From Peter the Great to Nicholas II: The Art and Culture of the Russian Empire from the State Hermitage Museum Collection. Ajuda National Palace, Lisbon, Portugal

On 25 October 2007, in Lisbon a new exhibition 'From Peter the Great to Nicholas II: The Art and Culture of the Russian Empire from the State Hermitage Museum Collection' opened. It is the first large-scale exposition to acquaint a Portuguese audience with the collection of the famous St. Petersburg museum and the first step in a long term, reciprocal programme of cooperation between the State Hermitage Museum and the Portuguese Ministry of Culture.

The State Hermitage Museum continually returns to the theme of Russian History. It organizes exhibitions which are dedicated to various periods and reigns of tsars - Peter the Great, Catherine II, Alexander I, Nicholas II. These exhibitions enjoy a high popularity both in Russia and abroad. However, this exhibition was specially prepared for Lisbon, bearing a retrospective character and is the first exhibition to show all of Russia's imperial history.

There are over 600 items in the exhibition - including paintings, sculptures, prints, decorative applied arts - which draws a picture of the development of Russian culture and art stretching from the 18th century to the start of the 20th century. Each period is represented by its most striking, most effective and most characteristic creations, illustrating the diversity of genres, styles and tastes, narrating the history of the Russian Court, the personalities of the emperors and empresses.

It is the first time that the Triumphal Column has been exhibited outside the State Hermitage Museum, conceived to honour the victory of the Great Northern War by the famous Russian inventor Andrei Nartov - the personal turner of Peter the Great.

A large place has been set aside for Peter the Great's brainchild - St. Petersburg, with its wonderful panoramas - numerous water colours and engravings depict the city.

One of the features of the exhibition is the significant number of memorial items, taken from the Winter Palace, the Romanov residence. Among them are unique costumes of Peter the Great, a uniform dress belonging to Catherine II, and courtly and festival dress.

The 19th century, from Nicholas I to Alexander III, is represented by parade portraits of Russian emperors and empresses which serve as a background for the wonderful items from palace dinner services and furniture.

The throne of Nicholas II and scaled down models of royal regalia, the work of the famous Faberge Company are displayed in the final section of the exposition.

An academic, illustrated catalogue has been prepared by the research staff of the State Hermitage Museum for the exhibition.