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

[Robert_Hall]

There are 2 threads going on this topic. Perhaps a moderator could merge them?
 But, to answer your question, the items were taken over a period of many years. They were, apparently, small items of enamel, jewelry & icons.

[Vassili_Vorontsoff]

The greatest malachite basin of the whole world for the greatest museum of the world?
Probably...anyway it is ovzerwhelming to see...




An anecdote:at the occasion of  the birthday of the creation of the basin in 1942 or 1943 (the 100 year)the workmen of the museum emptied it of all the frozen water which it contained (because of the seat and the non heating of the buildings)
Vassili

[Venois]

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.

That actually is very discouraging to read. 

Can you imagine then what Nazis have done to the "brilliant necklace" of St. Petersburg. Nothing except Oranienbaum has survived. Of course some collections were evacuated, but it is impossible to count how much we have lost. Amber Chamber is the most vivid example.

Starting from Catherine II there was a special "Art" envoy who sought collections across Europe. All these collections were bought for real money. After the revolution collections of the nobility were nationalized, but it is a very controversial topic, I would not judge it as a theft. The sellings of the Masterpieces in 1930s could be considered as theft, but we all know who is directly responsible for it.

Hermitage is the second largest museum in the World, although it really doesn't mean anything. Piotrovsky (the current director of the museum) has done enormous work to revive Hermitage, not to mention that he protected the collection from the additional sellings in 1990s, when the state desperately needed cash. He opened the Great Court; he restorated numerous amount of halls (The Gallery of 1812 is the most obvious example, then the Winter Garden). He established a "Great Hermitage" project, where it is planned to use the General Staff building for collections of contemporary art, because, as has already being mentioned this is the gap in the Hermitage's collection. Piotrovsky reached preliminary agreements with the Guggenheim concerning the content of this new project.

Relatively speaking, Hermitage, as well as le Louvre are the only universal museums of art in the World. That's the reason for their fame and importance.

[Kliutchevsky]

[Kliutchevsky]

[Kliutchevsky]

The Hermitage Was Built By Catherine II The Great  to Retreat with her Friends

[Lucien]

http://www.hermitage.nl/2e_fase/en/programmering.htm

The exhibition will be opened in june by HM Queen Beatrix and President Medvedev of Russia.

[Robert_Hall]

Looks like an excellent excuse to visit Amsterdam this spring.

[Lucien]

Looks like an excellent excuse to visit Amsterdam this spring.

So soon again?...

The official opening of the exhibition,( which will have 1800 objects,a must see really!!) by HM and
"Tsar Dmitry" will be two days earlyer,for the public the opening is on saturday the 20th of june at
10.00AM and the museum will remain open for the next 31 hours during day evening and night during
the White Night Festival celebrated with festive activities and concerts throughout the museum and inner
court and along the Amstel river .

A marvellous exhibition in a beautifull museum housed in a 16th century setting along the Amstel river
with a beautifull set of old bridges in front of you,illuminated,champagne in one hand,blini with caviar in the other,
oh heck,who wouldn't enjoy that?And all that by the tunes of classical & russian music inside and out?

[yussupov29]

Thank you for the information!

Do you know if the exhibition is shown in other musems in other countries too?

[Lucien]

Thank you for the information!

Do you know if the exhibition is shown in other musems in other countries too?

Not that I've heard or am aware off,no.This collection of top pieces has been specially designed for the grand opening of the
Hermitage Amsterdam as by "order" of the Hermitage St.Petersburg "all" top-pieces are to be sent to Amsterdam for this event.

Among the 1800 pieces will be 150 (court-) dresses,uniforms,costumes and jewellery as well as Empress Catherine the Great's Coach,
for which there's a special hole in the roof to get the marvel in as well as several other larger pieces of this fabulous exhibit.

One of the wings makes you a guest at an Audience with the Tsar,another wing places you at a Court Ball among slowly moving
plateaux with Court Dresses and costumes,like Nicky's fancy Ball costume fe,that will be there too.As well as the Empress Marie-Feodorovna's
Coronation Robes used during the coronation of her son

Correct me if I am wrong,but I can't recall to have heard or ever seen this specific collection anywhere else except at the Hermitage in dear Mother Russia.

[Robert_Hall]

Parts of the exhibition may be shown at the Hermitage rooms at Somerset House, in London, later. But this looks to be huge and I do not think they could handle 1,800 items.   They often have special exhibitions from St. Petersburg Hermitage.

 And, Lucien, I return to Europe every spring and autumn/winter,  it is just routine to me.

[Lucien]

Parts of the exhibition may be shown at the Hermitage rooms at Somerset House, in London, later. But this looks to be huge and I do not think they could handle 1,800 items.   They often have special exhibitions from St. Petersburg Hermitage.

 And, Lucien, I return to Europe every spring and autumn/winter,  it is just routine to me.

Oh,we all know you do,but I mean again like "in Amsterdam again" or "Doorn"....

[yussupov29]

Another good reason to visit Amsterdam! Sounds marvellous, 1800 items!

[Robert_Hall]

I never made it to Holland on my last visit, Lucien. Istanbul took more time than I had reckoned. So, I am over due !