245th ANNIVERSARY OF THE STATE HERMITAGE
Hermitage Days - 2009
The Hermitage -2009 in Photographs
4 December 2009 - 20 December 2009

During the Hermitage Days the Foyer of the Hermitage Theatre hosts the traditional exhibition the Hermitage - 2009 in Photographs telling about the events that happened in the museum this year. This exhibition is neither a PR event nor an official report on the work that has been conducted. By means of photography art photographers of the Hermitage tried to tell about the life of the museum, people who work here, its friends and partners during the whole year, day after day, from December, 2008 till December, 2009. ’December border’ has not been chosen by chance. It is connected with the Hermitage Days when the results of the year are summed up, and plans for the future are made.

Photographers show us that the State Hermitage is not only the largest museum of Russia. The Hermitage comprises educational and cultural programmes, concerts, performances and exhibitions that tend to become regular events of the public life of the Northern Capital. The museum also means the opening of the Hermitage halls after reconstruction, bold projects which bring to the world the knowledge about the historic and cultural significance of Russia. It is also a wide range of friends and sponsors including well-known politicians, entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, writers. Finally the Hermitage is a large, living and active team ensuring the functioning and development of the museum and conducting fruitful scientific, exhibition and restoration work.

A book the Hermitage in Photographs has been prepared for the exhibition. The book is a broadened catalogue of the exhibition. The events and people are in the focus of attention of photographers of the Editing and Publishing Department. These events are of different character and scale - from large-scale public events to small unofficial ones. The people in the focus are also different: from the crowned heads and princes of the royal blood to ordinary people, visitors of the museum.

The exhibition has been prepared by the staff of the Editing and Publishing Department of the State Hermitage, head of the department - E. V. Zvyagintseva.

The Project Partner of the Hermitage Days is LLC BDO Unicon.

Classics Days-2009 Festival at the Hermitage. Concert in the Hall of the Bosporus Larger view		Charity gala reception at the Winter Palace. Svetlana Kesaeva, Mikhail Piotrovsky Larger view
Tour of the roofs and the cellars of the Hermitage for journalists Larger view		Tour of the roofs and the cellars of the Hermitage for journalists. Vladimir Matveev and Valentina Orlova Larger view
Press tour of the Eastern Wing of the General Staff Larger view		Opening of the exhibition Treasury of the World. Jewelled Arts of India in the Age of the Mughals. Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Mikhail Piotrovsky, Andrey Busygin and Sheikha Hussah Sabah Al-Salim Al-Sabah Larger view
Opening of the exhibition Alberto Giacometti. Sculpture. Painting. Drawing Larger view		Michail Gur’ev at work Larger view

Hermitage Days 2008. Installation of the permanent exhibition of Western European silver in the Alexander Hall. Boris Kuzyakin
Larger view

Classics Days-2009 Festival at the Hermitage
Contest antique costume Gods and Heroes
The prize-winner of the contest AP Khrapov in a suit Hercules with snakes
Larger view

Tamara Korshunova.
Preparation for an art exhibition At the Russian Court: Palace and Protocol in the 19th Century in the Hermitage • Amsterdam Centre
Larger view