4: History of the Museum. "The Cabinet of Exemplary Products" I

Vase bearing a copy of Raphael's painting St George

1914

Designed by Adam Voitkevich. Painted by Nikolai Kirsanov; gilded ornaments by M. Peshcherov

Imperial Porcelain Factory and Glassworks

Porcelain, with polychrome overglaze painting and gilding with selective matting

This vase is the last monumental work of the imperial period in the factory's history. It was intended for display in the Peace Palace at the World Exhibition in The Hague, but was never sent there due to the outbreak of the First World War. In size (it is 160 cm high), careful finishing and masterly painting it is in no way inferior to the creations of the first half of the 19th century - the heyday of decorative painting of vases at the Imperial Porcelain Factory. The vase is adorned by a copy of one of the Hermitage's masterpieces - Raphael's St George (1504-1506) - executed by Nikolai Kirsanov. The Raphael painting was sold in 1931 to Andrew Mellon, the US Treasury Secretary who was a major art collector. Today it is on display in the National Gallery in Washington.