Traditional Display of New Acquisitions at the State Hermitage Museum

It has become a tradition that during the last few days of the year the most interesting gifts are displayed at the State Hermitage Museum.

In 2007 as part of the Hermitage Days in the Armorial Hall of the Winter Palace, some amazing monuments, which have been added to the museum’s collection, were put on display for the public. These items include two vases which are examples of some of the best productions of the Imperial Porcelain Factory from the reign of Nicholas I, and two letters of merit, a bequeath from Prince N.V. Orlov; and also an Acinaces - the work of the Honoured Artist from the Adygea Republic Asya Eutykh given to the State Hermitage Museum by the Chairman of the Federative Council of the Federative Assembly of the Russian Federation S.M. Mironov.

On 27 December 2007, in the Picket Room of the Winter Palace several wonderful, new acquisitions were already on display. These items (two shot glasses and a wine glass) made by the Imperial Glass Factory in St. Petersburg, the dinner service (colourless glass, painting, 1870-1880s) made for the Imperial yacht Derzhava (Power), which belonged to engineering Captain of the first rank V.N. Grakhov (1892-1979) and given to the museum by the husband of his granddaughter Yu.V. Shtennikov.

The gift from the German collector Peter Rhein is unusual. It consists of six dioramas with historical, legendary and evangelical scenes:

• Battle with the Huns (Heinrichsen, 1890, cast pewter, oil, painting; wood, cardboard, gouache, gypsum);
• Funeral Procession of Emperor Wilhelm I (Heinrichsen, 1888, cast pewter, oil, painting; wood, cardboard, gouache, gypsum);
• The Pious Landsknechts (Heinrichsen, late 19th century, cast pewter, oil, painting; wood, cardboard, gouache);
• The Seven Swabians (based on the story by the Brothers Grimm; Franz Karl Moor, late 19th century, cast pewter, oil, painting, word, cardboard, moss, gouache);
• The Argonauts of the Golden Fleece (Lepeltier and Ludwig Frank, late 19th century, cast pewter, oil, painting; wood, gypsum, moss, gouache);
• Nativity of Christ (Heinrichsen, 1888, cast pewter, oil, painting; wood, cardboard, gypsum, moss, gouache).

Five of the dioramas will be displayed at the exhibition on 27 December.

Two shot glasses and a wine glass 1870-1880s Larger view

The Argonauts of the Golden Fleece Late 19th century Larger view

The opening ceremony

At the exhibition

Funeral Procession of Emperor Wilhelm I
1888
Larger view

Battle with the Huns
1890
Larger view

Nativity of Christ
1888
Larger view

The Seven Swabians (based on the story by the Brothers Grimm
Late 19th century
Larger view