16 July 2006 was the birthday of the great Dutch painter Rembrandt, whose 400th anniversary is being widely celebrated by the State Hermitage. Within the context of the program entitled The Year of Rembrandt in the Hermitage, the museum was open on this day until 21.00, offering visitors the chance to see both its temporary and permanent exhibitions relating to Rembrandt.

The general public was invited to visit the halls of paintings by Rembrandt and his School, the rooms of the “Small Dutch Masters” and the temporary exhibition on Willem de Kooning. Late Paintings – an exhibition dedicated to the Dutch-born American painter of Abstract Art.

In the Rembrandt Hall visitors heard classical music performed by artists from the State Hermitage Orchestra.

Museum-goers were also able to visit the exhibition of Two Paintings by Mantegna in the Hermitage, which is part of the series of Masterpieces from the World's Museums in the Hermitage. Two works by one of the greatest artists of the Early Italian Renaissance - Christ, the Savior and The Holy Family with St Elizabeth, St John the Baptist as a Child and Zecharia - were sent here on loan from Italy and will be on display for just two weeks.

In the Rembradt hall