Meeting of the Hermitage Friends' Club

On 15 November, 2001, the State Hermitage hosted a meeting of the Hermitage Friends' Club. The Club's members were invited to see the British Art Rooms closed to the general public because of restoration. Yelizaveta P. Renne, Custodian of British Painting, took part in the meeting.

The Hermitage collection of English art is one of the largest in Europe. Five small halls accommodated the permanent exhibition. In the early 19th century, these were the dwelling rooms of the Grand Duchess Maria Nikolayevna, daughter of Nicholas I, including her sleeping room, study and boudoir. Since 1996 these premises which were not initially intended as museum halls have been under restoration. The restoration of painted ceilings, gilt molded decorations and parquets has now been completed. A new system of lighting, alongside chandeliers, includes lighting of each painting and an original system of lamps within cases made specially for these halls. The collection of English silverware will be displayed in a separate hall in cases specially designed for this purpose.

After the works are finished, all the halls will be opened which accommodate most of the British art masterpieces from the State Hermitage collection including paintings, silverware, ceramics, medals, gems, clocks and other applied art specimens.

First visitors to the exhibition

Yelizaveta P. Renne, Custodian of British Painting

In the exhibition

New case design