The Hermitage, the biggest museum of the world ???

[Remio]

Yes, but I spoke about its collections. The Hermitage owns 3,000,000 items (the Louvre : 300,000). Moreover its collection of jewels is somptuous. Then, it owns one of the most collection of Sèvres (and in particular the collection of the Yousupovs).

(P.S :Me too I am french, au plaisir de vous revoir sur ce forum).

[Vassili_Vorontsoff]

Remio,

I'm really pleased to know that some french are going ont the website(je ne suis pas le seul à souffrir du monopole anglais donc lol)

So,in terms of collection the hermitage's collection is huge also not varied whereas the metropolitam museum or das Kunsthistorisches Museum nonetheless wahat is a pity for me is the sell of collections in the tirteen (they owned a stradivarius....)lot of things entered in some others important museum (especially in Usa,the Louvres is poor in russian art)so nver,could it go back into russian collections.

As looking to their mean of buying as far as I remember just 500000 $ (6 millions $ for the Louvres and the system of patronage in Russia is not really developped except by some important businessman LIKE Potanine).

Vassili

[Remio]

Hello Vassili,
You are right, the soviet government sold a lot of works of art. then The Hermitage is a big museum but with a small budget.

[nellie]

I was very disappointed when I visited the Hermitage--yes, a vast collection, yet many paintings were in need of repair. For example, 2 Rembrandts in cases covered in glass with condensation behind...when I asked where the works by certain artists were, the docent said , "Stalin sold Titians for tanks." When I asked to see Kandinsky's work--they said , "Oh, look at the Rockwell Kents...[American Communist who left his collection to the USSR]."

The bigness of a collection is less important than the depth of representation, the condition, and provenance-----hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, WHO owned alot of their things before!!

Nellie

[Vassili_Vorontsoff]

Hello,

I don't know Nellie if you can read french;this book is dedicated to the russian collections before the revolution...really interesting to discover I don't know if it exists into english...

sEE you soo,
V.

[nellie]

Cher Vassilli,


Je voudrais le nom du livre sur la collection d'Hermitage devant la revolution, s'il vous plait...

Merci mille fois,

Nellie

[Vassili_Vorontsoff]

Nelllie,

Je suis stupide la page avec le titre de l'ouvrage j'ai simplement oublié de la poster...

Je ne savais pas que vous parliez français,vous êtes donc vous aussi un acteur de la diversité culturelle à la française!
http://www.slavika.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=102&products_id=728

In short, the title is Grandes collections de la Russie impériale

Best regards,
Vassili

[Phillida]

I was very disappointed when I visited the Hermitage--yes, a vast collection, yet many paintings were in need of repair. For example, 2 Rembrandts in cases covered in glass with condensation behind...when I asked where the works by certain artists were, the docent said , "Stalin sold Titians for tanks." When I asked to see Kandinsky's work--they said , "Oh, look at the Rockwell Kents...[American Communist who left his collection to the USSR]."


Was this very ago Nellie?
I'd hate to think that things weren't in a better state of preservation at this point.
Thank you ~

The bigness of a collection is less important than the depth of representation, the condition, and provenance-----hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, WHO owned alot of their things before!!

Nellie

[jacqueline]

Moi aussi, j'ai eu beaucoup de chagrin quand j'ai visité l'Ermitage... It was very hard to appreciate the beauty of the art  when I remembered how it was acquired. Most Russian museums are full of stolen treasures.

[Robert_Hall]

"Stolen" ?  
Acquired by the Russian people is more approprioate I think. It was the efforts of THEIR labour that brought these things about, after all.

[Robert_Hall]

Today it has been announced that a massive theft has occured at the Hermitage, taking place over 30 years.  Although tragic, it is sadly noted that this happens at museums all over the world, none being immune.
 Having been to the Hermitage several times, I find it an interesting note that the items stolen  were taken from storage, not display. With over 1,000 rooms of display, it makes me wonder just how much is in storage?  Must be massive not to have noticed such an ongoing pilfering.
A good article is  at bbc.co.uk news

[jacqueline]

I saw this article too but I don't believe it.  It's more convenient to say these things were stolen by employees than to give them back to their rightful owners.

[Robert_Hall]

The vast majority of the collection in the Hermitage was bought or donated by the Imperial Family FOR the very reason of establishing a museum. The Russian people are the rightful owners in any case. The museum thefts are a crime against them.

[Arleen_Ristau]

Does anyone know anything about the curator who died at her workplace when the thefts were discovered, this took place last October? 

I was reading about it in an Atlanta newspaper this morning.....ajc.com....it said that out of 3 million items only a couple of hundred thousand are insured.  Also it mentioned the curator who died.  It would be interesting to hear what you guys that live in St. Petersburg know.  Vladimir?

I feel a great pity for anyone on the inside who may have stollen these items just to survive.....

Arleen

[Vassili_Vorontsoff]

Could someone tell more about this thief,it is terrible,what sort of items is is?

What about the police?Who has discover this lost?(I was on holidays and I could'not read russian newspapers...)

Thanks in advance,
A troubled Vassili,