Is the state art and cultural-historical museum in St. Petersburg; one of the largest museums in the world

The Hermitage is the state art and cultural-historical museum in St. Petersburg; one of the largest museums in the world. The Hermitage was founded in 1764 by Catherine II (on the basis of bringing the works of artists of the Dutch and Flemish schools from Berlin) (partially opened to the public in 1852), these works were placed in an apartment of the Winter Palace called "Hermitage" (from French yepsh1a§e - impartial place). placed. Later, large private collections from abroad (Bruhl, 1769; Croze, 1772; Walpole, 1779, etc.) began to be purchased for the palace. There were 2,080 works in the catalog of Winter Palace paintings; as well as engravings, collections of paintings, monuments of ancient times, Western European applied decorative arts, glyptics, coins and medals, books (Voltaire Library) began to be collected. Since the 19th century, the Hermitage has been enriched by objects discovered in archaeological excavations, accidental finds (including the famous Scythian collection). The Hermitage played an important role in the development of Russian culture. At first, visitors to the Hermitage were limited, and excursions were not allowed. After the October coup of 1917, the confiscated collections of the Strogonovs, Yusupovs, Shuvalovs and other Russian patrons and rich people were transferred to the Hermitage. The Winter Palace was gradually handed over to the Hermitage. During the Second World War, part of the Hermitage collection was evacuated, but the Hermitage did not stop its activity even during the siege.
The Hermitage consists of 8 departments: primitive culture, the ancient world, the culture of the peoples of the East (archeological monuments found in Central Asia, including the territory of Uzbekistan: sculptures of the Palace of the Khorezmshahs, monuments of Aritom, etc. are kept), history of Russian culture, numismatics, Western European art (Leonardo da Vinci , Raphael, Titian, Giorgione, Velázquez, Rubens, Van Dyck, Hals, Rembrandt, etc., a gallery of paintings; sculptures by Michelangelo, A. Goodon, O. Rodin; collections of paintings, graphic works, monuments of applied art), which organizes tours and lectures scientific and educational, repair (restoration). The exposition of the museum is shown in more than 350 rooms, and is visited by 3.5 million visitors per year.
The Hermitage consists of 5 interconnected buildings: the Winter Palace (architect V.V. Rastrelli, 1754-62), the Small Hermitage (architect J.B.M. WallenDelamot, 1764-67), the Old Hermitage (architect Yu.M. Felten, 1771-87), the Hermitage Theater (architect Hermitage Kvarengi , 1783-87), New Hermitage (architect L. Von Clense, 1839-52). In the early 1980s, the former Menshikov Palace (18th century) in Vasiliev o. was restored and given to the Hermitage.
Hermitage carries out scientific investigations: buys works of art, organizes scientific conferences, organizes archaeological expeditions, publishes scientific works, catalogs, albums and guides. Organization of permanent and periodical exhibitions, temporary exhibitions organized by foreign museums play an important role in the activities of the museum.
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