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New Hermitage Conference
The New Hermitage Conference which was held from 19 to 21 February, 2002,
opened the celebration of the building's 150th anniversary. Two exhibitions,
Nicholas I and the New Hermitage, and Muenzkabinett at the New Hermitage,
continued the program.
The conference was opened by G.V. Vilinbakhov, Deputy Director of the
State Hermitage Museum, who said that the Hermitage was celebrating the
150th anniversary of the foundation of the public museum and construction
of its unique building. The celebration was an homage to the Emperor Nicholas
I and architect Leo von Klenze who created the New Hermitage, one of the
best museums in the world. Invitation to take part in the event was accepted
by many colleagues. Connoisseurs of architecture, Dr. W. Lorenz (Brandenburg
University of Technology, Kottbus, Germany), S. Fedorov (East European
Institute, Munich, Germany) and A.L. Punin (Repin Institute of Painting,
Sculpture and Architecture, St. Petersburg), discussed both technical
problems of the building's construction and the interaction of Leo von
Klenze with Russian architects.
Specialists from the Architecture and Archeology Department of the Hermitage
told about the prehistory of the New Hermitage revealed by the 1999-2000
excavations.
Restoration of the portico with atlantes was discussed. E.A. Tarasova
(the State Hermitage Museum) gave new facts about the sculptor A.I. Terebenev
(1814-1859) and his work at the portico with atlantes for the Imperial
Hermitage.
Presentations about the New Hermitage were also made by M. Herwitz, specialist
in European museums of the 19th century (U.S.A.), M.T. Maystrovskaya examining
architectural ideas (Stroganov University of Arts and Industry, Moscow)
and the art critic T.D. Ismagulova (Russian Institute of Art History,
St. Petersburg).
Several presentations of the State Hermitage Museum's specialists dealt
with the halls and exhibitions of the New Hermitage.
The musical finale of the celebration of the New Hermitage jubilee was
Donizetti's chamber opera Don Pascuale performed in the Hermitage Theater
150 years ago when the museum was opened.
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Georgy V. Vilinbakhov, Deputy Director of the State
Hermitage Museum, opening the conference
Presentation of S. Fedorov, East European Institute,
Munich, Germany
The conference
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