Hermitage Days-2011
Traditional ceremony to honor St. George's Day

On December 9th in the St. George Hall (Large Throne Room) of the Winter Palace, a traditional ceremony was held to honor St. George's Day.

On this day, artifacts connected with the Patriotic War of 1812, were presented in St. George Hall, since the 200th anniversary of the day of Russia's victory will be celebrated in 2012.

The items in the hall's display cases include:
Sabre with Scabbard made by the famous Russian weapons master Ivan Bushuyev in 1824. This sabre was made for Alexander I, and presented to him during his visit to Zlatoust. The blade is decorated with images of a two-headed eagle, ribbons, garlands, and the monogram "A I", and battle scenes from the time of the Patriotic War of 1812 consisting of a large numbers of figures. The guard of this sabre is made of gilded steel and embossed bronze, and the cross-piece is made in the shape of a two-headed eagle. In connection with the 10-year anniversary of the victory of Napoleon, Zlatoust craftsmen created a series of masterpieces that astonish with their magnificence.

Infantry officer's sword (St. Petersburg, 1825-1826, Master V. Shaff) which belonged to prince N.B. Golitsyn, a participant in the war of 1812-1814. The blade is covered with medallions with the names of the most famous battles of the French and Russian armies, in which Prince Golitsyn participated. On one side of the blade is a set of mail beneath a crown, the Prince's personal symbol, while on the other is a coat of arms and the motto "He who is not with us is against us".

A Marshal's sabre made according to the 1798 pattern (Paris, Master N.N. Bute, Klingenthal blade) was taken in 1814 in the castle of Marshal Mormon and potentially belongs to a Marshall of the Empire. This sabre is decorated with the symbols of the Napoleonic Empire; the handle is made of ebony with coverings made from silver and ormolu with images of flames and lightning.

General's ceremonial sword (Paris, around 1800-1805, Master N.N. Bute). Plate with five miniature portraits of M.I. Kutuzov and his relatives. This item is from the Kutuzov-Ovchinnikov-Tuchkov family collection. All of these portraits are dated to the 1810s. In the center, there is a profile portrait of the Field Marshall with text around the edge reading "he who saved his Fatherland is alive, is immortal".

A miniature, depicting M.I. Kutuzov with a map showing military operations in his hands, in front of a portrait of A.V. Suvorov, built into to the led of a lacquered snuffbox. This item is also from the collection of the descendants of the Kutuzov-Ovchinnikov-Tuchkov family. It was made in 1813-1814 by an unknown artist.

The ceremony was opened with the presentation of military colors and standards that participated in the battles of the Patriotic War of 1812: the banner of the Life Guards of the Semenovsky Regiment, the banner of the Life Guards of the Litovsky Regiment and the standard of the Life Guards of the Dragoon Regiment.

The Admiralty Orchestra of the Leningrad Naval Base participated in the ceremony.

Sabre with Scabbard, derivative pattern 1824 Larger image

Infantry officer's sword with Scabbard 1825-1826 Larger image

St. George's Day in the St. George Hall of the Winter Palace

Opening speech from the director of the State Hermitage

Speech from Georgy Poltavchenko, Governor of Saint Petersburg

Historical banners and standards that took part in the war of 1812

M.B. Piotrovsky and G.S. Poltavchenko

Marshal's sword, 1798 pattern
Around 1800
Larger image