RUSSIA - THE HERMITAGE - Chapter 2

On the second day it was to be The Hermitage. That we did visit on my first trip with Helena and Jorma. Today the building is pristine clean, gold leaf, marble and crystal. Once again we were taken to see the galleries we were supposed to see along with crowds of tourists. I jumped around trying to get a glimpse of some  impressive works but not being very tall, it was virtually impossible. As well we know, the museum is  one of the greatest in the world with enough to see to keep you fascinated for a week. We had a couple of hours. Pierrette was off on another excursion in the afternoon and in fear and trembling, I decided to come back to the Hermitage alone.

One of or crew members painstakingly told me - and drew a plan -  where the taxi would leave me - and where the taxi would pick me up. She added how easy it would be and that in case of a problem ask any
person in the museum or in the street for that matter. Everyone spoke in English. Extraneous information I assure you.

The taxi dropped me off and thanks to my Icom card, I was into the museum in minutes avoiding a very long queue. 

Place du Palais


Hermitage Gardens which I needed to cross to get in.


Place du Palais


Other views - it looks cold and it felt it!
And again...

Perhaps it is hard to believe but for the next 3 hours I was alone  providing I avoided the tourist galleries and the « have to be seen » rooms. I got totally and utterly lost and none of the surveillants had enough English to tell me where the modern section was - so I never saw it. That didn’t matter though. This is just a little of what I saw. 

Apparently one of the oldest in existence


Once upon a time they were candles!
Nicolas Throne


Rather difficult to wear?


George Dawe 1828: Admiral Alexander Shishkov



Portrait of Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna as a Child - 1790's








The Battle of Romans and Sabines - Tapestry - 1st quarter of the 17th C. The Louvre Galleries workshops (?)
Portrait of a Boy with a Book - Jean Batiste Perronneau1781
Winter - Etienne-Maurice Falconet -1771












Produmbent Roses (2014) Vladimir Kanevsky





One of the main gates...
Antiquity Gallery












Statue of Jupiter - Late 1st Century AD



Saint Raphael Lodge

Vanloo A Sultana Embroidering - 1782

Wall Painting : Noble Woman with her Retinue - 7th-8th C

Portrait of Sofia Stroganova (born Urusova) 1787

Unknown Artist: King Edward Vl Between 1547-1550
Saint Raphael Lodge
Altar Table (Great Semirechye Altar) 5th-3rd Century BC
Unfortunately there were not always translations for the Titles - ...
I stood in fear and trembling in the avenue waiting for my taxi…a car drew up and he pulled down his window. I said « for Maggie? » « Yes » was the answer. It was not for me at all although he did get me back to the ship at a great cost…

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Looking forward to reading the rest Mrs K...
17/10/17 21:44
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