Where else can you find over 2.7 million exhibits? The Palace Hermitage Museum is one of the largest and most respected art museums in the world. It stands majestically on the bank of the Neva River.
The Palace Hermitage’s story began in 1764. Catherine the Great purchased a collection of 255 paintings. These paintings came from Berlin. She started a private collection that would grow into something spectacular. Russian ambassadors sought the best art. Catherine the Great wanted the finest pieces. The collection opened to the public in 1852. However, it was only for the respectable set.
The Winter Palace is the main building. It has a green and white facade. It has 1,786 doors and 1,945 windows. Inside are 1,057 lavishly decorated halls and rooms. The Winter Palace construction spanned from 1754 to 1762. Empress Elizabeth commissioned it. Sadly, she died before it was finished. Catherine the Great and her successors enjoyed it. A huge fire in 1837 destroyed much of the palace. It was remodeled. Today, the Winter Palace and four other buildings make up the Hermitage. These buildings stand side-by-side along the river.
The Palace Hermitage boasts art and artifacts from around the world. These items range from Ancient Egypt to early 20th-century Europe. You can find works by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo here. Raphael and Titian are also represented. There is a unique collection of Rembrandts and Rubens too. French Impressionist works abound. Look for Renoir, Cezanne, Manet, Monet, and Pissarro. You will find canvasses by Van Gogh, Matisse, and Gauguin. Rodin sculptures are also highlights.
Imagine spending just one minute at each exhibit. It would take you 11 years to see them all. The Hermitage collection expanded after the Russian Revolution. The Provisional Government moved into the Winter Palace in 1917. They occupied Nicholas II’s private rooms. Later that year, the Bolsheviks stormed the palace. They arrested the ministers. The new authorities turned the Winter Palace into a museum. The Hermitage reopened in 1921 after the Russian Civil War.
During the Soviet era, the collection grew. Art came from nationalized private collections. Some works were sold to finance industrialization. Today, the Palace Hermitage attracts millions of visitors.
Other buildings are part of the State Hermitage Museum. The General Staff Building faces the Winter Palace. It features 19th and 20th-century European art. You’ll find paintings by Matisse, Picasso, Malevich, and Kandinsky there. Menshikov Palace is another building. Alexander Menshikov was a close friend of Peter the Great. His palace showcases 18th-century Russian culture.
A visit to the Palace Hermitage offers a journey through time and art. Its vast collections and storied halls leave a lasting impression. It epitomizes Russia’s deep love for art and culture.