Hermitage museum in St.Petersburg

The Hermitage is the former residence of Russian emperors, transformed into a treasury holding more than three million exhibits. Its history begins with Catherine II, who in 1764 acquired a collection of 225 paintings from the Berlin merchant Gotzkowsky — and laid the foundation for one of the greatest art collections in the world.

The name "Hermitage" comes from the French ermitage — "a place of solitude", "a hermit`s cell". This was the name given to the small halls next to the Winter Palace, where Catherine II could retire with chosen guests and enjoy her collection. Until the middle of the 19th century, only the select could enter here — by special permits. Only in 1852 did the museum open to all comers.

Today the Hermitage occupies several buildings on the Palace Embankment: the Winter Palace, the Small Hermitage, the Old (Large) Hermitage, the New Hermitage, the Hermitage Theatre and the Reserve House. The total area of the premises is about 233,000 square metres, the exhibition area — more than 100,000. A route through the halls may take several days, and to see at least the main things, a minimum of 3–4 hours will be needed.

The history of the Hermitage: from secluded halls to a public museum

1764: Catherine II and the birth of the collection 
The Hermitage was founded in 1764, when Catherine II acquired a collection of paintings from the Berlin merchant Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky. The collection included works of the Flemish and Dutch schools, including "Portrait of a Young Man with a Glove" by Frans Hals.

Catherine II turned out to be a passionate collector. During her reign the collections of Count Brühl (1769), Baron Crozat (1772) and Sir Robert Walpole (1779) entered the Hermitage. The empress bought not only paintings but also antique sculpture, carved stones and numismatics. In 1787 she acquired the famous collection of the Duke of Orléans, which included antique gems and cameo art.

The end of the 18th – beginning of the 19th century: expansion and new acquisitions 
Under Alexander I and Nicholas I the collection continued to grow. In 1814 paintings arrived from the Malmaison palace of Joséphine de Beauharnais, among which were works by Dutch and Flemish masters. In 1817 Giorgione`s masterpiece "Madonna and Child in a Landscape" was acquired.

1837: the fire in the Winter Palace 
In December 1837 a catastrophic fire occurred in the Winter Palace, completely destroying the interior decoration of the imperial residence. The restoration work was entrusted to the architect Vasily Stasov. The palace was restored, but its interiors acquired a more austere, classicist appearance.

1852: the Hermitage opens to the public 
Under Nicholas I, in 1852, the Hermitage first opened its doors to the general public. By this time a special building had been constructed for the museum — the New Hermitage, designed by Leo von Klenze. It was then that the Hermitage ceased to be the empress`s "place of solitude" and became a national museum.

The 19th – beginning of the 20th century: new acquisitions 
In 1861 the Hermitage acquired the collection of the Marquis Campana in Rome, which significantly enriched the collection of antique art — Etruscan monuments, Greek vases, sculptures. In 1865 "Madonna Litta" by Leonardo da Vinci was bought from the collection of the Duke of Litta in Milan. In 1870 — Raphael`s "Madonna Connestabile", acquired from Count Connestabile in Florence.

After 1917: nationalisation and losses 
After the revolution of 1917 the Hermitage was enriched by nationalised private collections — those of the Sheremetevs, Stroganovs, Shuvalovs and Yusupovs. However, in the 1920s–1930s the Soviet government sold 48 masterpieces from the museum`s collection, among which were Titian`s "Venus with a Mirror", Raphael`s "Alba Madonna" and Botticelli`s "Adoration of the Magi". This is a tragic page in the history of the Hermitage.

The 20th–21st centuries: expansion and new centres 
In the 20th century the Hermitage received collections of Impressionists and Post-Impressionists from the collections of Sergei Shchukin and Ivan Morozov (1948). In the 2000s the museum opened its centres in Amsterdam, Kazan, Vyborg and Venice. In 2014 the General Staff building was opened — a building on Palace Square, where the collection of 19th–20th century art is housed.

The Tsar`s Halls: Interiors of the Imperial Residence

A significant part of the halls of the Winter Palace has preserved the authentic decoration of the imperial residence, which is itself an exhibit. The interiors were restored after the catastrophic fire of 1837 by the architect Vasily Stasov, and many of them still convey the spirit of imperial grandeur. Particularly noteworthy are the Jordan Staircase (the Ambassadorial Staircase) with its white marble steps and gilded decor, the Malachite Drawing Room — the only interior in the world inlaid with Ural malachite — and the Pavilion Hall with the famous "Peacock" Clock.

The Throne Rooms. There are two throne rooms in the Hermitage. The St George (Large Throne) Hall was created by Giacomo Quarenghi in 1787–1795 and restored by Stasov after the fire: white Carrara marble, gilded bronze, and parquet made of 16 types of wood. The most important ceremonies were held here, and in 1906 Nicholas II delivered a throne speech to the deputies of the First State Duma. The Petrovsky (Small Throne) Hall, created by Auguste de Montferrand in 1833, is dedicated to the memory of Peter I: crimson velvet with golden double-headed eagles, Jacopo Amigoni`s painting "Peter I with Minerva" and a throne chair of 1731.

The Military Gallery of 1812. Created by order of Alexander I in honour of the victory in the Patriotic War and opened in 1826. On its walls are 332 portraits of generals who took part in the campaigns of 1812–1814, including Kutuzov, Barclay de Tolly and Bagration. Most were painted by the English artist George Dawe. At the end of the gallery are an equestrian portrait of Alexander I by Franz Krüger and portraits of the allied monarchs.

The exposition also presents the former private chambers of the imperial family — studies, bedrooms, libraries and boudoirs, giving an idea of the private life of the Russian monarchs.

The main treasures of the Hermitage: what not to miss

"Madonna Benois" by Leonardo da Vinci 
An early work by Leonardo, created in 1475–1478. It entered the Hermitage in 1914 from the collection of Maria Benois. Another name — "Madonna with a Flower": the young Mary offers the Child a cruciferous flower, a symbol of the crucifixion.

"Madonna Litta" by Leonardo da Vinci 
Acquired in 1865 from the Italian aristocratic Litta family. A small painting (41×32 cm), but its emotional power is enormous: Mary feeds the infant, and one cut on her dress is torn in haste — Leonardo depicted mercy and a mother`s love.

"Madonna Connestabile" by Raphael 
An early work by Raphael, created around 1502, when the artist was only about twenty years old. Bought for Empress Maria Alexandrovna. It is kept in its "native" frame, made from Raphael`s drawings.

"The Lute Player" by Caravaggio 
One of the pearls of the Hermitage collection, created in 1595–1596. The painting was acquired in 1808 and is considered one of Caravaggio`s best works in the world.

"The Penitent Mary Magdalene" by Titian 
A canvas of the 1560s that brought the artist fame during his lifetime. The Venetian Giulia Festina posed for it. After Titian`s death the painting was kept in his house, then was acquired by the patrician Barbarigo and from there came to Petersburg.

"The Apostles Peter and Paul" by El Greco 
A work by the Spanish painter of Greek origin, donated to the Hermitage in 1911. It was created in 1587–1592 for the "Apostolado" series — a cycle of images of the Twelve Apostles.

The "Peacock" Clock 
The famous clock automaton, made by the English jeweller and mechanic James Cox in the 1770s. It was delivered to Russia in disassembled form and assembled by the Russian inventor Ivan Kulibin. Today it is the only large automaton of the 18th century in the world that has come down to us unchanged and in working condition. The clock is wound on Fridays at 19:00.

The Scythian collection 
A world-famous collection of Scythian art, located in six halls. Finds from the Kostroma, Kelermes and Ulsky barrows give an idea of the culture of the Scythian tribes of the 7th–3rd centuries BC. Particular attention is drawn to the complexes of the Solokha and Chertomlyk barrows.

The Pazyryk barrows 
Unique monuments found in the Altai Mountains. Permafrost ensured exceptional preservation of carpets, fabrics, and objects of wood and leather. Here is the oldest woollen pile carpet in the world, from the 4th century BC.

The layout of the Hermitage: how to find your way

The Main Museum Complex includes buildings on the Palace Embankment: 
• The Winter Palace (1754–1762, architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli) — the heart of the Hermitage, the former residence of the emperors; 
• The Small Hermitage (1764–1769, architects Yuri Felten and Jean-Baptiste Vallin de la Mothe); 
• The Old (Large) Hermitage (1771–1787, architect Yuri Felten); 
• The Hermitage Theatre (1783–1787, architect Giacomo Quarenghi); 
• The New Hermitage (1842–1851, architect Leo von Klenze).

The main routes through the Hermitage 
Express route (2–3 hours): The Ambassadorial Staircase → The Petrovsky Hall → The Armorial Hall → The Gallery of 1812 → The St George Hall → The Pavilion Hall (the "Peacock" Clock) → The Leonardo da Vinci Halls → The Raphael Halls → The Rembrandt Halls. 
Extended route (4–5 hours): Add the antique collection, the Scythian halls, the art of the East, the Raphael Loggia, the Malachite Drawing Room.

Practical information

• The museum works daily except Monday. The opening hours and visiting sessions change depending on the season. It is recommended to check the schedule and book tickets in advance on the official website. 
• Tickets can be purchased online on the museum`s website or at the ticket offices. Entry is by sessions — this helps to regulate the flow of visitors. Electronic tickets are available 1–4 weeks in advance. 
• Queues: in peak season the queues can be long. Online tickets help to avoid waiting. 
• Time: allow at least 3 hours to see the main halls. A full circuit may take several days. 
• The "Peacock" Clock: it is wound on Fridays at 19:00. Entry to the Pavilion Hall may be temporarily restricted when there is a large crowd.

The Hermitage is the history of Russia embodied in stone, painting and precious stones. From the "place of solitude" of Catherine II to a public museum with three million exhibits — it has travelled a path more than two and a half centuries long. Here you can spend a day, moving from hall to hall, from Leonardo to Rembrandt, from Scythian gold to the Impressionists.