery in Florence!
Italian art didn't end there!
1740. Michele Giovanni - Rialto Bridge in Venice.
1726-1727. Antonio Canal (Canaletto) - Reception of the French ambassador in Venice.
The halls of the Italian schools are magnificent! It’s not for nothing that it was built by Nicholas I and named as "New Hermitage".
1730. Giovanni Batista Tiepolo - Triumph of the commander Mania Curia Dantata.
1647. Paulus Potter - Punishment of the Hunter.
1651. Salomon van Ruisdael - Ferry crossing in the vicinity of Arnhem.
1611-1613. Peter Paul Rubens - Head of an Old Man.
1612. Peter Paul Rubens - Christ crowned with thorns.
In fact, the whole hall was given to Rubens here!
1640. Abraham Mignon - Flowers in a vase.
1530. Lucas Cranach the Elder - Madonna and Child under an apple tree.
1770. Peacock watch made of bronze and silver.
IN Pavilion Hall a copy of the floor of an antique mosaic was laid out, the original is in the Vatican.
St. George's Hall (Great Throne Hall).
Throne footstool commissioned by Empress Anna Ioannovna in London.
Military Portrait Gallery The Winter Palace was created according to the design of K.I. Rossi in 1826 in honor of Russia's victory over Napoleonic France. Built specially by Alexander I.
Armorial Hall! Intended for ceremonial receptions.
1876 Saber of Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolanvich the Elder.
Awards of Nikolai Nikolanvich the Younger.
Suddenly I found myself in Great Church of the Winter Palace or Cathedral of the Savior Not Made by Hands.
From one of the halls of the Hermitage there was an excellent view of Palace Square!
IN Alexander Hall silver products are presented.
In the hall UK arts costs Wine cooling tub, performed by Charles Candler, is a unique work that has no equal in any museum in the world.
1780. Thomas Gainsborough - Lady in Blue.
1779. Joseph Wright of Derby - Fireworks. Castle St. Angela (Girandola).
1766. Vigilius Eriksen - Portrait of Count Grigory Grigorievich Orlov.
Sabers and cuirass breastplate.
Tray dish "Apotheosis of Catherine II" depicting an allegory of Catherine’s journey to Crimea in 1787.
Mug, decorated with Western European coins.
Catherine II's uniform suit.
Malachite living room.
Large malachite bowl on a tripod in the form of winged female figures.
Concert hall.
It costs tomb of Alexander Nevsky! Was under restoration.
IN Nicholas Hall there was an exhibition of British architect Zaha Hadid.
In the center Antechamber was installed in 1958 Rotunda with malachite columns and a gilded bronze dome.
Well, that's all, I went out.
When I left the Hermitage it was almost evening, it turns out that I spent half a day in the museum. And I watched only a small part, and on the blog I told everything in a more condensed version.
I must say, even this gives an idea of the grandiose scale of the museum and its amazing collection!
I went out to Palace Square, on which stood a horse-drawn carriage. It feels like I was transported many hundreds of years into the past during the time of Peter and Catherine!
It was great! The Hermitage left a very pleasant impression! Thanks to everyone who maintains and stores such a priceless treasure in the center of the Northern capital of Russia!
This is not just a museum, it is a real palace and a museum within a museum, which is very pleasant to just walk around. The exhibition shows the development of world art from the Stone Age to the end of the 20th century. This is a huge period that is very difficult to fit into one day. Therefore, many come specifically to St. Petersburg during the off-season to devote a few days to the Hermitage and experience all its value.
If you came to St. Petersburg and did not visit its museums, then you wasted your time! I highly recommend combining a walk around the city and a must visit State Hermitage Museum And
The brainchild of two empresses Russian state Elizabeth and Catherine - the Winter Palace and the Hermitages have been exhibiting treasures of world art within their walls for more than 250 years. The plan of the Hermitage is impressive in the number of buildings, the length of museum halls, the names of which are associated with stages in the development of world art.
The magnificent creation of Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the Winter Palace, adorns the architectural ensemble of Palace Square in St. Petersburg.
In 1762, the grandiose construction of the Winter Palace, which had been going on for 7 years, was completed. The walls were laid by 2,500 masons at the same time, and 23 thousand pieces of glass were used to glaze the windows. More than 460 rooms of the palace were decorated in a royal style, in a magnificent Baroque style, emphasizing the majesty of the person for whom the palace was built.
The meaning of the French word “Hermitage” speaks of the secluded place that I so wanted in the center of St. Petersburg Great Catherine. Her reign was immortalized by the construction of the Hermitage - the Small and the Old, which housed the museum's paintings collected by the empress, as well as the Hermitage Theater. During the reign of Nicholas I, the New Hermitage was later erected.
Nowadays, the Hermitage is a complex of buildings and museums:
- Winter Palace:
- halls of the Great Enfilade;
- halls of the Neva Enfilade;
- the Empress's chambers;
- memorial hall of Alexander I;
- malachite living room;
- white dining room;
- rotunda.
- Small Hermitage:
- pavilion hall;
- art of the Netherlands;
- Western European Middle Ages.
- Old (Great) Hermitage:
- art of Italy.
- Hermitage Theater.
- New Hermitage:
- Menshikov Palace.
- Eastern wing of the General Staff building:
- modern;
- Empire;
- impressionists and neo-impressionists.
- Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory.
- Exchange building.
History of the Hermitage
The year of creation of the Hermitage as a collection of cultural and artistic creations can be called 1764. Catherine the Great acquired a collection of paintings from Germany and laid the foundation for the future museum. Being one of the largest museums in the world, the Hermitage occupies 66,842 sq.m. premises from the total area of the museum complex - 230 thousand sq.m.
The oldest collection stores in its storerooms more than 3 million exhibits of painting and decorative art, sculptures. Numismatic monuments amount to more than 1 million, 800 thousand are archaeological finds, 14 thousand are weapons, 200 thousand are various exhibits. The time period is also vast, represented by exhibits from the Stone Age to the present day.
The construction of the Winter Palace occurred at the end of the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna. In September 1762, Catherine the Great was crowned king, and returned from Moscow to the Winter Palace, almost completed and ready for delivery. But the Empress decided to make changes in the style of classicism, making adjustments to the plan of the architect Rastrelli.
And next to the royal residence from 1764 to 1766. A two-story outbuilding was erected, nicknamed the Small Hermitage. Architect Yuri Felten combined in appearance the features inherent in Baroque and Classicism. The result was a beautiful, refined and elegant building, to match the young empress.
Collection of Catherine the Great
The plan of the Hermitage with the names of the halls leads tourists to the Small Hermitage, which became the home of the first large collection of paintings by the Empress. Arrived in 1764 The paintings belonged to the Prussian merchant Gotzkowsky, who paid with paintings for undelivered goods.
In 1768, Catherine’s repository was replenished with 5 thousand graphic works sent from Brussels. Among them is a drawing by a French artist of the 15th century. Jean Fouquet.
In 1769, paintings (600 pieces) were bought on a large scale in Dresden from the first minister of the Saxon Elector and the Polish king. Paintings were represented by paintings by artists from Italy, France, Holland and Flanders. The works by Titian and Belotto stood out clearly.
In 1771, construction of the Great Hermitage began. The direct purpose of the palace is to house artistic treasures. The author of the creation is Yuri Felten. 1787 — the construction of a 3-story building in the classicist style, in harmony with earlier buildings, was completed.
In 1772, the empress's gaze fell on a collection of paintings by the famous Parisian gallery owner, P. Crozat. This time we are purchasing paintings by contemporary artists (18th century) and old masters (16th-17th centuries) from European countries. A new vision for the future museum is emerging.
In 1781, 119 paintings were purchased, 9 of which belonged to Rembrandt. 6 paintings by van Dyck. Items are purchased ancient art, among them the work of Michelangelo.
From 1783 to 1787 The building of the Hermitage Theater was built, distinguished by a harmonious and balanced facade. The style of the theater represents classicism. Celebrations and performances of the imperial court were held here.
During her 34-year reign, Catherine the Great, an enlightened and educated woman, accumulated a sufficient number of priceless creations by Western artists from different eras.
For gold, which the generous empress did not skimp on, private collections of the European nobility were purchased en masse, selling the greatest examples of Western European culture and art.
The treasury is replenished:
- carved stones from the Duke of Orleans;
- libraries of the enlighteners Diderot and Voltaire;
- furniture to order;
- paintings by famous contemporary artists;
- miniatures.
By 1792, the number of funds reached almost 4 thousand. In the annex of the Great Hermitage, built by Quarenghi, with the permission of the Pope, the Raphael Loggias, a copy of the galleries of the Vatican Palace of the Pontiff, were designed.
First half of the 19th century
The piggy bank was replenished with new treasures, which were available only to guests and a select public.
The grandchildren of Catherine the Great continued the work begun by their grandmother - Alexander I and Nicholas I. Works by 17th-century artists are purchased at auction sales. At the same time, they tried to buy works by those artists who were not listed in the storerooms of the already large museum - paintings by brushes spanish artists.
Late 19th and early 20th centuries
Nicholas I, who succeeded his brother on the throne after his unexpected death, opened up access to the private collection of paintings and objects of applied art to everyone. Under Nikolai, the expansion of the fund of the future museum was successful.
Paintings by Renaissance artists, Dutch and Flemish authors, famous works by Titian, Raphael, van Eyck and others were purchased. A new building was needed, and the New Hermitage was built, according to the design of Leo von Klenze, a German architect.
The construction was entrusted to the unique “Russian style” architect Vasily Stasov, and he was assisted by the “gold medalist” of the Academy of Arts, Nikolai Efimov. After Stasov's death in 1848, Nikolai Efimov single-handedly supervised the construction of the palace, completed in 1851.
A.I. took a significant part in the development of the Hermitage. Somov, senior keeper since 1886. to 1909. Member of the voluntary society of the Academy of Arts of the Imperial Court, founder of cataloging the works of Russian artists. Thanks to his activities, the beginning of Russian art history in the 19th and early 20th centuries was laid. The museum begins collecting works by Russian artists.
By 1895, part of the Hermitage funds was transferred to the Imperial Russian Museum. Archaeological exhibits and monuments are donated to the newly opened ethnography department.
Compiling catalogs of paintings and exhibits stored in the Hermitage leads to an understanding of the collection of paintings with scientific point vision. The museum becomes an institution that develops a movement in Russian science - art history.
Opening of a public museum
In 1852, the Hermitage of his Imperial House was opened to the people to demonstrate centuries-old artistic creativity and art. In those years, the museum's funds were actively replenished with works by distinguished graduates of the Academy of Arts. Unique cultural monuments have been collected - oriental, Egyptian, ancient, European, Russian.
After the revolution
In 1917, the Soviet government replenished the museum with works of art from the private collections of the nobility and wealthy merchants, who unwillingly parted with priceless works. Since 1918, some of them were lost forever, sold at auctions.
The young state needed currency for development. In the period from 1929 to 1934, 48 paintings, sold to Western collectors of masterpieces of world art, were lost forever.
During the Great Patriotic War The Hermitage did not stop working. The employees, despite great difficulties, carried out scientific and research work, carried out restoration work on halls and premises destroyed by bombing. In the basements they set up shelters for the population from enemy bombs.
In the late 40s, after the war, work continued as before. The Hermitage welcomed art lovers. The evacuated items were returned to their places. Active work has replenished the collection with objects and exhibits from Europe ( late XIX and the beginning of the 20th century).
The banners collected in the Artillery Museum were also handed over. Porcelain monuments from the factory named after them became a priceless and fragile gift. Lomonosov.
Works by the impressionists and modernists replenished the collections in the post-war period. In 1957, the 3rd floor of the Hermitage was opened to exhibit works of contemporary art. Some of the trophy monuments taken from Berlin were returned back in 1958.
With the opening of the borders of the USSR, captured works by impressionist artists became public. In world museum practice they were considered lost. In 2002, trophy stained glass windows from the 14th century from Frankfurt were also returned to Germany. All these years, the Hermitage has been working to collect monuments and paintings by authors of the 20th century.
In 2006, a program was announced to help replenish funds contemporary art.
Main halls of the Winter Palace
The plan of the Hermitage with the names of the halls suggests that the Winter Palace, which from 1754 to 1904 remained the residence of the imperial family, the House of Romanov, had rich history.
In 1915-1917 there were medical rooms of the Red Cross. The hospital was named after Alexei Tsarevich. The Soviet government from January 1920 to 1941 housed the Museum of the Revolution here, a neighbor of the State Hermitage Museum.
Unique exhibits from all over the Eurasian continent are stored here - collections of paintings, objects of decorative and applied art, examples of monumental art, archaeological finds.
Fierce fire of 1837 incinerated almost everything that was created by Bartolomeo Rastrelli. But subsequent talented restoration work carried out by Vasily Stasov and Alexander Bryullov made the Winter Palace a majestic and unique structure that has survived to us, and conveys all the plans of the great Rastrelli.
The main front enfilade. It begins with the Jordan Staircase, which has not been preserved in its original form, as Rastrelli intended it.
Memorial Petrovsky Hall. The portrait of Peter I above the throne seat is framed by two jasper columns, emphasizing the greatness of the emperor, who is depicted as a warrior. Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, stands nearby. The creator of the hall is O. Montferrand (1833).
Armorial Hall, intended for ceremonial celebrations. Impresses with the splendor of the golden columns. The decor and design of the gilded chandeliers contain images of Russian provincial coats of arms. The author of the project is V. Stasov. Before the fire there was a reception hall and large balls were held here.
The War Gallery of 1812 exalts the heroes of the Napoleonic War. The brave generals look out from their portraits in even rows. The gallery is a tribute to their heroism and feat.
The names of 13 generals were left without portraits, since by the time the gallery was created they were already in another world, and no ceremonial portraits were preserved. The gallery is crowned by a portrait of the main warrior who led the army to victory, Alexander I, against the backdrop of Paris.
St. George's Hall amazes with its splendor and size, golden and white marble radiance. Copper vaults and stacked parquet floors mirror the patterns. The majestic throne place brought together the symbols of autocracy and state. Above the throne seat is an image of the patron saint of Russia, St. George the Victorious, made of snow-white marble.
Big church. Temple of the Savior Not Made by Hands. The sacraments of baptism and wedding took place here. The enlightenment and spirituality of the style, the rich and ornate gilded stucco molding, is amazing. The lampshade of the “Resurrection of the Lord” emphasizes the beauty of the design.
Picket Hall, dedicated to the art of war, completes the ceremonial suite. Vasily Stasov made full use here, emphasizing the theme, bas-reliefs and reliefs with images of armor, shields, helmets, spears, banners. During Soviet times, the room was closed to viewing, storing the funds of the Department of the East. Since 2004 it has been open to visitors.
Antechamber. The main decoration of the hall is the ceiling lamp “Sacrifice of Iphigenia”, which survived the terrible fire of 1837. There is a monumental rotunda made of malachite, commissioned by the Demidovs, owners of mountain mines in the Urals. The rotunda was presented to Nicholas I, but was kept in another place for a long time.
Nikolaevsky Hall. Majestic, designed to exalt and glorify Nicholas I. Significant celebrations, balls, and ceremonies took place here. Architect Stasov preserved the proportions and restored the former harmony and beauty of the hall’s design.
Concert hall. It hosted musical evenings, concerts and balls for a narrow circle of people. The interior and decor are in tune with the main theme - music, which is emphasized by sculptures depicting ancient Greek goddesses, patrons of art.
An undoubted decoration is the silver pyramid - the tomb of Alexander Nevsky, made at the behest of Elizabeth Petrovna.
The plan of the Hermitage with the names of the halls leads tourists to very interesting and rich rooms of the Palace.
Chambers of Empress Maria Alexandrovna. The wife of Alexander II spent a lot of time in the palace, and at her discretion ordered to change some parts of the residential apartments in the 50s and 60s of the 19th century.
Luxurious dance hall (White) amazes with its diverse style, which combines rich stucco decoration with sculptures of warriors, ancient Greek goddesses and gods. Heavy bronze chandeliers are intertwined with patterns of war trophies. The author A. Bryullov completed the work in 1841 for the wedding of Grand Duke Alexander, the future emperor.
The richly gilded hall (Golden Living Room) is decorated with a fireplace with a powerful jasper base supported by caryatids. The shelf is decorated with reliefs of cupids. The upper part is decorated with a mosaic panel using the Roman mosaic technique. These details give the fireplace the monumentality of an architectural structure. Architect - Alexander Bryullov.
The interior design and furniture were done later, in 1863, by Stackenschneider. The hall is a historical place for the fate of the Russian state, where Alexander III, after the assassination of Alexander II, made the decision to continue the reforms that his father began.
Raspberry office. True to its name, the walls of the office are covered with crimson-colored fabric. The furnishings and furniture are made to match the walls and the general style, which was created by A. Stackenschneider. Medallions depicting instruments of musicians, artists, and sculptors are used in the stucco molding.
The interior is decorated with an exhibition of decorative and applied arts. Porcelain dishes and utensils. The 19th century piano, painted and gilded, is destined to be the main exhibit of the cabinet. The Empress held meetings with relatives here and convened salons in a narrow circle.
Boudoir. Built by Alexander Bryullov. Completely rebuilt in 1853. in the style of the “second Rococo”, a style fashionable at that time, similar to the Rococo style of the 18th century. Gilded details and interior chandeliers echo 7 mirrors of different shapes in complex frames.
The furniture is also ornate, carved, covered with burgundy-colored fabric, echoing the color of the alcove draperies, curtains and drapes. The interior of all the empress's rooms resembles a fairy tale, with a luxurious appearance, grace and gilding. A staircase leads from the boudoir to the children's room.
The blue bedroom is decorated in blue color sapphire hue. In combination with gilding and a white ceiling it looked luxurious and noble. Temporarily not working.
Memorial Hall of Alexander I. The front room in the south-eastern part of the palace was designed by A. Bryullov. Powerful columns support Byzantine vaults. The portrait of the king in a drapery of velvet brocade was supposed to decorate the hall and become a real memory of the emperor. But time played against us. There is an exhibition of silver from the 17th-18th centuries.
Malachite living room. The front living room of Nicholas I's wife, Maria Fedorovna. Decorated with malachite. In the 30s of the XIX century, active mining of malachite began in the Urals, which was used to decorate columns and the fireplace of the hall. Gilding of doors and arches, perfectly combined with green columns, pilasters.
White dining room. For the wedding of Grand Duke Nikolai Alexandrovich, several rooms of the Palace were remodeled. Thus, the Small or White dining room, combining details of different styles, acquired a noble and cozy appearance. Parquet floors, elegant trellises, white furniture and walls created an atmosphere of calm. In 1894, the decoration was carried out by A. Krasovsky.
Rotunda. The hall is perfectly round in shape, connecting the two parts of the palace. It was conceived and made by Montferrand in the 30s of the 19th century. After the fire, A. Bryullov raised the dome of the rotunda in the ancient Roman manner, which made it more attractive and “elevated.”
Small Hermitage
The “secluded corner” of Catherine the Great, later called the Small Hermitage, was built on the side of Millionnaya Street. Years of construction: 1764-1766. On the river side (1767-1769) a small building was built, connected to the Small Hermitage (South building) by hanging gardens.
The first collections of paintings by the Empress are exhibited in the Galleries, which cover the gardens on both sides. The light and bright pavilion houses the Peacock Clock, which invariably gathers visitors for a spectacular “performance.” The Galleries present art from the Western European Middle Ages and the Netherlands.
Great Hermitage
Enlightened Catherine wanted to see a building next to her Small Hermitage to house a library and growing collection. Felten in 1771-17-87. built another building.
Called the Great Hermitage, in the Galleries of which are presented:
- art of Italy from the XIII–XVI centuries. (Renaissance);
- paintings by artists of the 15th–16th centuries;
- objects of decorative and applied art;
- works by masters of the school of painting in Venice and Florence (XV–XVI centuries).
Here you can see famous paintings: Titian, Leonardo da Vinci.
New Hermitage
The building, built specifically for the museum of art painting, the New Hermitage, opened in 1852. The architect Klenze took into account all the needs of the art museum, providing the second floor of the building to house the Art Gallery. Clearances allowed the flow of light to see all the nuances of masterpieces of art.
The first floor is provided for antique and ancient art, architecture, sculpture. The impressive sight of 20 granite columns in the hall of ancient Italy causes great delight and surprise.
Second floor – 6 halls present the art of Holland. Works by Rembrandt and his students are exhibited here. 2 rooms are occupied by the art of Spain, 3 large rooms by the art of Flanders, divided into the work of three great artists - Rubens, van Dyck, Snyders.
In the Knights' Hall there is an exhibition of Western European weapons. The remaining 9 rooms are dedicated to the art of Italy.
Since 1792, the annex - a gallery to the Great Hermitage, built by G. Quarenghi, was turned into the Raphael loggias. The work took 11 years, the drawings were copied and carefully transferred to the walls and arches of the loggia. The gallery fits well into the plan of the New Hermitage, like Raphael’s loggias, but is not indicated in the booklets with the names of the halls and exhibitions.
Hermitage Theater
In 1783 The architect Quarenghi, by order and instruction of Catherine the Great, began building a theater for chamber performances, concerts and entertainment for the court, close to the empress. The building was completed in 1787. It looks great and fits into the overall ensemble with other buildings built earlier and later.
The laconic style of Russian classicism was strictly and beautifully maintained. Amphitheater auditorium with 6 rows of benches, echoes appearance and the interior decoration of the building. The stage is separated by peculiar stall rows of seats and a balustrade.
There are side boxes. Only 280 seats indicate the intimacy of the theater. The location of the seats and the orchestra pit create excellent acoustics. The depth of the stage allows you to stage ballet performances.
Menshikov Palace
The first governor of St. Petersburg, Alexander Menshikov, a comrade-in-arms and friend of Peter I, built a palace on Vasilyevsky Island from 1710 to 1714. Invited foreign architects G. Fontan and G. Schedel are drafting the building. Construction is carried out by Russian craftsmen. The architects had one task - to build a palace that would be both home and work.
Mixing different approaches, new construction methods, made the building unique in its kind, and the first stone palace in St. Petersburg. The interior decoration of the rooms and decor are made of marble. The interior is enlivened by paintings, sculptures and books. Receptions and celebrations held in the palace gave rise to the name - Embassy House.
After the owner was driven into exile, the building fell into disrepair, the gardens and greenhouses withered away. There were fires in it many times, destroying Menshikov’s original belongings. The palace was rebuilt and completed many times. The cadet corps was located here.
Relics of the Menshikov Palace - a portrait of Emperor Peter the Great. A mirror framed in amber, a gift from the Prussian king to Peter I in 1709.
Eastern wing of the General Staff building
Part of the semicircle of the General Staff building on the eastern side, transferred to the Hermitage Museum in 1988, opened new enfilades of exhibitions for visitors in 2014. The five courtyards of the building are decorated into unique atriums, which are used for cultural and various events of the museum.
The impressionists settled on the 4th floor. There are permanent exhibitions of 19th century art on two floors. countries of Europe.
Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory
Porcelain production in Russia began in 1744. 100 years later, Nicholas I ordered the creation of a museum of examples of porcelain art. More than 30 thousand unique and priceless exhibits are collected in the porcelain factory museum.
The museum's library has collected rare copies of books on porcelain production and techniques, with drawings and sketches.
Exchange building on Vasilyevsky Island
The stone exchange was conceived in 1781. Construction began in 1784. architect Giacomo Quarenghi. From 1788 to 1803 the building stood unfinished, and they tried to sell it. In 1805, funds were found for the construction of the Exchange according to a new plan.
The opening of the exchange took place only in 1816. The monolithic Exchange looks impregnable. Granite foundation. The powerful columns on it make the view heavier. Interior area 900 sq. m, ceiling height 25 m.
Since 2013, a decision was made to create a museum of heraldry and awards in the Exchange building, for which it was transferred to the State Hermitage.
Work schedule
Day of the week | Opening of the museum and ticket office | Closing | Closing the cash register |
Tuesday | 10:30 | 18:00 | 17:00 |
Wednesday | 10:30 | 21:00 | 20:00 |
Thursday | 10:30 | 18:00 | 17:00 |
Friday | 10:30 | 21:00 | 20:00 |
Saturday | 10:30 | 18:00 | 17:00 |
Sunday | 10:30 | 18:00 | 17:00 |
Monday, | Day off |
How to get there
By public transport to the Hermitage:
- purple metro line to Admiralteyskaya;
- blue metro line to Nevsky Prospekt;
- green metro line to Gostiny Dvor.
You can get to Palace Square by public transport:
- trolleybuses 1, 7, 10, 11;
- by buses 7, 10, 24, 191.
To be in St. Petersburg and visit the Winter Palace with its unique collection is the first task of a tourist. There is no greater pleasure than holding a plan of the Hermitage in your hands, and checking the names of exhibitions, expositions and halls, plunging into the atmosphere of the past, seeing with your own eyes what centuries and years have seen, simple people and emperors.
Article format: Mila Friedan
Video about the Hermitage
Secrets of the Hermitage:
It has over 3 million exhibits, from the Stone Age to the present day, which are presented in 350 halls with a total length of 20 kilometers.
A walk through its halls will become a tempting and exciting journey lasting 8 years of life, if you devote at least 1 minute of time to each exhibit, as experts have calculated. But the game is worth the candle.
The Hermitage museum complex occupies 5 buildings on Palace Embankment: the Winter Palace, the Hermitage - Bolshoi, Small, New, and the Hermitage Theater. They get acquainted with the ancient and ancient world, Eastern and European culture, the history of Russian art, numismatics, weapons, the interiors of imperial chambers and galleries, antiques, household items and other unique rarities of the past.
In the museum halls of the Menshikov Palace, which is located on the University Embankment, the culture of Russia of the 1st third of the 18th century is presented. In the left wing of the General Staff building, works by masters of the 19th and 20th centuries are exhibited, including impressionists and post-impressionists.
Field Marshal's Hall
The main enfilade of the Winter Palace opens with a ceremonial hall. Gilded bronze chandeliers and superb grisaille paintings contain images of laurel wreaths and trophies, emphasizing the valor of the Russian army. On the walls are portraits of outstanding field marshals. Here you can also see Russian porcelain from the early 19th century.
Petrovsky (Small Throne) Hall
The hall was designed by Montferrand in 1833 in honor of Peter the Great. The decoration includes the monograms of the 1st Emperor of Russia, double-headed eagles and a crown. In the central niche in the form of a triumphal arch is a portrait of Peter the Great with the goddess Slava. The paintings on the walls depict the heroism of the sovereign in battle Northern War. The hall is decorated with panels made of silver and Lyon velvet.
Armorial Hall
Sculptures greet you at the entrance ancient Russian warriors with banners, on the shafts of which there are shields with the coats of arms of the Russian provinces, which are also visible on gilded bronze chandeliers. The central part is occupied by a bowl of aventurine. Each element of the interior brings its own value and meaning to the overall ensemble, and all together create a picture of grandeur and solemnity.
Military gallery of 1812
The gallery was opened in honor of the victory over the French. It was created according to the design of Karl Ivanovich Rossi. The walls are decorated with portraits of 332 generals - participants and heroes of the Great Patriotic War of 1812. In a place of honor are portraits of Alexander the First and the monarchs - allies of Frederick - William the Third and Franz the First.
St. George (Great Throne) Hall
The hall of the Winter Palace, where official ceremonies and receptions took place, was created by Stasov, who preserved the compositional design of the architect Quarenghi. The columned hall is decorated with Carrara marble and gilded bronze. Above the Throne Place you can see the bas-relief “St. George slaying the dragon with a spear.” The imperial throne was commissioned by Empress Anna Ioannovna in London. The stacked parquet is made of 16 valuable types of wood.
Alexander Hall
The hall of the Winter Palace is dedicated to the memory of the emperor - reformer Alexander the First, a medallion with whose image can be seen in the lunette of the end wall. The frieze contains twenty-four images of prominent battles of 1812. Also exhibited here are European silver items from the 16th to 19th centuries.
White Hall
The hall was created for the wedding of Emperor Alexander II. The interior is especially luxuriously decorated with decorative plastic. The space is filled with sculptures of ancient Roman gods.
Golden living room
The hall, designed by Bryullov, belonged to Empress Maria Alexandrovna, wife of Tsar Alexander II. After him tragic death in this room, members of the State Council, led by the new autocrat Alexander the Third, approved the Constitution. Everything in the decoration corresponds to the name - gilded stucco ornament on the ceiling, gilded doors, gilded floral patterns on the walls. Jasper columns add splendor, and a marble fireplace adds splendor and comfort.
Malachite living room
The room was intended for the wife of Nicholas I, Alexandra Fedorovna, and served as one of her personal chambers. The skillful decoration of the entire space with malachite amazes every imagination.
Small dining room
The interior was furnished by Krasovsky in the Rococo style. The walls are decorated with tapestries from the 18th century and there are also objects from the early 20th: an English musical chandelier, a French clock and domestically produced glassware. Here at night, during the capture of the Winter Palace, the Bolsheviks arrested members of the Provisional Government, as a memorial plaque reminds.
Gallery of portraits of the Romanovs
In the hall there are images of all members of the royal family from Peter the Great to Nicholas II. The Winter Palace, now occupied by the Hermitage, was built under Elizabeth Petrovna; since then, the sovereigns and their relatives have permanently lived in the palace. The walls of its halls were decorated with imperial images.
Library of Nicholas II
The office belonged to the last emperor, as evidenced by the porcelain portrait on the owner’s desk. The premises were designed in 1895 by the architect Alexander Fedorovich Krasovsky. The decoration features English Gothic motifs. The ceiling, furniture, bookcases are made of walnut wood. The interior is decorated with panels of embossed gilded leather. Everything taken together, plus a fireplace and tall windows with openwork frames, immerse you in the atmosphere of the medieval era.
Concert hall
The hall closes the Neva Enfilade of the Winter Palace. It was created by the architect Stasov. Here are statues of ancient muses and the goddess Flora. The main exhibit is the tomb of St. Alexander Nevsky, made in silver by local craftsmen by order of Elizaveta Petrovna, transferred to the Hermitage from the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in 1922.
Ancient Egyptian culture
On the 1st floor of the Winter Palace, on the site of the former Buffet, in 1940, the chief architect of the Hermitage, Alexander Vladimirovich Sivkov, built a cultural hall Ancient Egypt. Egyptian household items, sarcophagi, monumental sculptures, examples of small sculptures, figurines, and artistic works of artisans are exhibited here. The most striking works are the statues of Amenemhet III, the queen of the Ptolemaic dynasty - Cleopatra VII, the stele of Ipi and many others.
Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Hall
The converted living room in the chambers of the daughters of Nicholas the First was designed by the architect Alexander Pavlovich Bryullov. The hall houses archeological monuments of the 6-2 millennia BC, brought from Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and many parts of Russia. There are unique finds - a slab with petroglyphs from Karelia, a staff handle in the shape of an elk's head from the Sverdlovsk region, an image of an idol from the Pskov region, figurines from burial mounds in Turkmenistan.
Culture of nomadic tribes of Altai VI-V centuries BC. e.
Numerous artifacts found during excavations near the Karakoli Ursul River are represented by overlays and wooden images of animals that served as decoration for harnesses. A large wooden plaque with two flying griffins was especially skillfully carved. It served as a decoration on the horse's head. This exhibit is recognized as one of the outstanding works of art of antiquity.
Hall of the early Middle Ages in Siberia and Transbaikalia
The culture of the Tagars and Tashtyks is represented by household items, weapons and other ancient works found by archaeologists in the Minusinsk Basin in Khakassia. Of particular interest are the funeral masks that were placed on mannequins containing the ashes of the dead. Women's masks are white with red curls, men's masks are red with transverse black stripes.
Paving Beam
Exhibits from the archaeological monument Moshchevaya Balka in the North Caucasus indicate that a branch of the ancient Silk Road ran in these places, from where the finds exhibited in the hall were brought. The exhibition is decorated with well-preserved samples of fabrics, precious Chinese, Sogdian, Mediterranean silks, clothing, wood and leather items from the local Alan-Adyghe tribes.
Culture of the Golden Horde
Treasures of Volga Bulgaria - gold and silver jewelry, weapons and horse equipment. Interesting works are related to shamanic cults and written culture, a tile with Persian verses, as well as “Dish with a Falconer”.
Hall of the Arts of France
The 16th-century French Art Hall (paintings by Louis XIII artist Simon Vouet, Eustache Lesueur and Laurent de La Hire. The 17th-century French Art Hall displays paintings by the great French classicist Nicolas Poussin, the best 11 paintings. The 18th-century French Art Hall exhibits best works French school of this time - 8 works by Antoine Watteau. The Hall of Applied Arts of France of the 17th-18th centuries presents works of masters who worked in the neoclassical style.
UK Art Hall
Here are paintings by one of the leading masters of the 18th century - Joshua Reynolds, as well as original copies of portraits of members royal family England. Catherine II ordered the “Service with a Green Frog” here. The display cases display products made from basalt and jasper from Wedgwood.
Halls of the Great Hermitage
The first floor of the building is occupied by administrative premises and the directorate of the State Hermitage. The 2nd floor displays works by Renaissance masters. The halls of Italian art are located here.
The Jupiter Hall represents the art of Rome from the 1st to 4th centuries. In its decor you can see medallions with profiles of Michelangelo, Canova, Martos and other great sculptors. Of particular interest here are the sculptural portraits and marble sarcophagi. The name of the hall was given by the statue of Jupiter from the country villa of the Roman emperor Domitian. The masterpieces of the collection are portraits of the emperors Lucius Verus, Balbinus and Philip the Arab.
The Hall of Italian Renaissance Art of the 13th–15th centuries of the Great Hermitage opens an exhibition of works from the beginning of the emergence of a new culture - the Pre-Renaissance era. Here are products from the Florentine workshop of sculptors and ceramicists of the Della Robbia family.
Here you can visit the Titian Hall, intended to receive noble guests of the imperial court; paintings from the late period of the master’s work are presented here.
The Hall of Art of Italy of the 16th century presents works by Venetian painters of the 16th century: Jacob Palma the Elder, Lorenzo Lotto, Giovanni Battista Cima de Conegliano. The Leonardo da Vinci Hall presents 2 masterpieces of the artist - “Benois Madonna” and “Madonna Litta”. Raphael's loggias are the prototype of the gallery of the Vatican Palace in Rome, painted according to Raphael's sketches. The gallery vaults are decorated with paintings by the master on biblical stories. The walls are decorated with grotesque ornaments.
Knight's Hall
One of the large ceremonial interiors of the New Hermitage. The hall was intended for an exhibition of coins. There is a collection of weapons here - about 15 thousand items - an exposition of Western European weapons: tournament, ceremonial, hunting, bladed and firearms. Knight's armor is also presented here.
Gallery of the history of ancient painting
The exhibition in the hall features European sculpture of the 19th century. The walls are decorated with paintings by the artist Hiltensperger on scenes from ancient greek myths, made with wax paints on brass boards in imitation of antique technology. The gallery exhibits works by the outstanding sculptor Antonio Canova and his followers. On the vaults are portraits of famous masters of European art, including the author of the New Hermitage project, Leo von Klenze.
Pavilion Hall of the Small Hermitage
The room was built in the 19th century by Andrei Ivanovich Stackenschneider, who combined motifs from antiquity, the Renaissance and the East. It overlooks hanging garden Catherine. The hall is decorated with Bakhchisarai marble fountains, located symmetrically opposite each other. The local mosaic works and elegant tables inlaid with semi-precious stones are also famous.
But the most remarkable exhibit is the famous Peacock watch. The wondrously beautiful peacock was created by the English master James Cox, who was in demand at that time. This “peacock” charm was purchased by Prince Grigory Potemkin as a gift to Catherine the Great. The watch was delivered to St. Petersburg disassembled. The composition was assembled on the spot by Ivan Kulibin.
In the Hermitage, each room is unique in its own way, everything cannot be described in words. Of course, you can find out more about the hall you are interested in on any resource. But it’s better to watch it once than to read about it 100 times. The Hermitage opens its chambers and hospitably welcomes everyone!
The founding date of the Hermitage is considered to be 1764, when Catherine the Great acquired a collection of paintings from the Berlin merchant Gotzkowsky.
Today state museum The Hermitage has a collection of about 3 million works of art and monuments of world culture. It includes painting, graphics, sculpture and objects of applied art, archaeological finds.
In a whole day, you can explore all the museum’s exhibitions only at a very quick pace. We recommend dividing your visit to the Hermitage into 2 days, and if you come to St. Petersburg for several days, then continue exploring the museum on your next visit.
We share useful information to make your visit to the Hermitage as simple and interesting as possible.
Do not miss:
Operating mode
The museum is open for visitors:
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: 10.30 – 18.00 (ticket office open until 17.00)
- Wednesday, Friday: 10.30 – 21.00 (ticket office open UNTIL 20.00)
When is admission to the Hermitage free?
Free visit for all categories of visitors: third Thursday of each month, March 8, May 18 and December 7.
There is always a queue to enter the Hermitage. People are allowed into the museum in batches. On normal days the line is about an hour and a half long. But on days of free admission, the queue to enter can stretch from the Alexander Column in the center of Palace Square. If you want to save on your ticket, come early and be prepared to stand for 2-3 hours.
Ticket prices
The ticket entitles you to a single visit to the museum on one day. You cannot leave the museum, walk around the city and come back.
There are several types of tickets, familiarize yourself with them so as not to get confused at the ticket office.
- 400 rubles– comprehensive entrance ticket for citizens Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.
Chances are, unless you are a foreigner, you need this ticket. Includes a visit to the Main Museum Complex, as well as the General Staff and the Winter Palace of Peter I. But once again we want to warn you that it is unrealistic to see everything in one day. Few people go to the exhibitions in the General Staff Building and our editors do not know anyone who was in three places at once on the same day.
- 300 rubles– entrance ticket to one of the separate objects of the Hermitage: General Staff, Winter Palace of Peter I, Menshikov Palace, Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory.
This is the case when in the Main museum complex have already visited and want to go to the General Headquarters.
When purchasing tickets you must present your passport. This is mandatory because for citizens of other countries, ticket prices are already higher.
- 700 rubles– comprehensive entrance ticket for everyone, except for citizens of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.
- Free tickets- pensioners ( only Russian citizens), preschool children and school age(regardless of citizenship), students (regardless of citizenship), graduate students, cadets, disabled people I and II gr.
To enter the museum for free, you still need to stand in line to enter and then in line at the ticket office. At the box office, upon presentation of a document entitling you to the benefit, you will be given a free ticket.
Where to buy tickets to the Hermitage
Tickets to the Hermitage can be purchased: at the box office, at an electronic kiosk, or online.
Tickets at the Hermitage box office
After standing in line and entering the museum building, you immediately find yourself in front of another line - at the ticket office. Don't be afraid, it moves very quickly. Spend 10-30 minutes, no more. Cards and cash are accepted for payment.
Tickets at an electronic kiosk
In the courtyard of the Hermitage, where there are queues, there are several kiosks where you can buy a ticket yourself, but only for the full price. Therefore, only a couple of foreigners buy there, who then still stand in line at the museum.
Electronic tickets and skip-the-line entry
You can buy only on the official website of the Hermitage e-ticket without commission, which gives the right to skip-the-line entrance to the Museum! In other places they will sell you the same ticket, but with a commission. For example, here, where there are vouchers for the Hermitage.
As you understand, you have to pay to enter without a queue. Therefore, an electronic ticket is more expensive than a regular ticket and the Hermitage has 2 offers:
- 730 rubles - free entry to the Hermitage for 1 day,
- 1020 rubles - explore the Hermitage for 2 days.
Benefits for pensioners and children remain. The purchased ticket (voucher) is valid for 180 days from the date of purchase, so you can purchase it in advance.
Where is the entrance to the Hermitage
If you bought e-ticket, which gives you the right to enter without a queue, then you will have a separate entrance - through Shuvalovsky Proezd (from Millionnaya Street or from Palace Embankment - between the buildings of the Small Hermitage and the New Hermitage).
For everyone else: Opposite the Alexander Column there is a gate through which we enter the Great Courtyard of the Winter Palace. There are two queues. You can go where you like best.
For those who want to view the exhibitions located in the General Staff Building, you need to leave the Great Courtyard and walk in the opposite direction. If you stand facing the arch of the General Staff Building, then 100 meters on the left there will be an almost inconspicuous entrance to the museum.
How to see the Hermitage
After purchasing a ticket, you can leave your personal items in the cloakroom. Outerwear is required. Believe it or not, there will most likely be a queue there too. There are automatic lockers, there are few of them and they are always busy. After this, ticket control. Liquids are not allowed.
After control, you can take an audio guide and a map of the Hermitage. The scheme is free, and the audio guide costs 350 rubles in Russian and 500 in a foreign language. Deposit 2000 rubles or document (except passport!).
Be sure to take the diagram! Otherwise it will not be clear where to go. Each hall has its own caretakers. They keep order and help you navigate the museum. These are not guides or tour guides. The caretakers can only tell you how to get into the hall with the Flemings or where the Peacock clock is located.
You can download the official audio guide for your smartphone from the Hermitage. True, only a few tours of the halls are free, the rest must be purchased.
The best option for the first time is in the company of an art expert.
You can walk around the Hermitage for a very long time. To view all the exhibits in the Hermitage collection, devoting no more than 1 minute to each, it will take 8 years. But you can count on 3-5 hours. And it’s hard to walk all day. Take short breaks - there is a cafe on the ground floor, not far from the Jordan Stairs.
The main museum of the Hermitage is a collection of five buildings, built at different times by different architects for different purposes, and connected in series with each other.
The Hermitage has 305 halls, but their number may vary depending on temporary exhibitions. If you have limited time, here are the most beautiful halls and pearls of the Hermitage:
1. Jordan Stairs.
This is where your acquaintance with the Hermitage will begin.
2. Loggias of Raphael.
The loggias are a separate gallery consisting of 13 buildings. The inspiration for this place came from Vatican paintings, from which the frescoes were copied. Every corner of the loggia, including columns and ceilings, is painted with paintings with biblical motifs. The entire composition includes 52 canvases dedicated to the Old Testament and 4 to the New.
3. Armorial Hall of the Winter Palace.
One of the most luxurious halls.
4. Alexander Hall.
A spacious hall combining elements of Gothic and neoclassicism.
5. Malachite living room.
Due to the interior decoration with precious stones, this is the most valuable room in the building.
6. Golden living room of Maria Alexandrovna.
State room of Empress Maria Alexandrovna. The atmosphere fully corresponds to the name - everything shines.
7. Concert hall.
8. White Hall.
9. Halls of Ancient Egypt.
Sculptures, sarcophagi, mummies, texts from the Book of the Dead, ancient amulets, a statue of Amenemhet the Third, a sculpture of the goddess Sekhmet. You can't miss it.
10. Halls Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece.
The culture of antiquity in a huge number of rooms.
11. Pavilion hall.
The most precious exhibit in this room is the Peacock mechanical watch.
12. Hall of Leonardo Da Vinci.
13. Dutch painting.
14. Rembrandt Hall.
You will not be able to pass by this hall. There is always a huge crowd near the painting “The Prodigal Son”, no less than in front of the Mona Lisa in the Louvre.
By the way, the Hermitage has a second collection of paintings by Rembrandt. Only the Rembrandt Museum in Amsterdam competes with it.
The iconic art museum of St. Petersburg has huge galleries with stately interiors, unique exhibitions 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 Palace Embankment. These are the Winter Palace, the Hermitage Theater, the buildings of the Big, Small and New Hermitage. All of the 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, applied art and archaeological finds.
Of course, one visit is not enough to see all the assets of the museum. That's why .
How many halls are there in the Hermitage
Officially, the Hermitage has 365 rooms with exhibitions. However, their number may change after restoration or relocation 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 or paintings, but its interior impresses with its luxury and elegance. The architect Andrei Stackenschneider created such beauty in the 19th century. The design of the space combines antique, Moorish and Renaissance styles. Snow-white columns, openwork gilded grilles, arches, and huge crystal chandeliers create the atmosphere of an oriental palace here.
Each corner and element of the Pavilion Hall represents a separate exhibition. Here you will see skillfully made shell fountains, copies of the Bakhchisarai Fountain of Tears in Crimea, and medallions with painted inserts. As you walk through the exhibition, don't forget to look down. The floor of the chambers is decorated with mosaics that were found in Rome. It depicts the head of the Gorgon Medusa and various scenes from Greek mythology. The beauty of the room is emphasized by marble statues and tabletops decorated with mosaics - creations of masters of the 19th century.
The most precious exhibit of the Pavilion Hall is the “Peacock” mechanical watch. At one time, Prince Potemkin gave 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 in the museum is wound, and at this time visitors can see it 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 inspiration for this place came from Vatican paintings, from which the frescoes were copied.
Every corner of the loggia, including columns and ceilings, is painted with paintings 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 can enjoy the beauty of the paintings and read the main biblical motifs, starting with the story of Adam and Eve. Some 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 to host gala evenings. This is evidenced by the huge chandeliers, golden columns and arched windows decorating the chambers. Today it houses a collection of Western European silver, in particular works by French masters dating back to the 18th century. The most interesting example was the service of Tom Germain, which belonged to Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. In the exhibition windows you can also see German silverware.
Alexander Hall
This spacious hall is dedicated to the memory of Alexander the First and combines Gothic elements 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 display cases display an exhibition of Western European silver dating from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Malachite living room
Another creation of Alexander Bryullov, created in 1837 on the site of the Jasper Living Room. Thanks to the design from precious stones This small room is recognized as the most valuable in the building.
The main accents in the design are malachite columns, pilasters and two fireplaces. Many other exhibits are also made of stone: tabletops, bedside tables, vases. The walls are decorated with marble, the ceiling is decorated with a gilded pattern that copies the pattern on the floor. Crimson curtains and fabric on the chairs add contrast and solemnity to the room. Among the exhibits, the oldest are considered to be a tall flowerpot made of malachite and furniture preserved after the fire.
Maria Alexandrovna's living room
The room, which is quite small in size, is distinguished by luxurious decoration. Its decoration was designed by the architect Harald Bosse, and the style is defined as Rococo. Distinctive feature the chambers are decorated with subtle 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 elegant. The red silk trim adorning the walls, chairs, windows and doors adds special solemnity. Mirrors on the walls and ceiling create an unusual play of light. And the luxurious composition is completed by sculptural elements and paintings.
Maria Alexandrovna's living room
This hall ranks first on the list of the most luxurious corners of the museum. Another name for the room is the personal 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 fully corresponds to its name. The walls, floor and stream literally shine with gold. Along the perimeter of the chambers there are small display cases in the shape 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 was the place where Emperor Alexander III first made important decisions on government reforms.
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 its sculptural decoration. The second tiers of its walls are decorated with statues of goddesses and ancient muses. The sculptural compositions smoothly connect to the ceiling, which gives the space additional volume. In addition to the luxurious design, you can see a rich collection of Russian silver from the 17th to 20th centuries. The most valuable exhibit is considered to be the silver shrine of Alexander Nevsky, made of 1.5 tons of precious metal.
White Hall
Located in the southwestern part of the Winter Palace. The hall was created from three living rooms and was supposed to become a place for celebrating the wedding of Alexander II. The design of the hall is in no way inconsistent with its name. Its white walls are decorated with columns crowned with sculptures of female figures. They symbolize different kinds 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 in the White Hall there is an exhibition of French paintings of the 18th century, a collection of porcelain and furniture in the style of classicism.
Halls of the New Hermitage
Halls dedicated to Ancient Egypt
For lovers of Egyptian culture, definitely 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 exhibition you will see how culture developed in Egypt from the emergence to the disappearance of the Middle Kingdom. In one room there is a large collection of sculpture, sarcophagi and household items. In another you will find papyri, texts from the Book of the Dead, amulets with scarabs, jewelry, various works artistic craft.
The list of the most valuable items in the Egyptian halls includes a statue of Amenemhet the Third, depicting a 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.
There have been beliefs around the granite statue of Sekhmet for many years. Museum workers report that from time to time blood, or rather a red-orange wet coating, is visible on her knees. Most often it appears before disasters or tragic events.
Halls with monuments of Greece and Rome
A huge part of the New Hermitage, rooms 100-131, 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 its own viewing and represents an art collection belonging to a specific period of history. For example, in hall No. 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 amphorae, vases, and statues.
In rooms No. 107-110 there is a collection of sculptures of gods and Atlanteans. The most grandiose are the huge statue of Jupiter, “Venus of Tauride”, “Cupid and Psyche”, “The Death of Adonis”, and the sculpture “Muse of Tragedy”. Hall 109 is dedicated to the god of wine Dionysus. Its walls are painted in grape tones, contrastingly emphasizing the snow-white sculptures. We also recommend visiting rooms No. 111 – 114. They house antique vases of all shapes and sizes. The dominant feature of the exhibition is the statue of the “Resting Satyr” - a copy of the famous masterpiece of Praxiteles. Another interesting room is No. 121, where there is a collection of stones.
Knight's Hall
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 the exhibition of figures of knights in armor on horses. The effectiveness of the exhibits is emphasized by huge paintings depicting military operations.
Small and Large Italian gaps
The Small Clearance Gallery covers 29 rooms in which paintings by Italian artists from the 13th to the 18th centuries are exhibited. In Bolshoy Prosvet the main emphasis is on furniture and decor. Here you will see malachite vases, chairs, and a foyer. All rooms with works of art are decorated with stucco and gilded paintings.
Halls of the Great Hermitage
Titian Hall
The room, which was intended for noble imperial guests, is located 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".
Hall of Leonardo da Vinci
One of the most popular places in the Great Hermitage. Here you will find two legendary masterpieces famous artist. These are “Madonna Benoit” and “Madonna Lita”. The significance of the works of art is emphasized by jasper columns, lapis lazuli inserts, picturesque panels and lampshades.