5. Большой (Старый) Эрмитаж: история создания эрмитажной коллекции/The Big (Old) Hermitage: the history of the Hermitage collection formation

Authors: architects – Yu.М. Velten (1771 - 1787), A.I. Stakensneider (1852 - 1860), sculptor- F.G.Gordeyev (1771 – 1787)Address: Naberezhnaya Zimney kanavki, 1The growing collection of painting and objects of applied art started by Catherine II demanded much more spacious edifice than that ot lhe Small Hermitage. In 1790 Catherine IPs collection raised up to 3800 books. 10 000 carved stones, about 3000 painting and 10 000 drawings. In 1 787 the building that got lhe name of ihc Big (Old) Hermitage was designed by Yu. Velten. The erection of ihe edifice was divided in two stages. Ai the first stage the ihree-storey building with 10 windows was constructed in 1776. After the neighbouring mansions of nobility were demolished the second building with 17 windows was creeled in 1784.The collection of the Hermitage was being enlargened throughout the history of its existence. Ну order of Catherine II the collection of books belonging to Diderot was purchased for the Hermitage museum (the philosopher was appointed librarian of his own library, and received money for that job monthly, after his death the collection was sent to Saint-Petersburg). D. Golilsyn, a Russian ambassador in France, acquired the masterpiece by Rembrandt - Return of the Prodigal Son. In 1769 Catherine II purchased the collection belonging to minister of Sacsonia Brulc (included 600 masterpieces of painting). In 1772 the collection including the masterpieces by Rembrandt, Giorgione, Titian. Rubens, etc. was acquired. In 1779 the Rmpress purchased the collection of Lord Walpole (included pictures by Van Dyke. Rubens and other outstanding artists). In 19^th cent, the works of an from ancient Hgypt and Mesopotamia, specimens of Byzantine silver. Coptic fabrics. Syrian vessels, oriental weapons, etc. were acquired for the museum In 1X14 a large part of the Malrnaison Gallery was bought from Empress Josephine (Napoleon's first wife). The Liitu" Madonna by Leonardo da Vinci's was purchased in Milan in 1866; the Concstabite Madonna by Raphael was bought in Perugia in 1870: the Benois Madonna by Leonardo da Vinci's was purchased in Saint-Petersburg in 1914. The last major purchase before the October Revolution was made in 1915 when the large collection of Dutch and Flemish paintings was acquired after the death of its owner - a famous Russian geographer and traveler P. Semyonov-Tyanshanskiy.A rich collection of painting kept in the Hermitage includes the masterpieces of such prominent artists as Titian {Penitent Magdalene), Giorgjone (Judith), Rembrandt (Return of the Prodigal Son, Danae. Flora). Rubens (Bacchus. Union oj Earth and Water), Cezanne {Girl at the Piano, Banks of the Marne, Mount Sainie-Victoire), Degas {Woman Dressing Her Hair, After the Bath), Gauguin (Woman Holding a Fruit), van Gogh (Memory of the Garden at Etten/Ladies of Aries, the Bush). Matisse (The Dance, Music). Monet (Lady in a Garden. A Haystack. Poppy Field), Picasso (The Absinthe Drinker, Three Women, Guitar and Violin), Pissarro {The Boulevard Montmartre in Paris. Place du Theatre-Frunc.ais in Paris), Renoir (Portrait of the Actress Jeanne Samary. Girl with a Fan) and a lot of other outstanding Huropean painters.Adjacent to the Hig Hermitage are the Raphael Loggias - the gallery designed by G. Quarenghi in 1783 - 1792 alongside the Winter Canal and decorated with the copies of Raphael's frescoes produced by a great artist and his pupils for the Vatican Palace. The gallery⁷ consists of 13 similar architectural spaces each of them being covered with a vauh. Every vault is decorated with pictures depicting the scenes from the Bible: the composition includes 52 items, 48 of which are devoted to the Old Testament, while four lo ihe New Testament; the general name of the composition is the Bible of Raphael. The portrait of a great artist was placed on the side wall of the gallery by order of Catherine.