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Hermitage Magazine, Winter 2004-2005,
No. 3 Letter from the Director of the State Hermitage The topic for this issue of the magazine, Russia's return to the international art market, became possible thanks to the introduction of a market economy in our country, the results of which took some time to be felt. Alongside a multitude of benefits for our people, the market economy also created a multitude of problems. At present the art market is developing mightily together with the rest of the market economy and this puts in jeopardy the security of places where archeological excavations are going on, posing a threat also to the archeological heritage of our country. For more than two hundred years, archeology has been an important part of the life of the Hermitage. It was an important source of additions to the Hermitage collections and to the permanent displays in the rooms of the museum. Many directors of the Hermitage were trained as archeologists and the museum's accomplishments in this area were long ago recognized both in Russia and abroad. The mission of the State Hermitage's Department of Archeology is to study and reveal the very important historical aspects of the Hermitage collections, among them: the origin of the Russian state, Scythian culture and the Greek settlements on the Black Sea. One can also name the great Silk Route, the state of Urartu, the sensational discoveries in Penjikent and the ancient cities of Yemen. Hermitage employees presently direct around 15 archeological expeditions working in many areas around the world. The amazing discoveries of our archeologists have made human knowledge more profound. They revealed the previously unknown history of many peoples and helped them to make sense of statehood. The protection of historical monuments has always been one of the obligations of scholars. During the Soviet regime, monuments had to be safeguarded from the catastrophic consequences of major state construction projects. Many archeological expeditions were conducted in places where large dams or artificial lakes were being created. Moreover, monuments had to be protected from large-scale architectural projects in cities. Russians are proud that St Petersburg is one of the few cities in Europe which was able to preserve its historic center. Today the Hermitage plays an important role in developing a new legal system for saving our cultural heritage. New times have come and with them new tasks and concerns have emerged. Under a market economy, money is considered to be the chief criterion for evaluating all issues and the officials managing the public sector often are precisely those who are indifferent to the fate of monuments. Among the new problems to have arisen, one must mention the plundering of archeological sites by archeologists working outside the profession. During last year's session of the State Council, the Hermitage raised this question and our voice was heard. During the recent reorganization of the government, a new department was created, charged with the task of monitoring the execution of laws in the field of culture. This state service has the means and legal rights to safeguard archeological and architectural monuments. There is a lot still to be done. One of the major issues being discussed at present is the sale of historic buildings to private companies and individuals. The Hermitage has taken an active part in developing laws that should contain strict rules for saving our historical legacy not only from the state but also from private property owners. The Hermitage was able to create a special Department on Museum Management and Protection of Monuments in St Petersburg University. Many of its instructors are employees of the Hermitage and the Russian Museum. As the Director of the Hermitage, I have chaired this department. We hope that the museums of St Petersburg will become training grounds for young scholars, as well as for broadly educated and enlightened statesmen and managers of the future. These are the people who will be responsible for safeguarding our cultural heritage, including the Hermitage itself, for future generations. Mikhail Piotrovsky Contents of the magazine: From the Editor-in-Chief Letter from Sponsors News from the Hermitage Two new Hermitage museums have opened in the Konstantinovsky Palace; the return of the Kabakovs; a temporary Rubens exhibition in the Hermitage; celebrating the 10th anniversary of the International Consultative Council; storerooms are opened to visitors; copyists working in the Hermitage Hermitage Biographies Vladislav Mikhailovich Glinka, former chief curator of the Department of History of Russian Culture, State Hermitage Around Russia New books devoted to German silver and to the celebrated private collections of pre-Revolutionary Russia; Russia's art market for modern art; films which continue the tradition of Russian epic landscapes; honoring ballet legends; an art semester in the Hermitage's Youth Centre Main Topics What Russian capital can do for art New times, new acquisitions The sensational acquisition of Emperor Alexander III Russia enhances Sotheby's revenues from auctions Russians in...Monte Carlo Dutch silver in the Hermitage Count Panza's view of 20th century art Hermitage Excavations The plundering of ancient kurgans and the market in forgeries Underwater archeology of the State Hermitage King of demons Friends of the Hermitage Images of Canada; Dutch Friends of the Hermitage; a group of Friends of the Islamic Collection of the Hermitage is formed; new Hermitage DVDs Events Exhibitions from November, 2004 to May, 2005 My Hermitage Richard Oldenburg, Honorary Chairman of Sotheby's in New York and former Director of the Museum of Modern Art in New York |
 Hermitage Magazine, Winter 2004-2005, No. 3 |
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