It has over 3 million exhibits, from the Stone Age to our time, which are presented in 350 halls with a total length of 20 kilometers.
A walk through its halls will become a tempting and exciting journey of 8 years of life, if you devote at least 1 minute to each exhibit, as experts have calculated. But the game is worth the candle.
The museum complex of the Hermitage occupies 5 buildings on the Palace Embankment: the Winter Palace, the Hermitage - the Big, the Small, the New, and the Hermitage Theatre. They get acquainted with the ancient and ancient world, Eastern and European culture, with the history of Russian art, numismatics, weapons, interiors of the imperial chambers and galleries, antiquities, everyday life and other unique rarities of the past.
In the museum halls of the Menshikov Palace, which is located on the University Embankment, the culture of Russia in the 1st third of the 18th century is presented. In the left wing of the General Staff building, works by masters of the 19th and 20th centuries, including the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, are exhibited.
Field Marshal's Hall
The ceremonial hall opens the front suite of the Winter Palace. Gilded bronze chandeliers and excellent grisaille paintings contain images of laurel wreaths and trophies, emphasizing the prowess of the Russian army. On the walls are portraits of prominent field marshals. Here you can also see Russian porcelain from the early 19th century.
Petrovsky (Small Throne) Hall
The hall was designed by Montferrand in 1833 in honor of Peter the Great. The decoration contains the monograms of the 1st Emperor of Russia, double-headed eagles and a crown. In the central niche in the form of a triumphal arch is a portrait of Peter the Great with the goddess Glory. The canvases on the walls depict the sovereign's heroism in the battles of the Great Northern War. The hall is decorated with a panel of silver and Lyon velvet.
Armorial hall
At the entrance there are sculptures of ancient Russian warriors with banners, on the poles of which are shields with the coats of arms of Russian provinces, which are also visible on gilded bronze chandeliers. The central part is occupied by a bowl of aventurine. Each element of the interior brings its value and significance to the overall ensemble, and all together create a picture of grandeur and solemnity.
Military gallery of 1812
The gallery was opened in honor of the victory over the French. It was created according to the project of Karl Ivanovich Rossi. The walls are decorated with portraits of 332 generals - participants and heroes of the Great Patriotic War of 1812. In a place of honor are portraits of Alexander the First and the monarchs - Frederick's allies - William the Third and Franz the First.
Georgievsky (Large Throne) Hall
The hall of the Winter Palace, where official ceremonies and receptions were held, was created by Stasov, who retained the compositional solution of the architect Quarenghi. The hall of columns is decorated with Carrara marble and gilded bronze. Above the Throne Place you can see the bas-relief "George the Victorious slaying the dragon with a spear". The imperial throne was commissioned by Empress Anna Ioannovna in London. The type-setting parquet is made of 16 precious wood species.
Alexander Hall
The hall of the Winter Palace is dedicated to the memory of the emperor-reformer Alexander the First, a medallion with the image of which can be seen in the lunette of the end wall. The frieze contains twenty-four images of the outstanding battles of 1812. Also on display here are European silver items from the 16th-19th centuries.
white hall
The hall was created for the wedding of Tsar Alexander II. The interior is especially luxuriously decorated with decorative plastic. The space is filled with sculptures of ancient Roman gods.
golden living room
The hall, designed by Bryullov, belonged to Empress Maria Alexandrovna, the wife of Tsar Alexander II. After his tragic death in this room, the members of the State Council, headed by the new autocrat Alexander III, approved the Constitution. Everything in the decoration corresponds to the name - a gilded stucco ornament on the ceiling, gilded doors, gilded floral patterns on the walls. Jasper columns give splendor, and a marble fireplace - splendor and comfort.
Malachite living room
The room was intended for the wife of Nicholas I - Alexandra Feodorovna and served as one of her private chambers. The skillful decoration of the entire space with malachite strikes every imagination.
Small dining room
The interior was designed by Krasovsky in the rococo style. The walls are decorated with tapestries from the 18th century and objects from the early 20th century: an English musical chandelier, French clocks and domestic glassware. Here at night, during the capture of the Winter Palace, the Bolsheviks arrested members of the Provisional Government, as a memorial plaque recalls.
Gallery of Romanov portraits
In the hall there are images of all members of the royal family from Peter the Great to Nicholas II. The Winter Palace, now occupied by the Hermitage, was built under Elizaveta Petrovna, since then the sovereigns with their relatives permanently lived in the palace. The walls of its halls were decorated with imperial images.
Library of Nicholas II
The office belonged to the last emperor, as evidenced by the porcelain portrait on the owner's table. The premises were designed in 1895 by the architect Alexander Fedorovich Krasovsky. In the decoration, English Gothic motifs can be traced. The ceiling, furniture, bookcases are made of walnut wood. The interior is decorated with a panel of embossed gilded leather. All together, plus a fireplace and high windows in openwork bindings, immerse you in the atmosphere of the medieval era.
Concert hall
The hall closes the Neva enfilade of the Winter Palace. It was created by the architect Stasov. Here are statues of ancient muses and the goddess Flora. The main exhibit is the tomb of St. Alexander Nevsky, made in silver by local craftsmen by order of Elizabeth Petrovna, transferred in 1922 to the Hermitage from the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
ancient egyptian culture
On the 1st floor of the Winter Palace on the site of the former Buffet in 1940, the chief architect of the Hermitage, Alexander Vladimirovich Sivkov, equipped the hall of culture of Ancient Egypt. Egyptian household items, sarcophagi, monumental sculptures, examples of small plastic arts, figurines, works of art by artisans are exhibited here. The most striking works are the statues - Amenemhat III, the queen of the Ptolemaic dynasty - Cleopatra VII, the Ipi stele and many others.
Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Hall
The converted living room in the chambers of the daughters of Nicholas I was designed by architect Alexander Pavlovich Bryullov. The hall houses archeological monuments of 6-2 millennia BC, brought from Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and many parts of Russia. There are unique finds - a slab with petroglyphs from Karelia, a wand handle in the shape of an elk head from the Sverdlovsk region, an image of an idol from the Pskov region, figurines from the barrows of Turkmenistan.
The culture of the nomadic tribes of Altai in the 6th-5th centuries BC. e.
Numerous artifacts found during excavations near the Karakoli Ursul River are represented by overlays and wooden images of animals that served as decoration for the harness. A large wooden plaque with two flying griffins is especially skillfully carved. It served as an ornament on the horse's head. This exhibit is recognized as one of the outstanding works of art of antiquity.
Hall of the Early Middle Ages in Siberia and Transbaikalia
The culture of the Tagars and Tashtyks is represented by household items, weapons and other works of antiquity found by archaeologists in the Minusinsk Basin in Khakassia. Of particular interest are the funeral masks that were put on mannequins with the ashes of the dead. Women's masks are white with red curls, men's are red with transverse black stripes.
Moschevaya Beam
Exhibits from the archeological monument Moshcheva Balka in the North Caucasus testify to the fact that a branch of the ancient Silk Road ran in these places, from where the finds exhibited in the hall were brought. The exposition is decorated with samples of fabrics well preserved by local Alan-Adyghe tribes, precious Chinese, Sogdian, Mediterranean silks, clothing items, wood and leather products.
Culture of the Golden Horde
Treasures of the Volga Bulgaria are exhibited in the back - gold and silver jewelry, weapons and horse harness. Of interest are works related to shamanic cults and written culture, a tile with Persian verses, as well as the “Dish with a Falconer”.
Hall of Art of France
Hall of Art of France of the 16th century (paintings by the artist Louis XIII Simon Vouet, Eustache Lesueur and Laurent de La Hire. The Hall of Art of France of the 17th century exhibits paintings by the great French classicist artist Nicolas Poussin, the best 11 paintings. The exhibition of the Hall of Art of France of the 18th century presents the best works of the French school of this time - 8 works by Antoine Watteau.The hall of applied art of France of the XVII-XVIII centuries presents the works of masters who worked in the neoclassical style.
UK Art Hall
Here are paintings by one of the leading masters of the 18th century - Joshua Reynolds, as well as author's copies of portraits of members of the royal family of England. Here Catherine II ordered the "Green Frog Service". The showcases show items made of basalt and jasper by Wedgwood.
Halls of the Great Hermitage
The first floor of the building is occupied by administrative offices, the directorate of the State Hermitage. On the 2nd floor, the works of Renaissance masters are presented. Halls of Italian art are located here.
The Jupiter Hall represents the art of Rome from the 1st to 4th centuries. In its decor, you can see medallions with profiles of Michelangelo, Canova, Martos and other great sculptors. Of particular interest here are sculptural portraits and marble sarcophagi. The name of the hall was given by the statue of Jupiter from the country villa of the Roman emperor Domitian. The masterpieces of the collection are the portraits of the emperors Lucius Verus, Balbinus and Philip the Arab.
The Hall of Italian Renaissance Art of the XIII-XV centuries of the Greater Hermitage opens an exposition of works from the beginning of the birth of a new culture - the Pre-Renaissance era. Here are products from the Florentine workshop of ceramic sculptors of the Della Robbia family.
Here you can visit the Titian Hall, which was intended to receive distinguished guests of the imperial court, here are paintings of the late period of the master's work.
The Italian Art Hall of the 16th century presents the works of the 16th century Venetian painters: Jacop Palma the Elder, Lorenzo Lotto, Giovanni Battista Cima de Conegliano. The Leonardo da Vinci Hall presents 2 masterpieces of the artist - Benois Madonna and Litta Madonna. The loggias of Raphael are the prototype of the gallery of the Vatican Palace in Rome, painted according to Raphael's sketches. The vaults of the gallery are decorated with paintings by the master on biblical subjects. The walls are decorated with a grotesque ornament.
Knight's Hall
One of the large ceremonial interiors of the New Hermitage. The hall was intended for the exhibition of coins. There is a collection of weapons - about 15 thousand items - an exposition of Western European weapons: tournament, ceremonial, hunting, cold steel and firearms. Knightly armor is also displayed here.
Gallery of the history of ancient painting
The exposition of the hall presents European sculpture of the 19th century. The walls are decorated with paintings by the artist Hiltensperger on scenes from ancient Greek myths, made with wax paints on brass boards in imitation of ancient technology. The gallery exhibits the works of the outstanding sculptor Antonio Canova and his followers. On the vaults are portraits of famous masters of European art, including the author of the New Hermitage project, Leo von Klenze.
Pavilion Hall of the Small Hermitage
The room was built in the 19th century by Andrey Ivanovich Stackenschneider, who combined the motifs of antiquity, the Renaissance and the East. It overlooks Catherine's Hanging Garden. The hall is decorated with Bakhchisaray marble fountains, located symmetrically against each other. The local mosaics and elegant tables inlaid with semi-precious stones are also famous.
But the most remarkable exhibit is the famous Peacock clock. The marvelous beauty of the peacock was created by the English master James Cox, who was in demand at that time. This “peacock” charm was purchased by Prince Grigory Potemkin as a gift to Catherine the Great. The clock was delivered to St. Petersburg disassembled. On the spot, the composition was assembled by Ivan Kulibin.
In the Hermitage, each hall is unique in its own way, everything cannot be described in words. Of course, you can find out more about the hall of interest on any resource. But it is better to watch it once than to read about it 100 times. The Hermitage opens its chambers and hospitably welcomes everyone!
The Raphael loggias are a long majestic gallery with large windows overlooking the Winter Canal and the Hermitage Theatre. The gallery was created by order of Empress Catherine the Great from 1783 to 1792 by the architect J. Quarenghi and is a copy of the famous Loggias of Raphael in the Vatican Palace of the Pope. All surfaces, walls and ceiling vaults are covered with copies of Raphael's frescoes, made on canvas. The architect Giacomo Quarenghi built the gallery building, and the artists of the workshop, led by Christopher Unterperger, went to the Vatican to create copies of the murals, which took 11 years to complete.
Rhythmically alternating semi-circular arches divide the ceiling into rectangular parts of equal length, each of which contains frescoes on biblical themes. In total, 52 stories from the Old and New Testaments are presented here, from the Creation of the world to the Last Supper. These frescoes are often referred to as the Raphael Bible. The masters carefully repeated the wall ornaments - grotesques with an endless variety of elegant motifs.
The tent hall, one of the largest in the building of the New Hermitage, got its name because of the unusual ceiling with caissons, covered with paintings in pastel colors, and the unique gable ceiling. Antique motifs are used in the decorative painting of the interior. Today, as in the 19th century, the hall houses paintings of the Dutch and Flemish schools, for example, by such famous artists of the 17th century as Jacob Ruisdael, Pieter Klas, Willem Kalf, Willem Heda, Jan Steen, Frans Hals and others.
Foyer of the Hermitage Theater
The foyer of the Hermitage Theater was built according to the design of Felten in 1783 and is located above the Winter Canal, in the transition gallery between the Great Hermitage and the theater. The decoration of the hall was designed by the architect L. Benois in 1903 in the French Rococo style. Lush floral garlands, curls and gilded rocaille frame paintings, openings and wall panels.
On the ceiling there are picturesque inserts - copies from paintings by the Italian master of the 17th century Luca Giordano: "The Judgment of Paris", "The Triumph of Galatea" and "The Abduction of Europe". Above the door is a landscape with ruins by the French artist of the 18th century Hubert Robert, on the walls are portrait paintings of the 18th-19th centuries. Above the foyer of the theater, you can still find wooden ceilings and rafters from the end of the 18th century. High window openings offer unique views of the Neva and the Winter Canal.
Golden living room / Living room of Maria Alexandrovna
The interior of the front living room in the apartments of Empress Maria Alexandrovna, wife of Alexander II, was created by the architect A.P. Bryullov in 1838-1841 after a fire. The interior of the hall, as it were, repeats the decoration of the royal chambers of the Moscow Kremlin. The low vaulted ceiling of the hall is decorated with a gilded stucco ornament. Initially, the walls and vault, lined with white artificial marble, were decorated with floral gilded patterns.
In the 1840s, the appearance of the interior was updated according to the drawings of A. I. Stackenschneider. The interior decoration is complemented by a marble fireplace with jasper columns, decorated with a bas-relief and a mosaic picture, gilded doors and magnificent parquet.
After the assassination of Emperor Alexander II on March 1, 1881, it was here, surrounded by elected members of the State Council, that the new Russian autocrat Alexander III decided the fate of the Russian constitution and the reforms that his father worked on and did not have time to complete.
Alexander Hall
The Alexander Hall of the Winter Palace was created by A.P. Bryullov after a fire in 1837. The architectural design of the hall, dedicated to the memory of Emperor Alexander I and the Patriotic War of 1812, is based on a combination of Gothic and Classical style variations. 24 medallions with allegorical images of the most significant events of the Patriotic War of 1812 and foreign campaigns of 1813–1814, located in the frieze, reproduce in an enlarged form the medals of the sculptor F. P. Tolstoy. Thin Gothic-style columns and semi-circular arches give the hall a temple-like appearance. The hall houses an exposition of European artistic silver of the 16th-19th centuries from Germany, France, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and Lithuania.
Geogrievsky / Grand Throne Hall
Georgievsky (Large Throne) Hall of the Winter Palace was created in 1787-1795 according to the project of G. Quarenghi. The huge double-height room of the hall was made in the classical style. The hall was consecrated on November 26, 1795 on the day of St. George the Victorious, from which it got its name. After the fire, it was recreated by the architect V.P. Stasov, who retained the compositional solution of his predecessor. The two-height columned hall is decorated with Carrara marble and gilded bronze. Above the Throne Place there is a bas-relief "George the Victorious, striking a dragon with a spear." The solemn decoration of the hall corresponds to its purpose: official receptions and ceremonies of holders of the Order of St. George the Victorious, established by Catherine, were held here.
The ceiling is metal, suspended from beams like chain bridges. The drawing of the gilded ornaments of the ceiling of the hall repeats the parquet pattern of 16 types of colored wood, emphasizing the harmony of the artistic appearance of the St. George's Hall.
Boudoir of Maria Alexandrovna
The boudoir of Maria Alexandrovna, as well as her living room, was designed by A.P. Bryullov, but in 1853 its interior was completely changed in accordance with the project of the architect Harald Bosse. The small room for the empress resembles an elegant snuffbox, decorated in the second rococo style. Bosse created whimsical ornaments from gilded carved wood and metal. Bright pomegranate color of silk fabric - brocatel (silk with metal thread), elegant pattern of ornaments, upholstered gilded furniture create a feeling of sophistication and comfort. A magnificent bronze gilded chandelier, reflected in the mirrors on the walls and ceiling, complements the spectacular decoration of the interior, making it endless, fragile and graceful.
Petrovsky Hall / Small Throne Room
The Petrovsky (Small Throne) Hall was created in 1833 by O. Montferrand and restored after a fire in 1837 by V.P. Stasov. The hall is dedicated to the memory of Peter I: the emperor's monogram (two Latin letters P), double-headed eagles and crowns are included in the interior decoration. In a niche designed as a triumphal arch, there is a painting "Peter I with the allegorical figure of Glory." In the upper part of the walls there are canvases representing Peter the Great in the battles of the Northern War - the Battle of Lesnaya, the Battle of Poltava. The hall is decorated with silver-embroidered Lyon velvet panels and silverware made in St. Petersburg. The silver consoles, floor lamps and chandelier presented in the Petrovsky Hall were made by the St. Petersburg master Bukh at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries. Not so long ago, the hall was restored, having received the original brightness and solemnity.
pavilion hall
The two-height Pavilion Hall of the Small Hermitage was created in the middle of the 19th century by the architect AI Stackenschneider. The architect, who brilliantly mastered the architectural techniques of different historical styles, naturally and gracefully combined Renaissance, Gothic and Oriental motifs in the decoration of the hall. The windows of the hall go out on both sides and face the Neva and the Hanging Garden. The ceiling and the arcade framing the interior are saturated with gilded stucco ornamentation. A combination of light marble with gilded stucco decor and elegant luster of crystal chandeliers give a special effect. The hall is decorated with four marble fountains - variations of the "Fountain of Tears" of the Bakhchisarai Palace in Crimea. In the southern part of the hall, a mosaic is built into the floor - a copy of the floor found during excavations of ancient Roman baths. The masterpiece of the hall, of course, is the Peacock clock, purchased by Catherine II from the English master J. Cox.
Library of Nicholas II
The library, which belonged to the private quarters of the last Russian emperor, was created in 1894–1895 by the architect A.F. Krasovsky. The interior of the library, decorated with English medieval motifs, is decorated with wood and embossed gilded leather. All interior details and furniture, windows in openwork bindings are stylized as Gothic carvings. An important element was the monumental Gothic fireplace, decorated with images of griffins and lions - the heraldic figures of the family coats of arms of the Romanovs and the House of Hesse-Darmstadt, to which the Empress belonged. The coffered ceiling, made of walnut wood, is decorated with four-bladed rosettes. Bookcases are located along the walls and in the choir stalls, where the staircase leads. On the table is a sculptural porcelain portrait of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II.
- Well, where did you go for the weekend?
- Yes, I was in St. Petersburg.
- Did you go to the Hermitage?
This is what dialogue with friends and acquaintances looks like, isn't it? :) And not in vain...
- the largest art and historical and cultural museum in the world! The founding date is considered to be 1764, when Catherine the Great acquired a collection of 255 paintings in Berlin. Today, the Hermitage has about 3 million exhibits and displays the culture and art of different countries and peoples. They say that if you spend 1 minute to examine one exhibit, then it will take 11 years to study all of them.
The main building of the Hermitage - winter palace adorns the front staircase, called Jordanian. It received such a name, because during the Feast of Epiphany, a procession to the Neva descended along it, where an ice-hole was cut down for the consecration of water, the so-called Jordan. Previously, the staircase was called Ambassadorial.
It occupies the entire height of the building. 
Plafond "Olympus" - a picturesque illustration, occupying 200 square meters. 
Climbing up to the second floor we get into Field Marshal's Hall. A luxurious chandelier catches the eye. Portraits of Russian field marshals are placed in the walls, which explains the name of the hall. 
Petrovsky (Small Throne) Hall. Dedicated to the memory of Peter I. 
In the niche, decorated in the form of a triumphal arch, there is a throne, and above it is a painting "Peter I with the goddess of wisdom Minerva". 
Armorial Hall was intended for ceremonial receptions. One of the largest front rooms of the Hermitage. In the center of the hall is a bowl of aventurine. 
At the entrance to the hall there are sculptures of ancient Russian warriors with banners. 
The hall is surrounded by a colonnade carrying a balcony with a balustrade 
It was created according to the project of Karl Rossi in honor of the victory of the Russian Empire over Napoleonic France. 
On the walls of the gallery there are 332 portraits of generals who participated in the war of 1812 and foreign campaigns in 1813-1814. The authors of the paintings are George Dow, Polyakov and Golike. In the center is a large portrait of Alexander I on horseback, painted by the Berlin court painter Kruger. 
On the left is a full-length portrait of Kutuzov. 
St George's Hall or Great throne room. Official ceremonies and receptions were held here. Above the Throne Place there is a bas-relief "George the Victorious slaying the dragon with a spear". 
The large imperial throne was executed in London by order of Anna Ioannovna. 
Going to the Small Hermitage, we go to pavilion hall. The interior design combines various architectural styles: the motifs of antiquity, the Renaissance and the East.
Marble columns soar up to gold-cut stucco lace, from which gilded chandeliers hang. 
Four marble fountains - copies of the "Fountain of Tears" in Bakhchisarai Palace decorate the walls of the hall. 
A half-sized copy of a Roman mosaic found during excavations of the baths in 1780 in the city of Okrikulum. Here are the characters of ancient mythology: in the center is the head of the Gorgon Medusa, the god Neptune and the inhabitants of his sea kingdom, the fighting Lapith and the Centaur. 
Gilded watch. 
The main attraction of the Pavilion Hall is the Peacock clock. They were purchased by Prince Potemkin for Empress Catherine. The author of the machine was James Cox, a famous jeweler and inventor of complex mechanisms in those years. The clock was brought to St. Petersburg disassembled. They were collected by the Russian master Ivan Kulibin. An important feature of these watches is that they are still working: the owl turns its head, claps its eyes, and with the help of the bells that are fixed on its cage, a melody is played, the peacock spreads its tail and bows to the audience, and the rooster crows. All figures move as if alive. 
hanging garden in front of the pavilion. Let me remind you that we are on the second floor. 
On the Soviet stairs. The name is explained by the fact that the premises of the State Council were located on the ground floor. On the upper platform there is a malachite vase created in the middle of the 19th century in Yekaterinburg. 
Rembrandt Hall. In the photo, the picture "Danae", written based on the ancient Greek myth. The god Zeus, in the form of golden rain, entered Danae, who was imprisoned, after which she gave birth to Perseus.
An attempt was made on this painting in 1985. The man poured sulfuric acid on her and cut the painting twice with a knife. The attacker explained his act with political motives, but the court recognized him as mentally ill and placed him in a psychiatric hospital. 
big italian skylight. The hall presents an exposition of Italian painting of the XVII-XVIII centuries. 
Tabletop element made of 19th-century malochite. 
Sculpture "Death of Adonis". Based on the ancient Roman poem "Metamorphoses". 
majolica hall.
One of the two masterpieces of the hall is Raphael's "Madonna of Conestabile", painted in 1504. 
Knight's Hall- one of the large ceremonial interiors of the Small Hermitage. Here are the richest collection of weapons, numbering about 15 thousand items. 
Main staircase New Hermitage. 
panther in Hall of Dionysus, which was created for the exhibition of ancient sculpture. 
Aphrodite - the goddess of beauty and love (Venus Tauride) II century. It was found during excavations in Rome at the beginning of the 18th century. And Peter I brought it to St. Petersburg. The sculpture adorned the Tauride Palace, hence the name. 
Hall of Jupiter.
Sarcophagus "Marriage Ceremony". On all the walls of the marble Roman sarcophagus are depicted relief figures, revealing the plots of the wedding, hunting and life. And the cover is dedicated to the gods of Olympus. 
Statue of Jupiter, late 1st century. It is one of the largest antique sculptures preserved in the museums of the world. It is 3.5 meters in height.
In his right hand, Jupiter holds the figurine of Victoria, the goddess of victory. 
Hall of the Great Vase. Covered with a vault with stucco decoration, the hall is decorated with arched loggias and white marble columns. Even before the walls were covered with artificial marble, the Kolyvan jasper vase, more than 2.5 m high and weighing 19 tons, was installed. Work on its creation, due to its enormous size, was carried out right at the quarry for 12 years. In 1843 the vase was completed. First, it was transported to St. Petersburg by land, where there were up to 160 horses in a team, then on a special barge by water, and 770 people worked on the installation in the hall. 
Hall of Ancient Egypt. It was created in 1940, on the site of the buffet of the Winter Palace. The name of the hall speaks for itself: here is an exposition dedicated to Ancient Egypt, covering the period from the 4th millennium BC to the turn of our era. 
Bas-relief in the corridor between the halls. 
Hall of twenty columns. Two rows of monolithic columns made of Serdobol granite divide it into three parts. The paintings of the walls and the mosaic floor are made in the style of the ancient tradition. The hall houses a collection of ancient Italian art of the late 9th - 2nd century. BC. 
AT big yard The Winter Palace exhibits the sculpture "Snow Tower" - the image of a boy on crutches, carrying a house on his back, the belt of which strangles him. Author Enrique Martinez Zelaya says the main theme is "the idea of losing a child's ability to perceive the brilliance of the world around and the appearance of spiritual opacity, which is always accompanied by disappointment", the emigrant theme is also revealed in the sculpture. 
Oh no, going to the Hermitage once is not enough! After the first visit, only a general concept of the museum structure is created. It seems to me that the Hermitage is like "War and Peace" - a book that needs to be read several times at different ages so that each time a new meaning appears. Only you need to go to this world-class museum much more often and discover something new every time! 
The beginning of the museum's collection begins in 1764, when the German merchant Gotskovsky gave Russia his collection of 225 paintings as a debt. They were placed in the Small Hermitage. Catherine II gave the order to buy up all valuable works of art exhibited at auctions abroad. Gradually, the premises of the Small Palace were not enough. And works of art began to be placed in a newly built building, called the Old Hermitage.
Five buildings connected to each other on the Palace Embankment make up the Hermitage museum complex:
* Winter Palace (1754 - 1762, architect B. F. Rastrelli)
* Small Hermitage (1764 - 1775, architects J. B. Vallin-Delamot, Yu. M. Felten, V. P. Stasov). The Small Hermitage complex includes the Northern and Southern pavilions, as well as the famous Hanging Garden
* The Great Hermitage (1771 - 1787, architect Yu. M. Felten)
* New Hermitage (1842 - 1851, architects Leo von Klenze, V. P. Stasov, N. E. Efimov)
* Hermitage Theater (1783 - 1787, architect G. Quarenghi)
View from the Neva to the complex of buildings of the State Hermitage: from left to right the Hermitage Theater - the Big (Old) Hermitage - the Small Hermitage - the Winter Palace; (The New Hermitage is located behind the Bolshoi)
Big (Old) Hermitage
Soviet stairs Since 1828, the State Council and the Committee of Ministers have occupied the first floor of the Great Hermitage, for which a new entrance and a new Soviet staircase (architect A.I. Stackenschneider) were built in the western part of the building.
The interior is designed in light colors: the walls are decorated with panels and pilasters made of white and pink artificial marble, the upper platform is decorated with white marble columns. The plafond "Virtues Present Russian Youth to the Goddess Minerva" decorated the Oval Hall, which was originally located on the site of the stairs. The only accent in the interior is a malachite vase (Yekaterinburg, 1850s). The name of the stairs is explained by the fact that in the XIX century. on the ground floor of the building were the premises of the State Council.
Upper platform of the Soviet stairs
Halls of the Great Hermitage
The first floor of the building is occupied by administrative offices, the directorate of the State Hermitage. Once these premises were occupied by the State Council, and since 1885 - by the Tsarskoye Selo Arsenal.
Halls of Italian painting of the 13th-18th centuries
In the halls of the second floor (the former living rooms of the Nadvornaya enfilade and the halls of the Paradnaya enfilade along the Neva) the works of Renaissance masters are presented: Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Giorgione, Titian.
Hall of Titian The Titian Hall is one of the rooms in the Enfilade of the Old (Large) Hermitage, designed by A.I. Stackenschneider in the 1850s. These apartments were intended for noble guests of the imperial court. 19th century decoration preserved in the interior only partially. During the restoration carried out in 2003, the walls were painted to match the color of damask, which, according to archival data, was used to upholster the room. The hall displays paintings of the late period of the work of Titian (Tiziano Vecellio, 1488-1576) - the great Venetian Renaissance artist. Among them - "Danae", "Penitent Mary Magdalene", "Saint Sebastian".
Danae
Penitent Mary Magdalene
Hall of Art of Italy XIII - early XV century.
The reception room, like all the halls of the front suite of the Old (Large) Hermitage, was decorated by A. Stackenschneider in 1851-1860. The hall is an excellent example of the interior of the era of historicism. Green jasper columns and painted pilasters, gilded ceiling and desudeportes ornaments, doors decorated with porcelain medallions give the hall a special splendor. The hall presents works by Italian artists of the 13th - early 15th centuries, including Ugolino di Tedice's "Cross with the Image of the Crucifixion", Simone Martini's diptych "Madonna" from the "Annunciation" scene, "Crucifixion with the Virgin Mary and St. John" by Nicolo Gerini .
Madonna from the Annunciation scene by Simone Martini
Calvary Ugolino Lorenzetti
Hall of Italian art of the XVI century.
The hall was part of the outer suite of the Old (Large) Hermitage, designed by A. Stackenschneider in the middle of the 19th century. The interior decoration has not been preserved. In the course of restoration in 2003, the walls were painted to match the color of damask, which, according to archival data, was used to upholster the room. Now here are the works of Venetian painters of the 16th century, such as Jacopa Palma the Elder, Lorenzo Lotto, Giovanni Battista Cima de Conegliano. Among the masterpieces of the museum's collection is the painting by Giorgione (circa 1478-1510) "Judith" - one of the few genuine works of the founder of the Venetian school.
Jacopo Palma the Elder - Madonna and Child with Clients
Giorgione - Judith
Leonardo da Vinci Hall
The Double-height Hall of the Old (Large) Hermitage presents the museum's masterpieces - two works by the greatest master of the Renaissance Leonardo da Vinci - Benois Madonna, one of the few indisputable works of the master, and Madonna Litta. The decoration of the hall (architect A.I. Stackenschneider, 1858) combines light stucco with colored stone (porphyry and jasper columns, lapis lazuli inserts in marble fireplaces) and gilding. The hall is decorated with picturesque panels and plafonds. The doors are decorated in the "boule" style - plates of tortoise shell and gilded brass.
Leonardo da Vinci. Madonna with a flower (Madonna Benois) (1478)
The most famous painting in the Hermitage. Leonardo da Vinci. Madonna and Child (Madonna Litta) (1490 - 1491)
Loggias of Raphael
The loggias of Raphael are in the Great Hermitage.
The prototype of the Loggias, built by order of Empress Catherine II in the 1780s. the architect G. Quarenghi served as the famous gallery of the Vatican Palace in Rome, painted according to the sketches of Raphael. The copies of the frescoes were made in the tempera technique by a group of artists led by H. Unterberger. On the vaults of the gallery there is a cycle of paintings on biblical subjects - the so-called "Raphael's Bible". The walls are decorated with a grotesque ornament, the motifs of which arose in the painting of Raphael under the influence of paintings in the "grottoes" - the ruins of the "Golden House" (the palace of the ancient Roman emperor Nero, I century).
Small Hermitage
Northern Pavilion of the Small Hermitage. View from the Palace Embankment.
South Pavilion of the Small Hermitage from Palace Square
pavilion hall
The pavilion hall of the Small Hermitage was created in the middle of the 19th century. A. I. Stackenschneider. The architect combined the architectural motifs of antiquity, renaissance and the east in solving the interior. The combination of light marble with gilded stucco decor and the elegant shine of crystal chandeliers give the interior a special showiness. The hall is decorated with four marble fountains - variations of the "Fountain of Tears" of the Bakhchisaray Palace in Crimea. In the southern part of the hall, a mosaic is built into the floor - a copy of the floor found during excavations of ancient Roman baths. The hall exhibits the "Peacock" clock (J. Cox, 1770s), acquired by Catherine II, and a collection of mosaic works.
Eduard Petrovich Hau
Tutukin, Petr Vasilievich - Types of rooms of the Winter Palace. pavilion hall
Kolb Alexander Khristoforovich - Types of halls of the Small Hermitage. pavilion hall
Da Vinci, Rubens, Titian, Raphael, Rembrandt, Giorgione, El Greco, Caravaggio, Velazquez, Goya, Gainsborough, Poussin - the richest collection of masterpieces of world art is collected. What works are definitely not worth passing by?
Two Madonnas by da Vinci (room 214)
The incomparable Leonardo da Vinci is represented in the Hermitage (and in Russia in general!) with only two works - Benois Madonna and Litta Madonna. The artist painted the Benois Madonna at about 26 years old, and this painting is considered one of his first works as an independent painter. "Madonna Litta" causes a lot of controversy among experts because of the image of a baby, which is solved in an atypical manner for the master. Perhaps Christ was portrayed by one of da Vinci's students.
Clock "Peacock" (hall number 204)
The Peacock watch, which is very difficult to find without an excited crowd around, was made in the workshop of the famous London jeweler James Cox. Before us is a mechanical composition in which every detail is thought out with fantastic precision. Every Wednesday at 20:00 the clock is wound up and the peacock, rooster and owl figures move. We remind you that on Wednesdays the Hermitage is open until 21:00.
"Danae", "Penitent Mary Magdalene" and "Saint Sebastian" by Titian (room number 221)
The Hermitage collection includes several paintings by one of the titans of the Renaissance, among which are Danae, The Penitent Mary Magdalene and Saint Sebastian, made in a recognizable Titian style. All three are among the main works of the artist and the pride of the museum.
The Crouching Boy by Michelangelo Buonarroti (room 230)
It takes about seven years to see all the works from the Hermitage collection and spend at least one minute near each of them.
This sculpture is the only work by Michelangelo Buonarroti in Russia. The marble statue was intended for the Medici Chapel in the Church of San Lorenzo (Florence). It is believed that the figure of the boy personifies the oppression of the Florentines in the years when the city lost its independence.
Cupid and Psyche by Antonio Canova (room 241)
The Venetian sculptor Antonio Canova repeatedly referred to the myth of Cupid and Psyche, described by Apuleius in Metamorphoses. The love story of the god Cupid and the mortal girl Psyche, frozen in marble, is one of the most famous works of the master. The Hermitage keeps the author's repetition of the composition, while the original is displayed in the Louvre.
Danae and The Return of the Prodigal Son by Rembrandt (room 254)
The work of the outstanding master of chiaroscuro and one of the key artists of the Golden Age of Dutch painting is represented in the Hermitage by 13 works, among which are The Return of the Prodigal Son and Danae. The latter was vandalized in 1985: sulfuric acid was poured onto the canvas. Fortunately, the masterpiece was restored.
Perseus and Andromeda by Peter Paul Rubens (room 247)
There are many Rubens in the Hermitage - 22 paintings and 19 sketches. Among the most striking works is the painting "Perseus and Andromeda", which was based on the famous ancient myth. Every detail of the canvas sings of beauty, strength and health, proclaims the triumph of light over dark.
Ancient Roman sculpture (rooms 107, 109 and 114)
On the first floor of the New Hermitage you can get acquainted with a magnificent collection of ancient Roman sculpture. The works, which are a repetition of ancient Greek masterpieces, are shown in the halls of Dionysus, Jupiter and Hercules. One of the most famous sculptures is the majestic statue of Jupiter.
The most luxurious halls of the Hermitage
As in any museum located in the former royal residence, the Hermitage is interesting not only for the exhibits, but also for the interiors. The leading architects of the era - Auguste Montferrand, Vasily Stasov, Giacomo Quarenghi, Andrey Stackenschneider and others - worked on decorating the halls of the Winter Palace.
Petrovsky (Small Throne) Hall (No. 194)
The incredibly beautiful hall, designed by Auguste Montferrand, was intended for small receptions. The interior decoration - a lot of gold and red colors, double-headed eagles, crowns, imperial monogram. The central place is given to the throne of Peter the Great.
Armorial Hall (No. 195)
The Armorial Hall, designed by Vasily Stasov, served for ceremonial events. The decoration is dominated by the golden color, the room is illuminated by massive chandeliers, on which, if you look closely, you can see the coats of arms of Russian cities.
The total length of the halls of the Hermitage is about 25 kilometers
Georgievsky (Large Throne) Hall (No. 198)
The main hall of the Winter Palace, where large official ceremonies were held, was designed by Giacomo Quarenghi, and restored by Vasily Stasov after a fire in 1837. Above the throne is a marble bas-relief depicting George the Victorious. In the interior, the image of a double-headed eagle is found dozens of times.
Pavilion Hall (No. 204)
One of the most magnificent premises of the palace - the Pavilion Hall - is the brainchild of Andrey Stackenschneider. Refined and harmonious, it combines antique, Moorish and Renaissance motifs. Large windows, arches, white marble, and crystal chandeliers saturate it with light and air. The interior is complemented by snow-white statues, complex mosaics, fountains-shells. By the way, this is where the Peacock clock is located.
Loggias of Raphael (room number 227)
The loggias of Raphael in the Vatican captivated Catherine II, and she wanted to create their exact copy in the Winter Palace. The artists of the workshop, led by Christopher Unterperger, worked on the creation of the gallery of murals for 11 years. The result was 52 stories from the Old and New Testaments. We did not forget about the elegant wall ornaments.
Skylights of the New Hermitage (rooms No. 237, 238 and 239)
The largest halls of the New Hermitage have glass ceilings, and therefore are called gaps. There are three of them - the Small Spanish Clearance, the Large Italian Clearance and the Small Italian Clearance. The rooms are decorated with reliefs, floor lamps made of rhodonite and porphyry, as well as huge vases - masterpieces of stone-cutting art.
Alexander Hall (No. 282)
The hall was created by Alexander Bryullov in memory of Alexander I and the Patriotic War of 1812. Decided in white and blue tones, thanks to thin columns and semicircular arches, it resembles a temple. The interior is decorated with 24 medallions that tell about the key events of the war with the French.
Maria Alexandrovna's private living room (room No. 304)
Another luxurious hall is the private living room of the wife of Alexander II, Maria Alexandrovna, whose interior was designed by Alexander Bryullov. According to his idea, the decoration of the room was to resemble the royal chambers of the Moscow Kremlin. The walls shine with all shades of gold, and the low vaulted ceilings with ornaments give the feeling of being in an old mansion.
Boudoir of Maria Alexandrovna (hall number 306)
A small room designed by Harald Bosse resembles a wonderful rococo snuffbox. The golden color here is combined with pomegranate, the walls are decorated with bizarre ornaments and picturesque inserts. Many mirrors create corridors of reflections.
Malachite living room (room No. 189)
The malachite living room was created by Alexander Bryullov after a fire in 1837 in the place of Yashmova. The interior features graceful malachite columns, marble walls, and a gilded ceiling. The hall looks both strict and solemn. The living room was part of the residential half of Alexandra Feodorovna.
Museum itinerary
What we have described above is only the tip of the cultural iceberg, which is the Hermitage. But, believe me, acquaintance with the listed masterpieces and magnificent halls will give you not only aesthetic pleasure, but also the desire to deepen your knowledge, come to the museum again and again, discover new exhibits and corners and return with pleasure to the already familiar ones.
Summing up all of the above, we offer you a route through the museum, which includes the most famous works of the Hermitage and the incredible beauty of the hall.
So, you are in the museum. Grab a free map at the entrance, climb the luxurious Jordan Stairs and enter the Petrovsky Hall (No. 194). From it - to the Armorial Hall (No. 195), and after - through the Military Gallery of 1812 (Hall No. 197) to St. George's Hall (Hall No. 198). Move straight all the way, turn left and go all the way again: you will find yourself in the Pavilion Hall (No. 204). Here the Peacock clock is waiting for you. Go to the next numbered room and move to room number 214: da Vinci's Madonnas are exhibited here. Next on the course is Titian, who can be seen very close - in room number 221.
Move to the next numbered hall, go a little forward, turn right, and you will see the magnificent Loggias of Raphael (room number 227). Of these, you need to go to room number 230, where the Crouching Boy is presented. Move through the Italian and Spanish art to room number 240. The next three rooms (# 239, 238 and 237) are the same gaps. Directly from them, go to room number 241, where "Cupid and Psyche" are located. Go through room 239 again, from there move to room 251 and go to room 254, where you can see Rembrandt. Turn around and go all the way (room number 248), turn left and you will find yourself surrounded by canvases by Peter Paul Rubens (room number 247).
Now there will be a longer passage: turn around, go to the hall number 256, from there - to the hall number 272. Turn left and go forward until it stops. Now - to the right and forward to the Alexander Hall (No. 282). Go to hall number 290 and move straight ahead (so that Palace Square is on the left). When you reach room 298, turn left and then right. Again, go straight up to Maria Alexandrovna's personal living room (hall number 304). From it, proceed to the boudoir of the wife of Alexander II (room number 306). Go to hall number 307, turn left and go all the way (hall number 179). Here turn right, then left and go forward to the Malachite Lounge (room 189). This is the last point of our route, at least on the second floor.
Go to the Jordan Stairs through rooms 190-192 and go down to the first floor. If you still have strength, look into the halls of the ancient world, which are located on the left side, if you stand with your back to the stairs. If you don’t have the strength, don’t be discouraged and come next time! Dionysus, Jupiter, and thousands of other inhabitants of the Hermitage will be waiting for you.
