Hermitage gold pantries timetable. The Diamond Treasury of the Hermitage: the History of Creation

The Hermitage is a state museum, which many experts and visitors refer to as the Crown of Russian Museum Decoration. Its halls are decorated with many unique works of art.

But connoisseurs of beauty aspire not only here when they come to the Hermitage. The gold and diamond pantry literally overshadows everything that is in other halls. After all, the most valuable treasures are located in these departments. But what strikes the imagination of the average layman is the Hermitage's Diamond Treasury. It will be discussed in this article.

Story

When the Hermitage arose, no one raised the question of the ownership of the treasures in it. Of course, the Russian autocrats were the owners and collectors of all valuables. But the situation gradually changed. And already Nicholas I began to distinguish between works, highlighting “private” and “public” from them. During the reign of this king, the Hermitage received visitors who were supposed to see the luxury and beauty of all the things on display. When the Diamond Storeroom arose, its appearance is quite logical. After all, all existing imperial regalia, as well as crown diamonds, had to be stored somewhere. At the same time, they had to be kept in such a way as to guarantee immunity and avoid any accidents.

In order to store imperial regalia, crown diamonds, as well as valuable jewelry and furs, Nicholas I created a special structure. He called it the Cameral Department of H.I.V.

Of course, all these valuable items were under vigilant supervision until the 19th century. The history of the Cabinet created by Nicholas I dates back to 1704. Initially, such a structure was engaged in managing the economic, administrative, and financial affairs of the ruling emperors. It was created according to the published by Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Until the end of the 18th century, such a Cabinet was responsible for keeping all the imperial regalia, as well as crown diamonds. But some changes were made to such activities on July 16, 1786. Then, by decree of Catherine II, the work of the Cabinet was clearly defined. In one of the paragraphs of this document, a description was given of some provisions directly related to the storage of sovereign values, which were jewelry.

By the end of the 19th century, a conditional division of the Winter Palace appeared. It was believed that it contains several zones. They included living quarters, as well as rooms reserved for the environment close to the emperor. There was also a special zone in the Winter Palace. It was a room in which there were art treasures belonging to the royal family. This zone was called the Imperial New Hermitage. Items that were previously in the Kunstkamera and the Moscow Armory were stored here. Works of art from the Old Hermitage were also transferred here.

In December 1856, a unique collection of exhibits was officially opened to the public. The room in which they were located became known as the Hermitage's Diamond Storeroom. Initially, one hundred and sixty-five things were placed in it.

Collection of jewelry creations

What does the Hermitage's Diamond Treasury store today? It contains many things that show visitors to the museum the gradual development of jewelry, which has been improved throughout the centuries-old history of mankind. But it is precisely the objects of art of the 18th century that the Hermitage's Diamond Storeroom is most proud of. The exhibits made by the hands of excellent craftsmen of this era are not found here by chance. After all, the 18th century is called the century of diamonds. What only things were made by jewelers from Europe for the most demanding customers!

These are caskets and snuff boxes, travel bags and mussels, fans and watches, decorations for dresses, hats and hair. Among these items are perfume bottles, bracelets and rings.

Precious snuff boxes

The Hermitage's diamond pantry presents a large number of items to visitors. Many of them were acquired by the Empress Elizaveta Petrovna. For example, various snuffboxes were purchased on her orders. Such a thing is hard to find today. And in those distant times, these were special boxes designed to store tobacco. What ended up in the Hermitage's Diamond Treasury was at one time a precious reward to the Empress for her services.

Snuff boxes made by jewelers were also used as diplomatic and intimate gifts. There is also an oval box in this unique pantry, decorated with the monograms of Catherine II and Semyon Zorich (one of her many favorites). The Hermitage also has two gold-encrusted tortoiseshell snuff boxes that belonged to Tsar Peter. One of them is decorated with a miniature depicting ships in the harbor of St. Petersburg. The second is made in a very original form. It is made in the form of a ship and even has glass windows. These two works were made by an unknown master.

Watch

The mechanism showing the time was very popular in those distant times when the royal dynasties ruled Russia. However, only the nobility could afford to buy a watch. They were attached with a special chain - a chatelaine to the belt. However, it didn't end there. A few more chains were attached to the belt. One of them had a key. It was necessary for winding the watch. Another chain was adorned with a pendant made by jewelers, and the third could contain any exquisite trifle. And the whole set was richly decorated with various precious stones. The Hermitage (Diamond Storeroom) shows a lot of similar items to its visitors.

Opening hours of Swiss, French and English masters are presented here and in the desktop version.

salt shakers

We are all familiar with the Russian tradition of offering bread and salt to guests. Such a ceremony was also important for the most august persons. That is why there are salt shakers among the exhibits of the Hermitage's Diamond Room. They are bowls made of silver or pure gold. Salt shakers are decorated with embossing and precious stones.

Creations of Ivan Kulibin

During the reign of Empress Catherine the Great, the now well-known self-taught mechanic pleased with things made with his own hands. One of his priceless items is a watch enclosed in an egg-shaped gilded openwork case.

Through the favorite of the Empress Count Kulibin presented this unique item to Catherine. In those days, he caused genuine admiration. After all, before that, masters in Russia had never made watch movements. Jewelers made only the precious case intended for them.

Ivan Kulibin's watch, in addition to the usual course, pleased the owner with a musical mechanism and figures moving to the melody.

Works by Jeremiah Pozier

This fine jeweler created his creations for three Russian empresses. A tour of the Hermitage's Diamond Storeroom will introduce you to its gold snuffboxes, which are decorated with branches of diamonds, as well as precious bouquets that noble ladies used to wear on their shoulders, on their belts or on the bodice of their dresses. All stones were set in a silver setting, due to which they were devoid of a yellow tint. Gold served only to connect individual flowers into a bouquet. Because of this fastening, all parts were movable. This created an amazing effect. During the movement of the lady, the flowers moved and sparkled.

In order to demonstrate such bouquets, at the end of the 19th century. even made special vases. They were made of rock crystal, which gave the impression of being filled with water.

Whose other works are kept in the Diamond Room?

Jewelry craftsmen working in St. Petersburg were, as a rule, of foreign origin. That is why visitors to the Diamond Room can admire the works of J.F.C. Burde, I. Pozier, I.G. Sharf, brothers Duval and Teremen, as well as Zh.P. Adora.

Demand for jewelry in the 18th century. was extremely large. Interest in jewelry did not fall in the next century. During this period, objects made by Carl Faberge were especially popular. The most iconic work of the famous master is a copy of such imperial regalia as the Big and Small crowns, as well as the orb and scepter. All these items were made in tenfold reduction.

Today, all copies are provided for review by the Hermitage (St. Petersburg), the Diamond Storeroom. Reduced imperial regalia are placed on cushions made of white velvet and decorated with silver tassels. In turn, the pillows are fixed on silver pedestals specially created for this purpose. All this splendor is placed on a hill, similar to a Roman column. Such a pedestal is made of pink quartzite and decorated with a silver garland.

In order to start work, Faberge needed to obtain special permission from the Palace. For this masterpiece, which participated in 1900 at the World Industrial and Art Exhibition in Paris, the author received the Gold Medal and the Order of the Legion of Honor. At the same time, he was recognized as the best jeweler in the world. After this exhibition, Tsar Nicholas II purchased the items for the Hermitage.

Brilliant exhibits

One of the most striking collections of the Diamond Room includes decorations made during the Renaissance. All these things have a marine theme and are decorated with “wrong” baroque pearls. One of these products is the caravel pendant. It is made of solid emerald and serves as the hull of the ship.

Among the products of the marine theme is the pendant of the corsair Elizabeth. This item is a translucent round pink quartz with a gold fastening for the chain. On the mount there is an image of a ship cutting through the waves. The name of the owner of the pendant is also indicated here, as well as the date - 1590.

There are also unique items from the Sicilian city of Trapani dating back to the 17th century in the Diamond Room of the Hermitage. Experts evaluate them as extraordinary and rare. These are objects made of coral, silver and gilded copper. Their beauty literally captivates the eyes of visitors. One of these products is a hand-jug. Crystals seem to grow from the walls of this vessel.

Browse Unique Collections

How to get to the Hermitage Diamond Storeroom? To do this, you need to purchase tickets for one of the excursions, which are held only according to the schedule.

The Hermitage (Diamond Pantry) invites everyone to visit. The tickets you will need for this are as follows:

1. At the entrance to the Hermitage. For citizens of Russia and Belarus, the cost of such a ticket is 400 rubles. Everyone else can purchase it for 600 rubles. The museum can be visited free of charge by children and students of any country, as well as pensioners of the Russian Federation.

2. On an excursion held in the Diamond Storeroom. The cost of such a ticket is 300 rubles. for all categories of citizens.

Both tickets are sold by the Hermitage ticket offices located directly at the entrance. During the high tourist season, you need to come for them as early as possible. After all, the number of tickets is limited. The high tourist season is the time of white nights, May and New Year holidays.

Today it is possible to purchase tickets online. To do this, just go to the official website of the museum. True, the cost of tickets with this option of purchase will be slightly higher. It will amount to 580 rubles. to enter the Hermitage, and to participate in a tour of the Diamond Room - 430 rubles.

Also on the Internet you can stumble upon numerous sites of travel companies that offer tickets at inflated prices. It should be borne in mind that there is no need for intermediaries. Anyone can organize a visit to the Hermitage and the Diamond Room on their own. Moreover, excursions are conducted only by museum staff. The work of intermediaries consists only in buying tickets, for which an impressive commission is taken.

What time is the Hermitage (Diamond Storeroom) open for visiting? Museum opening hours vary slightly depending on the day of the week. So, on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday the Hermitage invites visitors from 10.30 to 18.00. Cash desks are open only until 17.00. On Wednesday and Friday the museum welcomes guests from 10.30 to 21.00. You can get to the box office until 20.00. Monday is a day off in the Hermitage.

On Saturday and Sunday, as well as during the summer season, it is recommended to come to the museum either half an hour before the opening, or directly to it. This is due to the large influx of visitors. Those who come later will stand in line for several hours or simply not get into the museum.

How does the Hermitage's Diamond Storeroom work? The schedule of her excursions can be found by contacting the information center administrator on the day of the visit. They are also displayed on special stands.

Excursions to the Diamond Room are well organized. After buying a ticket, visitors undress in the cloakroom and go to the museum. The group is collected thirty minutes before visiting the pantry in the lobby of the museum. This place is marked with a large sign. Museum staff will help you find it. They will gladly point you to the right place.
The tour lasts an hour and a half, introducing the exhibits stored in the Hermitage's Diamond Storeroom. Visitors are not allowed to take photos of jewelry.

In the second half of the 18th century, the so-called "diamond" room was located in the Winter Palace next to the throne room. Together with the symbols of royal power - the crown, orb, scepter - there were kept many items that served as decorations or gifts.

Pendants were the most common decoration in the 16th-17th centuries.. Men and women wore them on a special chain on their chests. Sometimes in old portraits we see characters who have several decorations at the same time. They differed in purpose: among them were pendants-amulets, talismans protecting from the evil eye, and others. In the XVI-XVII centuries, in the era of geographical discoveries, pendants in the form of ships appeared. One of the Hermitage caravels, made in Spain around 1590, is made of emeralds: large, deep green stones form the basis of the ship, the masts and the upper cross, the rest of the parts are decorated with white enamel on a gold background.

Pendant "caravel".
Spain. 1580 - 1590.
Emeralds, gold, enamel.

The pendant that belonged to the legendary Francis Drake, a pirate and admiral of the fleet of the English Queen Elizabeth, belongs to the same time. It is made of white quartz, but it seems pink. Being placed in a special coloring solution, the stone, which has many microcracks, absorbed its color.

Pearls have been used by jewelers since ancient times. In the 16th century, the so-called baroque pearls appeared, distinguished by a bizarre shape. The artist's task was to find in his "wrong" contour the idea of ​​the future work. In the pendants "Swan", "Siren", "Dragon" such a pearl forms the basis of the product, dictates the meaning. Products made of carved ornamental stone were not inferior in popularity. Bowls, vases, jugs, goblets and caskets were intended not for everyday use, but for decorating ceremonial halls and diplomatic gifts. An example of this is a goblet made of rock crystal with rubies, presented to Peter the Great.

By the way, The diverse activities of Peter I were of great importance for the development of the jewelry craft. Traveling around Europe, making diplomatic trips, the emperor brought many gifts, including jewelry. Figurines appear in Russia, executed in Saxony at the beginning of the 17th century - various, sometimes funny, figurines made of silver, pearls, precious stones.

Having transferred the capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg, Peter sought to create a city equal to European capitals. Here, on the banks of the Neva, he sent the best craftsmen from Moscow, including jewelers, invited foreign craftsmen. In 1714 the shop of foreign jewelers began to work., which initially consisted of captured Swedes. And in 1722, following their example, Russian masters united. This explains the increased quantity and excellent quality of 18th century jewelry. Each foreman of the workshop, passing the apprenticeship period, was obliged to make a competitive work. According to its results, the master was allowed to work independently, have apprentices and apprentices, put a brand on the work.

I. Pozier. Bouquet of precious stones.
Petersburg. 1740s.

Court life and peculiarities of palace etiquette required more new decorations. In the 18th century, snuffboxes became the most common piece of jewelry., both desktop, designed to decorate the offices of nobles, and portable - they were selected for the costume and season. Lacquer, tortoiseshell were used in winter, stone, metal - in summer. Sometimes snuffboxes had several compartments for different types of snuff. In addition, they served as gifts that were awarded for merit and noted assistance in sensitive matters: whether it was a palace coup or a love affair. It is known that in the 18th century the award of a snuffbox, if a monogram or a portrait of the monarch was mounted in it, was valued on a par with the order. Some of them were intended to store a portrait. Such is the box with the image of Louis XV and Maria Leshchinskaya, made in Paris at the beginning of the 18th century by the court master of the French king D. Guer. It was presented to Princess Kurakina, wife of B. I. Kurakin, the Russian ambassador to the Parisian court.

For more than a century, snuff has been in vogue, so snuffboxes reflected changes in traditions, artistic styles, and customer requirements. Made by the largest French jewelers, magnificent rocaille boxes made of gold and mother-of-pearl by Gouer, Ducrolei and Auguste snuff boxes attract attention with gold and enamel ornaments. The monuments made by the Dresden master I. Kh. Neuber were called the “cabinet of stones”. In these products, the decor is simple, it comes down to a mosaic consisting of semi-precious minerals of Saxony, arranged in thin plates over the entire surface. Each section of the mosaic has a number engraved next to it on a gold rim. Inside the snuffbox there is a book containing the decoding and description of the stone. Of great interest are the snuffboxes that belonged to the Prussian emperor Frederick II (there were more than a hundred of them). They are large and bright in color. For a greater coloristic effect, jewelers placed colored foil under the diamonds.

Snuffbox.
Germany. Middle of the 18th century.
Rock crystal, gold, precious stones

Many items made by both Russian and foreign jewelers are connected with the history of Russia. Among them are simple-shaped snuffboxes that belonged to Peter I. A wooden one in the shape of a galley. gold with a tortoiseshell plate mounted in the lid with a view of St. Petersburg, quartz with monograms. Empresses Anna Ioannovna and Elizaveta Petrovna ordered irregularly shaped boxes adorned with many diamonds. The fashion for these products reached its greatest extent during the thirty-year reign of Catherine II. The largest St. Petersburg craftsmen, such as Ador, Sharf, Budde, Gass, worked on her orders.

Creativity J.-P. Adora, a Swiss by birth who worked in Russia for about 20 years, is closely connected with the history of the Russian court. The Chesme snuffbox was made on the occasion of the first anniversary of the victory of the Russian fleet over the Turkish fleet in the Chesme Bay. It is decorated with enamel miniatures celebrating the battle. The same craftsman also made thirty snuff boxes, which were intended for gifts to participants in the palace coup of 1762. Medals are mounted in them, where Catherine II is depicted as the goddess Minerva.

Another master - I. G. Scharf - gravitated towards simple shapes like a circle or an oval. His products are exquisite in color and are distinguished by love for small stones. The Teremen brothers worked for several years in St. Petersburg and are represented in the Hermitage by snuffboxes with micromosaics, a technique that requires great skill. In addition, travel bags are special boxes designed to store various items. They were also divided into portable and desktop, male and female. Women's toilet bags had a needle, comb, scissors, etc., men's folding ruler, sometimes compasses. As an example, two items from the Hermitage collection can be cited. A small compact dressing case with 25 items was made in England in the middle of the 18th century. Another table decoration, made of heliotrope, could also be used as a writing instrument.

Travel bag with key rings
England. Middle of the 18th century.
Gold, diamonds.

Perhaps, the only thing that was not inferior in popularity to snuffboxes was a watch. The clock mechanism was invented in the 17th century, and the first clock had one hand and, accordingly, the accuracy of the course was within half an hour. Gradually they become more accurate. Their decor, and they belonged only to the nobility, is magnificent: precious stones, various cases and a chain-chatel attached to the belt. They also got close to the suit; sometimes worn for several hours at a time.

J. Fazi. Clock on the chatelaine
Petersburg, 1770s
Gold, diamonds, enamel

A review of the collection of jewelry would be incomplete if, at least in a few words, one does not dwell on the collection of rings, bracelets, as well as magnificent bouquets made of precious stones, intended to be worn on the shoulder or belt. They are striking in the sophistication of the selection of stones, the subtlety of the cut, the elegance of the settings. In special vases made later, the "bouquets" were exhibited in a new room - a gallery of precious things, open to the public in the middle of the 19th century. It was the first museum complex designed to display objects of applied art.

In 1911, a new jewelry room was opened, one of the exhibits of which was a golden toilet set, made in the 1730s in Augsburg in the Biller workshop. It consists of 47 items, was made for the Empress Anna Ioannovna, and then was kept in the storerooms of the Winter Palace and served to dress the brides of the royal house for the crown. The combination of matte and shiny gold surfaces highlights the pattern of objects, and the ornament

After the October Revolution, the collections of jewelry art were replenished due to the receipt of nationalized private collections.

Walk through the halls of the Hermitage. Part 1.

Since 1925, items that were part of the Treasure Gallery have been exhibited in the Special Storeroom of the Hermitage.

O. KOSTUK

Next page: Peter the Great in the Hermitage

Among the extensive correspondence that I began to receive from all parts of the former Soviet Union and from abroad after my articles on “foreign Russian gold” and the first edition of this book, a letter from A.V. Kireev from the Kaluga region dated April 16, 1993 A.V. Kireev reported: since 1957 he worked in the city of Shevchenko (now Aktau), on the Mangyshlak peninsula on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea. At that time, he accidentally stumbled upon the book “Chekists of Kazakhstan”, where he read the following: “... after the defeat, the remnants of Kolchak’s army under the command of General Tolstoy retreated through Fort Aleksandrovsky (the great Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko was exiled there at one time. - Auth.) Mangyshlak, the Ust-Yurt plateau, in order to break through to the south and go beyond the cordon. When approaching the Buzachi Peninsula, they hid the rest of Russia's gold reserves. (Kireev clarified with the old-timers-Kazakhs, they confirmed: as many as "seven carts".) Guryev security officers then unsuccessfully searched for this gold for 15 years.

I receive dozens of such letters, only the geography of the "treasures of Kolchak's gold" changes. Either this is the Taiga station of the Trans-Siberian Railway, or the former Orthodox monastery in Primorye on the border with China, or the Razdolnoye railway siding of the Primorsky Railway, or the “golden steamer on the Ob in Western Siberia”.

So in the spring of 2003, I first got a call from a "Caucasian" prospector from the city of Zeya, Amur Region in the Far East, and then sent me a whole folder of photocopied clippings from local newspapers and books of Amur local historians about the search for another portion of "Siberian gold", on this time - on the Bolshevik river gunboat "Ogorochanin" that ran aground on the Zeya River in September 1918 with a cargo of gold confiscated by the "Reds" in four commercial banks and three insurance companies of the Amur province.

Judging by the book by Ilya Bezrodny, a participant in the Civil War in the Far East, "Cupid on Fire" (Vladivostok, 1932), several dozen boxes of gold were loaded on board the gunboat.

On one of the river banks

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Zeya's boat fell into a Kolchak or Japanese ambush, was fired upon and, maneuvering to avoid fire, ran aground. The team immediately left the ship, and allegedly previously threw all the boxes into the water, except for three, which they allegedly buried on the shore.

Since then, local (newspaper Amurskaya Pravda, 1992) and metropolitan (Komsomolskaya Pravda, 1993) journalists have repeatedly called for finding this golden treasure from the “red gallion” (gunboat), but all the searches of local gold diggers turned out to be unsuccessful, like the previous searches for the Japanese, Kolchak, Semenov, Red partisans and the OGPU in the 20s and early 30s.

Interest in the gold treasure from the gunboat "Ogorchanin" all these 85 years is also supported by the fact that the local residents of the village of Novoandreevsk, opposite which the gunboat ran aground on the Zeya River, from time to time, when gardening or plowing, they really find gold bars in the ground. So, back in 1979, collective farmer Maria Efimova found a gold ingot in her backyard garden, on which it was stamped - “Blagoveshchensk, 1917”.

The next ingot, found by a tractor driver of the same collective farm. Lenin Nikolai Vasilenko from the same village during plowing, was honored to get into the 80s. 20th century in the Guinness Book of Records. In the traditional section of this British directory “LARGEST TREASURES” we read: “A gold ingot weighing 12 kg 285.3 grams was found in the summer of 1987 by a farm operator named after. Lenin of the Amur Region Nikolai Vasilenko. In the bank, this standard gold bar, cast in 1918, was valued at 588,000 rubles. N. Vasilenko received the largest amount in Russia for his find - 147 thousand rubles, 25% of the estimated value of the treasure provided for by law.

It is these 25% of the gold treasures found that inspire the current “gold diggers”, one of whom, my “Caucasian” from the city of Zeya, tried to seduce me with this bait, offering to lead a new expedition in the Amur Region to search for the rest of the ingots from the Ogorodchanin gunboat .

Nevertheless, tales about the hidden "treasures of Kolchak" in Siberia do not leave the pages of newspapers and magazines (see, for example, the article of the magazine "Gold of Russia", 1994, No. 1-2, about another treasure allegedly hidden by order of the admiral in area of ​​the "Black Lakes" near Blagoveshchensk in the winter of 1919) For the participation of the OGPU-NKVD-KGB of the USSR in the search for such "treasures", see Appendix No. 5 to this book.

Dozens of stories and tales have been written about the "Kolchak treasures" allegedly already found in Eastern Siberia and Primorye. A typical example of such a "spreading cranberry" is the historical story by Yuri Sergeev "Bereginya", published in the journal "Young Guard" (1992, No. 5-6).

All the more valuable are the rare testimonies of eyewitnesses who have survived to this day, for example, grandfather Luka Pavlov from the same Novoandreevka, recorded in 1992 by a reporter for Amurskaya Pravda. In 1918, the future grandfather was only seven or eight years old, he stood on the shore and saw how the gunboat ran aground. He did not see any boxes of gold thrown overboard. But I saw something else: the team jumped overboard in a panic (they were afraid of persecution either by Kolchak, or by the Japanese), and a few hours later the abandoned ship was simply plundered by the surrounding peasants. Here they are, according to Luka, indeed, groaning and swearing, they were carrying some heavy boxes on themselves.

The evidence is familiar: after all, in November 1812, on the approach to the Berezina, Ataman Platov’s Cossacks plundered Napoleon’s “golden wagon train” from the Kremlin, and then atoned for sin by building a huge Orthodox cathedral in the capital of the Don Army - Novocherkassk Cathedral, the second largest after St. Isaac's in St. Petersburg.

And treasures should not be looked for at all where popular rumor points to them. Here is one of the exact addresses, moreover, indicated on the official letterhead of the Kolchak Foreign Minister I.I. Sukin (encrypted from Omsk to the Russian Consul General in Shanghai Viktor Fedorovich Grosse through the Ambassador of Tsarist Russia in Beijing, Prince Kudashev, September 24, 1919 No. 688):

“I ask you to inform Shanghai Grosse. The Minister of Finance (“Omsk government.” - Author) asks to convey: I am sending over 6,000 pounds from Vladivostok to your name with a steamer departing from Vladivostok around September 26. All detailed instructions on the date of arrival and the number of of unloaded gold will be reported to you by the director of the Foreign Branch of the State Bank of Vladivostok.I am simultaneously telegraphing the Russian-Asian Bank in Shanghai to enter into an agreement with you on placing the bank's storerooms at your disposal for storage.

Signature: Sukin.

This was far from the first "gold parcel" from Vladivostok addressed to Consul V.F. Grosse. In May of the same year, he already received a bill of lading of 600 pounds on the Russian guard military cruiser Commander Bering.

So that's where to look for "Kolchak's treasures" - in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka and Yokohama, further across the Pacific Ocean - in San Francisco, Vancouver, New York and even further, across the Atlantic Ocean - in London, Stockholm, Paris , Brussels and Swiss banks.

Moreover, documents for all these bills of lading from 1914 have been preserved - from financial agreements to diplomatic correspondence and receipts for receiving the cargo.

Exposition of the Diamond Storeroom of the Hermitage

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It is forbidden to take pictures in the pantry at all, using any device, including a phone. All the following photographs are taken from the Hermitage's official website.

The exposition includes gold jewelry found in the Maykop burial mound. These are the earliest exhibits of the pantry, dating back to the fourth century BC. The craftsmanship of the ancient masters is truly admirable. All the decorations presented earlier belonged to the leader of the nomads and his wives, who were buried in the Maikop mound.

Goby from the Maykop mound of the 4th century. BC, about 10-15 cm

Further, the exhibition presents many works of ancient Greek masters found in the south of Russia and in the Crimea. The products of the Scythians are very complex and intricate, full of symbolism, in vain they are considered barbarians, the ancient Greeks called them barbarians, look at the amphora below, is this barbaric art?

Amphora from the Scythian collection

The amphora is large, probably about 70 cm in height; on top, the stages of taming a horse, IV century BC, are very vividly and realistically depicted. BC.

Works of Western European art were mainly presented to the imperial family as diplomatic gifts, some were bought to replenish the collection.

Reliquary, Western Europe, they kept the relics of saints

Small jewelry, rings and earrings did not make a strong impression on me, if you do not know that these stones are diamonds, then it is difficult to find them very attractive. An uncut 10 carat diamond inserted in a ring looks unimportant.

The largest and most luxurious showcase contains two horse harnesses, including blankets for horses, bridles, tail decorations, sabers. All these items are richly decorated with precious stones, lots of diamonds, sparkle and shimmer before the eyes of the surprised public.

Excursion to the Golden Treasury of the Hermitage

It was for this showcase that they called the pantry Diamond. There are no photos of her on the Internet; you can see this impressive spectacle only by visiting the exposition in person.

In addition to such chic things as these blankets, there are other things that are valuable because they belonged to famous people. I remember the Gospel that belonged to Peter I. It is quite small, the cover is skillfully embroidered with freshwater pearls of various sizes, most of the pearls are more like beads, it probably took a lot of time to make the cover for the Gospel, because each pearl must first be drilled, and then sewn on, and this is a titanic work.

The toilet set of Anna Ioannovna, the Empress of Russia, also impresses. There is no photo of the device on the Internet either. The Empress devoted 6-8 hours to her toilet. It took more than 65 kg of gold to make all the items - a mirror in a massive frame, a travel bag, a teapot, a coffee pot, etc., in total, about 60 items. The most surprising thing is that the set included a special stick for scratching the head. In those years, they wore very magnificent hairstyles, but they did not like to wash, and everyone had lice, including the Empress.

The display in the pantry includes many necessaires - richly decorated with precious stones, cases for manicure sets and perfumes - very beautiful things.

There are a lot of pocket watches, all these watches look luxurious and were intended mainly to demonstrate the status of the owner, and not to find out the time. Some mods hung on themselves for several hours.

Since the era of Peter the Great, snuffing has come into fashion and the collection contains many snuff boxes made in different styles.

But there are no Faberge eggs in the Diamond Pantry at all, they were all sold during the era of revolution and civil war. From Faberge, the collection contains only reduced copies of imperial crowns, scepters and orbs. Most recently, the Faberge Museum was opened in St. Petersburg, where you can see Faberge Easter eggs and many other pieces of jewelry. The Faberge Museum is located near the Anichkov Bridge on the Fontanka embankment.

Reduced copies of imperial crowns, scepters and orbs.

The most luxurious things are not presented in the photographs that can be found on the Internet. It is impossible to estimate the real size of things in the photographs, so viewing photos cannot replace visiting the museum ..

For children, this is quite tiring, by the end of the tour the children were already tired and did not listen very carefully to the guide, for preschoolers it would probably be too hard. It is also probably too difficult to inspect both the Gold and Diamond Pantry at a time, it is better to spread it in time.

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Masterpieces of the Hermitage

Jewelry in the Hermitage

Artistic processing of metal, or the art of toreutics - from the Greek word "toreuo", which means I cut out, minted, - originated in ancient times. Already in the third - second millennium BC. e. skillful craftsmen of Egypt, Western Asia, the Aegean world produced precious jewelry, various bowls and goblets, magnificently decorated with reliefs and engravings.

Noble metals - gold, silver and platinum - are an excellent material for creating various kinds of works of applied art. The first to be known was gold, which is often found in nature in its pure form. Much later, only in the 16th century, platinum was discovered. These metals, especially gold, do not oxidize in air, so products made from them have a beautiful non-tarnishing luster and retain their original beauty for centuries. Remarkable natural properties - malleability, softness and fusibility - determined the technical methods of their processing. So, for example, the amazing malleability of gold underlies coinage, softness made engraving and carving possible, and fusibility made casting. Various techniques were improved from time to time, sometimes degraded, some were used in a certain period and among different peoples more, others less, but their basis remained and remains always the same.

AT Special pantry The Hermitage (opened in 1925) brings together collections of art objects made of precious metals and precious stones, previously dispersed among individual exhibitions and, mainly, the museum funds.

The first section of the exhibition presents works of art made of gold and silver from the most ancient eras, the second - jewelry items of Western European and Russian craftsmen of the 16th-19th centuries. These collections include several thousand art objects, many of which are masterpieces of applied art, widely known not only in our country, but also abroad.

The Hermitage's collection of ancient gold and silver items is unique in its artistic and historical significance and is the largest in the world. It includes several thousand monuments of jewelry art, originating mainly from mounds, necropolises or treasures left by various tribes and peoples that once inhabited the vast territory of our country. Among the exhibits there are the rarest examples of toreutics of the third millennium BC. e. The art of the era of the early nomads and the period of the "great migration of peoples" (VI century BC - VII century AD) is most fully reflected. A variety of products introduce the visual art of the Scythians, Sarmatians, as well as other nomadic and sedentary tribes of the southern Russian steppes and Siberia. A large group of objects gives an idea of ​​the craftsmanship of the jewelers of the ancient colonial cities on the northern coast of the Black Sea. In addition, the collection includes works of foreign toreutics brought to the Northern Black Sea region from the Near East and Asia Minor, Greece, and Byzantium.

The richness of the collection of ancient gold, compiled by the work of several generations of archaeologists, makes it possible to trace the long path of development of jewelry - one of the oldest types of human art. Not all items in this collection are equal in their merits. Some of them are genuine samples of high art, others are mass handicraft products. In general, they give an idea not only of the artistic culture and technical skills of the ancient peoples, but also help to learn their world outlook and way of life.

The works of goldsmiths and jewelers of the 16th-19th centuries, in turn, reflect the versatility of this so peculiar type of applied art with exhaustive completeness and consistency.

Siberian collection of Peter I

The oldest archaeological finds in the burial mounds of the Northern Black Sea region

Jewelry from the era of the early nomads.

Scythian jewelry in the "animal" style

Works of Bosporan jewelers from Scythian mounds

Gold plaques from the Kul-Oba kurgan

Chased vessels of Greek craftsmen from Scythian burials

Jewelry from the ancient cities-colonies of the Northern Black Sea region

Antique earrings of the 6th century BC

Lost Secrets of the Graining Technique. Greek earrings from the end of the 5th century BC

Earrings and pendants from the Kul-Oba burial mound

Antique necklaces of the 4th century BC

Twisted bracelets of the 5th-4th centuries BC

Unique chased products from Scythian mounds - a phial and a carved helmet

Golden seal-rings from the Scythian burial mounds

Gold plaques from the Scythian barrows

Jewelry from the Hellenistic era (late 4th - 1st century BC)

Sarmatian jewelry (1st century BC - 1st century AD)

Decorations of the period of the "great migration of peoples" (IV-VII centuries AD)

Works of Kyiv jewelers of the XII-XIII centuries

Jewelry of Western European and Russian masters of the 16th - early 19th centuries.

Renaissance pendants

Caravels - Western European jewelry

Cups and bowls made of rock crystal

Enamel products of Russian masters of the 17th century

Jewelry from Western Europe of the 18th century

Precious snuff boxes of the 18th century.

Bouquets of precious stones

Gold clasp Lion's griffin tormenting a horse. 5th-4th centuries BC. Siberia.

A gold bracelet. 5th-4th centuries BC. Siberia.

Golden clasp with a scene of rest on the way. 5th-4th centuries BC. Siberia.

Bull figurine. III millennium BC Maikop mound.

Figurines of gold and silver gobies. III millennium BC Maikop mound.

Silver goblet depicting animals and mountain landscape. III millennium BC Maikop mound.

Akinaka sword scabbard. Beginning 6th century BC e. Kelermesek mound.

Golden panther. 7th century BC. Kelermesek mound.

Golden deer. 6th century BC. Kostroma barrow.

Belt hook. 4th century BC. Mastyuginsky mound.

The lining is lit with scenes from the life of Achilles. 4th century BC. Chertomlyk barrow.

Sword scabbard. End V - beginning. 4th century BC Chertomlyk barrow.

The hilt of the parade sword. 5th century BC. Chertomlyk barrow.

Amphora for wine. 4th century BC. Chertomlyk barrow.

Sword scabbard. End V - beginning. 4th century BC. Kurgan Solokha.

A crest depicting a battle between warriors. End V - beginning. 4th century BC. Kurgan Solokha.

Golden phial with scenes of tormenting animals. End V - beginning. 4th century BC BC. Kurgan Solokha.

Vessel with lion hunting scenes.

400-375 AD BC. Kurgan Solokha.

Silver vessel with lion hunting scenes. 400-375 AD BC. Kurgan Solokha.

Silver

Vessel with images of the Scythians. 4th century BC. Kurgan Kul-Oba.

Vessel with images of scenes from Scythian life. 4th century BC. Kurgan Kul-Oba.

Vessel with images of scenes from Scythian life. 4th century BC. Kurgan Kul-Oba.

Golden hryvnia with endings in the form of Scythian horsemen. 4th century BC. Kurgan Kul-Oba.

Hryvnia endings in the form of Scythian horsemen. 4th century BC. Kurgan Kul-Oba

The end of the golden hryvnia in the form of a Scythian horseman. 4th century BC. Kurgan Kul-Oba

Gold plaque with twinning scene. 4th century BC. Kurgan Kul-Oba.

Gold plaque in the form of a galloping Scythian rider. 4th century BC. Kurgan Kul-Oba.

Gold plaque in the form of two Scythians shooting from bows. 4th century BC. Kurgan Kul-Oba.

Gold plaque in the form of a deer. 4th century BC Kurgan Kul-Oba.

Ear pendant with lion's head. 6th century BC e. Olvia.

Earring in the form of Artemis on a deer. 325-300 AD BC. Nymphaeum.

Golden pendants in the form of flying erotes. OK. 5th century BC. Panticapaeum.

Gold pendant in the form of the goddess Nike. OK. 5th century BC. Panticapaeum.

I go on subscription tours to the Golden Pantry in the Hermitage. Only three excursions on Saturdays. The exposition in the Golden Pantry is built chronologically - immediately from the entrance there is a room-corridor, on the right is the Siberian collection of Peter I (Southern Siberia), on the left are golden exhibits from barrows, starting from the most ancient ones (from the 7th century BC). Mound Litoy, Kelermes barrows. The first large hall - Royal Scythians - Solokha, Chertomlyk. Carmatians.

I did not set the task of retelling - I specifically added many links to sources where you can read or watch the history of the Scythians and their art. Just for my own pleasure, I go to look at all this beauty in detail and listen to the exhibits themselves. Once again, the level of skill of jewelers who create masterpieces in order to immediately bury them in the ground is surprising)) The beauty of the symbolism, which speaks of a single worldview that has reigned over a large territory for many centuries)) In a word, once again I follow the lead own today's mood and questions. Therefore, today there are no swords and gorits - the main exhibits of the warlike Scythian world. Terribly cruel and terrible) barbarians ...

Panther curled up. The idea of ​​perpetual motion of the universe. Siberian collection

This symbol has a lot in common with the Ouroboro. Ouroboros (translated from ancient Greek \u003d tail - food - a snake curled up in a ring, biting its own tail. One of the oldest symbols with many meanings. Eternity and infinity, especially the cyclical nature of life: the alternation of creation and destruction, life and death, constant rebirth and death.The symbol was used in religion, magic, alchemy, mythology and psychology.Another of its analogues is the swastika, which also means the movement of the cosmos.

It is believed that it came to Western culture from Egypt, where the first images of a coiled snake are dated between 1600 and 1100 BC, where they personified eternity and the universe, as well as the cycle of death of rebirth. From there, the ouroboros migrated to Ancient Greece, where it began to be used to denote processes that have no beginning and end)) Its close analogues are also found in the cultures of Scandinavia, India, China and Greece. The symbol of a coiled snake is found among the Aztecs.

Also, this symbol plays a big role in the teachings of the Gnostics, among the alchemists it symbolizes the transformation of elements into a philosopher's stone to turn metals into gold. In Jung's analytical asichology, o symbolizes darkness and self-destruction at the same time as fertility and creativity. Erich Neumann, a follower of Jung, refers to the ouroboros as an early stage of personality development.

D. Beaupri, describing the appearance of images of the ouroboros in ancient Egypt, claims that this symbol was applied to the walls of the tombs and denoted the guardian of the underworld, as well as the threshold moment between death and rebirth. The first appearance of the ouroboros sign in ancient Egypt dates back to about 1600 BC. e. (according to other sources - 1100

R. Robertson and A. Cribs note in ancient China the urobor called "Zhulong”And was depicted as a creature that combines a pig and a dragon biting its own tail. Over time, the image was transformed into a traditional Chinese dragon, symbolizing good luck. One of the first mentions of ouroboros as a symbol dates back to 4200 BC. The first finds of figurines of dragons curled up in a ring are attributed to the Hongshan culture. (4700-2900 BC). One of them, in the form of a full circle, was on the chest of the deceased. This is an excerpt from Wikipedia, there are many more)) I wrote about the Chinese character

On the legs and tail of the panther, the symbol of the panther curled up in a ring is repeated many times, reinforcing the symbol of the panther from here the Kelermes Kurgan

It is not allowed to take pictures in the Golden Pantry, which is a pity, so I took the photos on the Hermitage website.

Decoration is on fire. "Kostroma deer" - a deer with tucked-in legs (beaks) from a mound near the village of Kostroma. Previously, it was interpreted as a running deer, now as a victim.

The body of a deer is a symbolic zoomorphic image of the model of the world, close to the image of the World Tree. In the Scythian tradition, a deer (or other herbivore) was usually depicted lying with its legs tucked under itself, which symbolized in the world model the main cosmogonic processes - the dynamics of the top (life), with the static bottom (death). Sometimes the herbivore's body was depicted as twisted, while the same phases were preserved: the front of the animal - life (summer); back - death (winter)

The main dynamic plot of the animal style for many centuries remained the scene of the tormenting of a herbivore by a predator. In the opposition of these two types of animals and the violence of one over the other, a whole series of basic cosmogonic mythologemes of the Scythian consciousness is manifested. In the sacred scenes of torment, two worlds converge - a predator, as the personification of the chthonic power of death, the underworld, darkness, and a herbivore, as an image of the power of life, the World Tree, light. The symbolism of torment in a certain context develops into a scene of an erotic act. In this situation, the predator personifies the masculine principle of the world - "up", the Father-heaven, and the herbivore - the feminine principle, the earth, its maternal, generative function.

The ancients believed that each death causes a new birth, fertilizing it. The image of a predator was ideologically associated with the Scythian akinak sword, which brought into its symbolism the bloody color of inseminating death, without which a new life cannot be born. In fact, this ideology is familiar to all peoples in the traditional rites of initiation. That is why the Scythian sword - akinak - in the structure of the Scythian stone statues was identified with the phallus, symbolizing the sexual, generative power of a man - the head of the clan and the warrior. The tormenting of a herbivore by a predator is both an act of cosmic sacrifice, and an act of the primordial generation of the cosmos from chaos, and, in fact, an image of the Sacred Marriage, through which Mother Earth gives birth to new life, the young energy of the world. This is also the source of the rigid canonization of figurative symbolism, which assigned to the consciousness of ancient man a certain, adequate to the mythological idea, sacred reading.

Multi-turn hryvnia - a symbol of nobility. Siberian collection of Peter I

Diadem, Litoy barrow, Melgunov treasure. 3 braided cord chains, although there are holes for 4.

A plaque in the form of a bird of prey, the Litoy kurgan. There were 17 such round golden eagles in total, but 16 eagles were transferred to the Kharkov Museum, where they died during the evacuation. Most likely decoration of a leather belt.

The mirror from the Kelermes mound was probably also used for its intended purpose, but it had magical properties. On the one hand, the edge, on the other - a loop or a small handle in the center. The main character of the mirror in the upper left segment is the Asia Minor goddess Cybele, here identical to the Scythian fertility goddess Argimpas. For many peoples, the mirror was associated with the sun, fertility and life. It reflected the existing, guessed the past, foresaw the future. The magical properties of the mirror were enhanced by the images printed on its back. It was believed that the mirrors had a protective power, they saw the true essence of evil demons when they took on a different guise. All members of the family had mirrors; they served during life and after death. During their lives, many rituals were performed with them, they played a big role during the wedding ceremony. From here

A plaque from the Kul-Oba burial mound depicting a goddess with a mirror

Cauldron from the Kelermes barrows.

Animal meat was boiled in large bronze cauldrons. Such a cauldron on a leg stands firmly in a fire. Gathering around him as a large family, tribe, the Scythians felt their unity. Any cauldron had a sacred character and was reminiscent of the cauldron that the legendary king Ariant made from arrowheads brought by each Scythian

Comb from a male burial, Solokha barrow. It symbolizes the tripartite division of the world, the battle scene - a warrior who has lost his horse is doomed. An almost round sculpture - a detailed relief on both sides.

Horse forehead and bridle jewelry. The barrow is a large Cymbalka. Horse harness throughout the Scythian world was the same, differing only in decor. Here is an image of the Scythian snake-footed goddess

In different periods of Scythian art was influenced by other cultures. After the defeat of Assyria in the 7th century, for example, the Scythians took Assyrian jewelers with them. Later, Scytho-Greek art reigned in the Northern Black Sea region. Greek jewelers, creating jewelry for the Scythians, use Scythian mythology and epic. The center of trade relations between the Greeks and the Scythians was located in the Kamensky settlement, which appeared in the 5th century BC (not far from modern Nikopol). The settlement was a metallurgical center that supplied the Scythians with weapons. There, apparently, were the residences of the Scythian kings, the wealth and power of which are evidenced by the famous royal burial mounds of the 5th-4th centuries BC.

Earring with a pendant in the shape of a negro's head. Chertomlyk

In this documentary film "Scythians" an interesting interpretation of the images of Scythian art from the point of view of mythology

Ghosts of distant epochs. Khakass-Minusinsk basin. Siberian Scythians

With full responsibility, it can be called the Crown of Russian museum decoration. Like any crown, the Hermitage is decorated with many unique works of art. But there is one place that overshadows all the others. What haunts the imagination of a simple layman is the Diamond Pantry.

Emergence of the Diamond Treasury

At the beginning of the existence of the Hermitage, no one had any question about the ownership of all its treasures. Naturally, the Russian autocrats were collectors and owners. However, over time, the situation began to change, and already under Nicholas I, a clear distinction appeared between “personal” works and “state” ones. During his reign, visitors were allowed into the Hermitage in order to see all the beauty and luxury of the expositions.

The emergence of the Jewel Gallery is quite logical - at the end of the 19th century the Winter Palace was divided into several zones. These were living quarters, rooms for intimate surroundings, as well as part of the premises, which began to be called the Imperial New Hermitage. It was in it that the artistic values ​​\u200b\u200bof the royal family began to be stored. It included rare art treasures previously stored in the Kunstkamera, the Old Hermitage and the Moscow Armory. 165 items were moved from the Diamond Room to the Gallery. In December 1856, it was officially opened to the public.

"Brilliant" exhibits

One of the most striking collections are Renaissance jewelry, namely its marine theme. Baroque "wrong" pearls were used for jewelry. One of these products is a solid emerald caravel pendant. The baroque pearl plays the role of a ship's hull.

The nautical theme is continued by the “Elizabeth Dog” pendant by the famous corsair Francis Drake. This is a round translucent rose quartz with a gold chain mount. The mount depicts a ship cutting through the waves, the name of the owner and the date “1590” are indicated, and a ship is drawn plowing the endless sea.

Unique items of the 17th century from the city of Trapani (Sicily) are truly worthy of the Cabinet of Curiosities, as rare and extraordinary. These are items made of gilded copper, silver and coral, which, in a magical combination, fascinated the eyes of visitors. One of these products was a hand-jug, from the walls of which corals seemed to grow.

The creation of the self-taught mechanic Ivan Kulibin once again proves that in Russia there have always been craftsmen who could “plug in the belt” of any Faberge. So, Ivan Petrovich made a unique watch in an egg-shaped gold case. The peculiarity of the product was that, in addition to the clockwork, they also had small figures that danced to the wonderful music emitted by the clock.

The tears of the gods are diamonds

However, despite all these unique items, the main part of the collection is occupied by diamonds. And this is not surprising, because the 17th century is rightfully called the “age of diamonds”. These amazing stones were used literally in all household items of exquisite "clients" - it could be a true watch and bracelets, mussels and fans, snuff boxes and just jewelry.

The Diamond Room features snuffboxes of all shapes and sizes. In the everyday life of the Empress, they performed not only their immediate functions, but also the role of presents for favorites.

The clock kept in the museum is decorated with diamonds and was a sign of good taste. Moreover, they were accompanied by an elegant key on a gold chain, and a “simple trinket”, like all of the items listed, adorned with diamonds, rubies and sapphires.

Continuing the conversation about diamonds, I would like to separately note the works of Jeremiah Pozier, who throughout his life “decorated” Russian empresses and palace nobility. Among other masterpieces, the Diamond Room contains a golden box decorated with branches of diamonds; flower bouquets, in which the role of flowers was played by diamonds fixed in silver frames. These bouquets were worn by ladies on a belt or fastened to the bodice of a dress. Later, in the 19th century, a fashion arose to put them in rock crystal vases. This amazing mineral gave the vases the effect of being filled with water.

If you have had the honor of tasting bread and salt, then you know how important this ceremony is. The most august persons treated her with even greater attention - their salt shakers were bowls of pure gold or silver, decorated with exquisite chasing and precious stones.

The nineteenth century was not much different from the eighteenth century. It was marked by the iconic works of Carl Faberge and his copies of the imperial regalia. Among them were large and small imperial crowns, a scepter and an orb. Copies are reduced ten times, but this is what makes them valuable as unique creations of jewelry art. This work was carried out for participation in the world jewelry exhibition in Paris in 1900. For his work, Faberge was awarded the Gold Medal of the Exhibition and the Order of the Legion of Honor. After the end of the exhibition, Emperor Nicholas II bought these amazing items.

Interesting facts

The most worthy people who did a lot for Russia became holders of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, studded with diamonds.

One of the knights of the order was Ivan Mazepa, hetman of the Zaporizhzhya Cossacks. Peter I personally laid the insignia of the order on the hetman "for his many noble and zealous faithful services in military labors." However, in 1798 he was deprived of this order for going over to the side of the Swedes.

A chain consisting of 20 parts decorated with several hundred diamonds went to the order. This chain was estimated at 77,233 rubles.

By the President of Russia Boris Yeltsin, the order again became the highest state award. The last of the Knights of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called was Mikhail Gorbachev, who ruined a great country.

Only experts can calculate the cost of exhibits in rubles, and this information may be closed to visitors. However, it is known for certain that the Great Imperial Crown in 1865 was estimated at 823,976 rubles, the Power - 190,353 rubles.

Our days

Today, the museum has not lost its interest in fine jewelry. One of the acquisitions of the 20th century was the work of the French jeweler Rene Lalique - the Snake Clew pendant and the Beetles buckle.

With their brilliance, the exhibits of the Diamond Room are able to kindle a fire of interest in the eyes of any visitor. And this is not only due to the fact that the cost of the exhibits of the Pantry is calculated by many "zeros", but also because the true values ​​​​penetrate deep into the soul and do not leave anyone indifferent.

Friends, hello!

If you decide to visit the Hermitage St. Petersburg for the first time, this article will tell you everything about this attraction of the northern capital, help you plan your visit correctly and not miss important details.

I tried to collect all the useful information for those who decide to see famous works of art with their own eyes. In addition, coupled with a map-scheme that you need to get "blood from the nose" at the entrance, you can find exit from the "cultural trap" , when the voice of reason in your head treacherously creaks "Enough!".

Undoubtedly, the museum is worth visiting at least once. After all, you have to test your nervous system for strength. Will she be able to withstand two days of culture shock and emotional euphoria?

Many will ask why exactly two days?

Everything is simple. It is impossible to go around all the halls and see all the masterpieces in one tour! You can get real pleasure only by slowly wandering through the endless rooms of huge palaces. However, two lives will not be enough for this, because the museum contains more than 3,000,000 exhibits .

The history of the Hermitage begins in 1764, when Catherine II ruled the country. The Empress collected paintings by great artists, and at first the museum was considered her private collection. In 1852, a new building was allocated to the museum and opened to the public.

Today, the expositions are located in five buildings (!) located near the Neva River. Agree, in such a vast territory it is difficult not to get lost for the layman.

The appearance of the Hermitage alone is already breathtaking. By the way, entering this temple of art, it is difficult not to experience a culture shock. The interior of the museum itself is admirable for its luxury. Still, these buildings served as residences for the kings, where balls and receptions were held, so they spared no expense for the construction.

What will we watch

The Hermitage is a huge complex of buildings. Here are not only unique works of famous artists and sculptors. Objects of applied art, ancient medals, coins, furniture, ancient artifacts - all this is located in a real palace-museum.

The museum consists of:

• Winter Palace;
• Small Hermitage;
• the Great Hermitage;
• the Hermitage Theatre;
• New Hermitage.

Buy a floor plan you can at the checkout. For beginners, I advise you not to be stingy and join the excursion group. Guides will tell the fascinating story of the creation of the museum. In addition, this way you definitely won’t get lost in the maze of halls, and you will find a way out of the “artistic” trap.

Tour of the Hermitage

Since it will not be possible to pay due attention to all the exhibits of the museum, tourists usually plan what they want to see even before a trip to the Hermitage. I will tell you about those halls that you must see.

Jordan stairs. Standard tour of the museum begins with her. Made of white marble, the staircase is decorated with gold. Previously, it was intended for noble guests and ambassadors from other countries. Even in the photo, the staircase looks amazing, royally majestic.

Portraits of the Romanov dynasty. A gallery of paintings depicting the famous imperial family can be found on the second floor of the Winter Palace (rooms 151 and 153).

Egyptian Hall (#100) is very popular with tourists. Here visitors will see mummies, sarcophagi, ancient amulets.

Impressionist collection. Fans of Monet and Renoir will enjoy paintings by great artists located on the 3rd floor (rooms 316 to 350). Here are the works of famous post-impressionists (Gauguin, Van Gogh, Cezanne).

Works by Leonardo Da Vinci. Two paintings by the famous artist, scientist and writer are located in the building of the Old Hermitage on the 2nd floor (room No. 214). Each painting is a priceless treasure.

Rembrandt Hall. Since there are a huge number of people who want to see the paintings of the famous artist, the best time to visit this hall is an hour before the closing of the museum. At this hour, all tours end, and you can safely wander among the paintings. The hall is located in the New Hermitage on the 2nd floor (room No. 254).

Gold and diamond pantries of the Hermitage

To visit the jewelry gallery, a tourist needs to buy two tickets at the box office. One for visiting the museum, the other for visiting the pantries. Entrance here is strictly with an excursion group and on schedule.

I advise you not to delay buying a ticket, the gallery is in great demand among tourists. The schedule of the remaining excursions to the pantries is indicated on the stands. The tour lasts about two hours.

Visitor reviews

There are countless rave reviews about visiting the Hermitage. Many say that with its splendor the Winter Palace eclipsed even the famous Louvre in Paris . Of course, many did not have time to admire all the exhibits of this temple of art. Among the shortcomings, visitors noted long queues both at the box office and at the cloakroom, especially during the tourist season.

Information for visitors

Opening hours of the Hermitage:
Tuesday - Sunday 10.30 - 18.00 (Wednesday, Friday until 21.00)
Day off - Monday and public holidays
Museum address: St. Petersburg, Palace Square, 2
Ticket price :

• 700 rubles(680 if online) - entrance ticket to the Main Museum Complex and the General Headquarters, the Winter Palace of Peter I, the Menshikov Palace, the Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory
• 400 rubles– entrance ticket to the Main Museum Complex and the General Headquarters, the Winter Palace of Peter I, the Menshikov Palace, the Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory for citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus
• 1020 rubles– entrance ticket to the Main Museum Complex and the General Headquarters, the Winter Palace of Peter I, the Menshikov Palace, the Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory, operating during two days . The best offer on the market)) Sold only online here hermitageshop.ru/tickets/
• On the ball- for preschoolers, schoolchildren, students, pensioners of Russia and all-all-all on the 1st Thursday of the month (required to receive a free ticket)

Official site: hermitagemuseum.org

How to find the museum

The buildings of the Hermitage are located on the Palace Embankment. If you are going to take the subway, then you need to get off at the station "Nevsky Avenue" . From any point of the avenue you can see the spire of the Admiralty. He will be the guide.

At the intersection of Nevsky Prospekt and Bolshaya Morskaya Street, you need to turn right, passing under the huge arch of the General Staff Building. Thus, you will find yourself on the Palace Square. Then you need to find the main entrance to the Winter Palace (and it's hard not to find it).

Pass through the arches, decorated with openwork gates, into the courtyard. On the stands there is a schedule of excursions, prices are indicated. There is also an electronic scoreboard. Cash registers are located inside.

Bus travelers are also concerned about how to get to the museum. They must get off at the bus stop. "State Hermitage" , buses No. 7,10,24, 19 follow here. From Gostiny Dvor to the destination can be reached by bus No. 49. You can also get there by trolley bus (No. 1,7,10 and 11).

This is useful to know

With food and drinks, the entrance to the museum is strictly prohibited. You can't even take water with you. . If you have a large handbag or briefcase, you will have to hand over the accessory to the wardrobe. Ladies, it’s better to leave high-heeled shoes at home, they can scratch the parquet made of valuable wood species. Take care of the beauty, do not touch the exhibits with your hands! This is especially true of vases, gilded interior items and antique furniture.

And further. In my next article, I will definitely tell you why buying tickets online for 2 days at once, I think is the ideal option, but if you have only 1 day and you need to do everything quickly, then on this site share great information on how to avoid queues:

http://www.speshun.ru/cultura/31-hermitage/hermitage-ocheredi

St. Petersburg is a unique city. There is always something to see and do here. We managed a lot during our 6 days of visit, but, of course, not all. Don't want to miss anything? Do not want to spend your entire visit on non-essential things and leave the Northern capital with nothing?

Then you need to plan your visit correctly!

1. 1. Order yourself St. Petersburg guide here) in advance. This will help you start exploring the capital immediately upon arrival, and not waste time acclimatizing and looking for a bookstore.
   2. Decide on a program and book at least one tour of St. Petersburg from professionals in their field. After that, independent sightseeing in St. Petersburg will be more fun and productive)). If you came in a group, then watch the tours here.
   3. About how we famously saved 50% at the band's concert "Bricks" , visiting a restaurant Mangal House and boating on the Neva with the help of the service biglion read in my articles about our stay in St. Petersburg.

So act!

That's all for me! I offer you subscribe to my blog . So you will be the first to know all the useful travel information!

Until we meet again!