Hermitage layout of halls. Hermitage map

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 the State Hermitage Museum 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 of the 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 Building and the Winter Palace of Peter I. But once again we would like 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 you have already been to the Main Museum Complex 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), children of preschool and school age (regardless of citizenship), students (regardless of citizenship), graduate students, cadets, disabled people of I and II groups.

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 queue up for 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 critic.

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 of 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. This beauty was created by the architect Andrei Stackenschneider 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 recall 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 decoration of 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. A distinctive feature of the chambers are 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, here 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 various types of 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 the other you will find papyri, texts from the Book of the Dead, amulets with scarabs, jewelry, and various works of 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.

Knights' 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 by the 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.

It is difficult to get lost in the St. Petersburg center. :)The Hermitage is located in the historical city center, on Palace Square.

The closest is the Admiralteyskaya metro station (270 m). When you get out, immediately turn left, and after a couple of steps you will find yourself on Malaya Morskaya Street. There, turn right, and after a few meters you will exit onto Nevsky Prospekt. Then follow it to the left - walk to Palace Square, where you will see the entrance to the museum. For visitors with Internet tickets there is a separate entrance: from the street. Millionnaya, in the Small Hermitage.

If the weather is good, you can walk along Nevsky to the Hermitage Museum and longer: from the Gostiny Dvor metro station (transition to Nevsky Prospekt station) - about 600 m.

How to buy a ticket to the Hermitage of St. Petersburg?

Which ticket do you prefer: electronic or regular? The most convenient way is to buy an electronic ticket. We sincerely recommend doing this: you will protect yourself from queuing at the cash register. The Hermitage Museum is known for long queues, especially during tourist seasons and school holidays. But at other times, unfortunately, they are not uncommon. It’s very disappointing if you have to stand around for a couple of hours, and then the wardrobe runs out of space for clothes, and they announce that receiving visitors is temporarily closed. This applies more to the autumn-winter time, when the dressing room quickly becomes overcrowded. We didn’t find ourselves in such a situation, but people often complain on forums.

How much does a ticket to the Hermitage cost?

They vary depending on the season, but not much. (Please note: this does not apply to e-tickets, prices are constant throughout the year). You can buy electronic tickets of your choice - valid for one or two days. The difference in price is not very big: 680 and 1020 rubles. If you have time, we recommend choosing a two-day tour. It includes a larger number of buildings - objects of the museum complex.

Where are the Hermitage ticket offices?

An important point: in addition to the main ticket windows, there are also Hermitage ticket offices located in the General Staff building (across the square from the Winter Palace). The queues there are usually much shorter.

Hermitage free visit

Remember the days when all individual visitors can enter for free: these are the 1st Thursday of each month plus December 7th. But it’s best to avoid visiting on these days if you don’t want to jostle in the crowd. If possible, do not go to the Hermitage on Tuesday, especially in the first half of the day. Every Monday is a day off, after which it is logical that there will be a crowd of people.

Free visit daily for the following groups of citizens: Children, students, pensioners of the Russian Federation, as well as visitors of some other categories. See the full list on the official website.

How to get to the Hermitage without queuing?

What time of year is there the least likelihood of queues? In March, we stood on the street for no more than 15 minutes. Friends waited for the same amount in November. I recommend checking out the reviews on the forums on this topic. Avoid concessionary visiting days and summer months if possible

The State Hermitage Museum, located in St. Petersburg near the Neva River, is, without exaggeration, known throughout the world. This is a museum that is rich in a huge number of exhibits that help to study the development of world artistic culture and history. It should be noted that the Hermitage as a museum plays a huge role and is not inferior to other museums located abroad.

The uniqueness of the Hermitage

The rich history of this museum began during the reign of Catherine II. As the story goes, the empress first accepted some paintings from a German merchant, who gave the paintings to pay off his debt. The paintings fascinated Catherine, and she created her own collection, which gradually became larger and larger. The Empress specifically hired people who traveled to Europe to purchase new paintings. When the collection became very large, it was decided to open a public museum, for which a separate building was built.

How many rooms and floors are there in the Hermitage

The Winter Palace is a three-story building with 1084 rooms. Among the most famous are:

Note! In total, the museum has about 365 rooms. Among them are the Small Dining Room, the Malachite Living Room, and Maria Alexandrovna’s chambers. A diagram of the Hermitage halls with names will help a tourist navigate all these rooms.

Hermitage: floor plan

The Hermitage is a whole complex, which includes 5 buildings built in different years.

Winter Palace

This is the central building, built by the famous architect B.F. Rastrelli in the second half of the 18th century in the Baroque style. We must also pay tribute to those craftsmen who restored the building after the fires.

On a note. Now inside the Winter Palace, which previously served as the imperial palace, the main exhibition of the Hermitage is located. The building is built in the shape of a quadrangle, inside of which there is a courtyard.

Small Hermitage

It was built a little later than the Winter Palace. Its architects: Y. M. Felten and J. B. Wallen-Delamot. It was so named because Catherine II spent entertaining evenings here, which were called small hermitages. The building includes 2 pavilions - the Northern one, which housed the winter garden, and the Southern one. Another component of the Small Hermitage is the hanging garden with picturesque compositions.

Great Hermitage

It was built after the Small Hermitage, and since it was larger than it, it received this name. Although this building is made in more strict forms, it fits perfectly into the ensemble and, moreover, complements it. The interiors are decorated with expensive wood, gilding and stucco. Architect – Yuri Felten.

On the second floor of the Great Hermitage there are halls of Italian painting, where you can see the works of outstanding artists: Leonardo da Vinci, Titian or Raphael. Copies of the latter artist’s frescoes decorate the so-called Raphael Loggias, a gallery located in the Great Hermitage.

Note! The many arches of the gallery divide it into several compartments. The walls are decorated with copies of frescoes. The Apostolic Palace in the Vatican was taken as the basis.

New Hermitage

The main façade of this building is known for its porch. This is a portico that previously served as an entrance. It differs in that there are granite statues of Atlanteans holding a balcony on it. Work on them took 2 whole years. Everything else is made of limestone. The sculptures amaze with their fine workmanship and elegance of execution, giving the building a sublime and noble appearance. The building itself was built in neo-Greek style.

Hermitage Theater

Architect - G. Quarenghi, style - classicism. The theater is connected to the rest of the buildings of the complex by an arch-transition, where a gallery was opened. Many talented artists performed on this stage, and balls were often held here. It should be noted that the theater played a big role in the development of cultural life. The foyer has preserved ceilings from the 18th century. The inspiration for the theater hall was the Italian Teatro Olimpico.

Where can I get the Hermitage guidebook?

To avoid getting lost in the huge halls of the Hermitage, a map of the Hermitage is offered free of charge next to the ticket office at the main entrance. It shows a diagram of the Hermitage with all the halls available for visiting, their names and numbers.

Hermitage map

Museum exhibits

How many exhibits are there in the Hermitage? Their number exceeds 3 million! This is certainly a huge number. What is there in the Hermitage? Among the most unique exhibits with an interesting history are the following:

• Peacock watch in the Hermitage. They were brought by order of Potemkin. The master is D. Cox from England. To deliver the watch safely, it had to be disassembled. But subsequent assembly turned out to be quite difficult due to lost or broken parts. And only towards the end of the 18th century the clock started working again, thanks to the efforts of a skilled Russian master. This exhibit amazes with its beauty and luxury: the cage with the owl rotates, and the peacock even spreads its tail;
• Feodosia earrings. The technique that was used to make them is graining. These are small gold or silver balls that are soldered onto jewelry. These earrings depict a composition showing competitions in Athens. Although many jewelers tried to repeat this masterpiece, they failed, since the method of creating Feodosian earrings is unknown;
• figure of Peter 1, made of wax. Foreign masters were invited to create it. A figure in red robes sits majestically on a throne.

As a separate exhibit, for which it is also worth visiting this museum, one can name its interiors. Inside the Hermitage you can see quite majestic, sometimes sophisticated, halls decorated with a variety of elements. It's a pleasure to walk through them.

Peacock watch

How many paintings are there in the Hermitage?

In total, the Hermitage contains about 15 thousand different paintings from the pens of artists of the 13th-20th centuries. Now such paintings are of great interest and cultural value.

The Hermitage collection began with 225 paintings given by a German dealer. In the second half of the 18th century, paintings collected by Count Bruhl were brought from Germany, and paintings from the collection of the French Baron Crozat were purchased. Thus, works by such artists as Rembrandt, Raphael, Van Dyck and others appeared in the museum.

1774 is a memorable date when the first museum catalog was published. It already contained more than 2 thousand paintings. A little later, the collection was replenished with 198 works from the collection of R. Walpole and 119 paintings from Count Baudouin.

On a note. We should not forget that at that time the museum stored not only paintings, but also many memorable items, such as figurines, stone items, and coins.

The turning point was the fire of 1837, as a result of which the interiors of the Winter Palace did not survive. However, thanks to the quick work of the craftsmen, the building was restored within a year. They managed to remove the paintings, thanks to which the masterpieces of world art were not damaged.

Those who want to visit the Hermitage should definitely see the following paintings:

• Leonardo da Vinci "Madonna Litta"(a work of the Renaissance). There are 19 paintings by this famous artist in the world, 2 of which are kept in the Hermitage. This canvas was brought from Italy in the 19th century. The second canvas by this artist is “Benois Madonna”, painted in oil paints;
• Rembrandt "Return of the Prodigal Son". The canvas is based on the Gospel of Luke. In the center is the returned son, kneeling before his father, who mercifully receives him. This masterpiece was acquired back in the 18th century;
• V. V. Kandinsky “Composition 6”. The canvas of this famous avant-garde artist occupies a place of honor in the museum. There is even a separate room reserved for his work. This picture amazes viewers with a riot of colors;
• T. Gainsborough "The Lady in Blue". It is believed to be a portrait of Countess Elizabeth Beaufort. Her image is very light and natural. Refinement and airiness are achieved with the help of light strokes, a dark background and light colors to depict a girl;
• Caravaggio "The Lute Player". The details in this picture are worked out to the smallest detail. Both the crack on the lute and the notes are depicted. In the middle of the canvas is a young man playing. His face expresses many complex emotions, which the author was able to skillfully portray.

Paintings from the Hermitage collection

More detailed information describing what is in the Hermitage can be found on its official website.

The Hermitage can be called one of the most important cultural centers, which is of great importance for the whole world, because it contains masterpieces of a wide variety of artists from different times. This is one of the richest and most important collections in the world.

The brainchild of two empresses of the 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 Great Catherine so wanted in the center of St. Petersburg. 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:

1. halls of the Great Enfilade;
2. halls of the Neva Enfilade;
3. the Empress's chambers;
4. memorial hall of Alexander I;
5. malachite living room;
6. white dining room;
7. rotunda.

• Small Hermitage:

1. pavilion hall;
2. art of the Netherlands;
3. Western European Middle Ages.

• Old (Great) Hermitage:

1. art of Italy.

• Hermitage Theater.
• New Hermitage:

• Menshikov Palace.
• Eastern wing of the General Staff building:

1. modern;
2. Empire;
3. 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. Objects of ancient art are purchased, including 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 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 from a scientific point of view. 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 replenished the collection with objects and exhibits from Europe (late 19th and early 20th centuries).

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 captured 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 contribute to the replenishment of funds with 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, and had a 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.

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 sapphire blue. 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 was against him. There is an exhibition of silver from the 17th-18th centuries.

Malachite living room. The front living room of Nicholas I's wife, Maria Feodorovna. 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. The gilding of the doors and vaults goes perfectly with the green color of the columns and 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 tranquility. 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:

• Italian art from the 13th–16th 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 dedicated to antique and ancient art, architecture, and 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. The amphitheater of the auditorium with 6 rows of benches echoes the appearance and 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. The construction is carried out by Russian craftsmen. The architects had one task - to build a palace that would be both home and work.

A mixture of different approaches and 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

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, ordinary people and emperors have seen.

Article format: Mila Friedan

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