Hermitage – The Museum of Eternal Splendor

Article by Kenneth Leon Roberts

There are many great museums around the world, but none compares to the eternal splendor of St. Petersburg’s own Hermitage. The Hermitage is the greatest attraction in St. Petersburg, Russia. With over three million items in its vast collections, the Hermitage houses the most impressive display of art and antiquities. Part of the exquisite charm and splendor of the museum is not only the collections, but the buildings themselves that house the collections. The Hermitage is made up of five interconnected buildings. The largest building, being the Winter Palace, did house the Romanov Tsars from 1762 until the revolution in 1917.

The art collection was started by Catherine the Great in 1764 when she officially made her first bulk art purchase. It has been augmented since, and houses great artist’s works like Rembrandt, Reuben, Matisse, Picasso, and Gaugin. With a world-wide collection, you can find an impressive display, from the entire global reach of art.

With architecture, furniture, paintings, drawings, sculptures, books, coins, jewelry, medals, frescoes, and more, the Hermitage is an art lovers feast for the eyes. One can spend weeks, going through the vast array of objects. This display of grandeur makes the museum world class. It is by far, the best museum to visit.

One of the most impressive displays is the permanent Dutch collections. It houses artists like Goyen, Ruisdael, Steen, Terborch, Hooch, Ostade, and more. It is an impressive work of Dutch art. It is just one of the many international permanent displays.

I have visited many museums around the world. The impression I received from the Hermitage was by far the best. I will never forget the awe and splendor. When entering the grounds, there was a band playing the national anthems of countries from around the world. We stood and looked at the awesome beauty of the building and then entering the hallway of the Winter Palace. It was both breath taking and stately. I have never witnessed the sheer beauty of the way they laid out the objects of art. It was not a room crammed full of paintings, but an elegant display of wealth. The workers were professional and friendly, and the visit was wrought with interest from the variety of art specimens. It held one’s attention, and it was never dull or boring. The art could be viewed, analyzed, admired, and appreciated at length. The museum was spotless and clean, and the atmosphere was peaceful and relaxed.

Traveling to Russia was worth the visit to the Hermitage. It is a country that went out of its way to make us feel welcome and comfortable. The people were accommodating and hospitable. If I had, to sum up, my visit to the Hermitage, I would have to say that it is the best world display from centuries of art history. It spans such time and treasures of the world, and presents them in one place, that if you could only go to one museum in your life, it would be well worth it to visit this one. You would see a greater art collection, displayed in a world-class setting. Having visited museums while traveling across the world for 23 years on the road, this was by far the best.