The educational program Art Semester in the Hermitage has already become a good tradition. For two days, 11-12 July, the exhibition hall of the Youth Educational Centre of the State Hermitage displayed works by American students who participated in this annual joint program between the State Hermitage and the Rhode Island School of Design (USA).

Year after year, students come for six weeks of study in June and July devoted to the history of Russian and Western European art in exhibitions of the Hermitage and other museums of St Petersburg. They visit the ateliers of artists and become acquainted with monuments of history and culture in Moscow and Novgorod. They express their impressions of Russia, interesting encounters, lectures and studies in their personal works of art.

During their stay in St Petersburg time is divided between an academic program and work in the studio. During these six productive weeks of work, the students create copies and sketches of well known canvases on display in the many museums. They also make their own unique works reflecting their mastery and technique at painting and graphics.

The student works all presented images filled with bright colors, air and light whatever the technique used. The students explain this by the fact that for them Petersburg is a bright city that is full of life and emotions.

The exhibition In the Shade of the Hermitage only lasted two days and it offered visitors a unique chance to acquaint themselves with the impressions of Russia, its history and culture held by American art students. It may be that these young people will soon play an important role in the world of contemporary art.

At work in an atelier

Opening of the exhibition

Works by the students

At the exhibition

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