By:Marcia Abramson
Art historians the world over have designated the Louvre in Paris, the British Museum, New York's Metropolitan Museum and Peter the Great's Winter Palace or Hermitage as the depositories of mankind's greatest art treasures. Having marveled at the collections of the Louvre, the British Museum and our Metropolitan Museum over the years, it was a discernible thrill for me to complete the foursome by visiting the Hermitage on my recent Renaissance Cruise. The passengers were afforded the opportunity of visiting the Winter Palace 20 minutes before the opening to avoid the crowds by signing up for the three-hour shore excursion. We were provided with transportation and a very knowledgeable English speaking docent.
We learned that Peter started the Palace building in St. Petersburg with his heirs and their wives adding to it until there were 1,000 rooms in the four museums that encompass the Hermitage. Our three-hour tour gave us an introduction via the magnificent marble Ambassador's staircase which led to the upper landing of a passage to two resplendent state suites of the Winter Palace including the Small and Large Throne Rooms commemorating Peter the Great, the founder of the Russian Empire and the Russian Army's victorious rout of Napoleon. It was Catherine the Great who was responsible for some of the most luxurious interiors of the Palace to house her vast collection of more than 4,000 paintings and 10,000 drawings purchased from prestigious Italian, French and British collectors. I was told that she started collecting to show up Frederick of Prussia who could not compete with her financially and that art has always been a political weapon in Russia. Catherine proved herself to be a cunning player in the international arena by acquiring some of the world's greatest masterpieces. Today there are more than 2.7 million exquisite masterpieces and fascinating artifacts in over 400 halls in a complex of five-attached buildings with rooms of wondrous works of art by the great masters Rembrandt, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Rubens, Van Dyke, Fragonard, David, Delacroix, Renoir. Pissarro, Van Gough, Cezanne, Gauguin and Monet and many more.
I left the Hermitage with the awesome memory of seeing a fantastic collection of artistic treasures in the unbelievable regal setting of white marble walls with green malachite columns, huge blue lapis lazuli stone sculptures, beautiful mosaic tiled floors and enormous crystal chandeliers. I found it interesting to learn that the red-colored walls in some of the rooms was used to bring out the colors of the paintings and that the opalesque sky light windows were for protection from the sun.
I returned to the ship for a fast lunch at the Renaissance's Panorama Buffet. Then it was off to the Russian Museum at the former Mikhailovsky Palace designed by famous architect Carlo Rossi in the early 19th century. There, I saw a striking collection of icons and Russian paintings. Unfortunately I could not get to Petrodvorets, the Summer Palace of Peter the Great on the Gulf of Finland. It has a fabulous Throne Room, elegant dining rooms, and beautiful fountains throughout the private palace park grounds. There is also a Grand Cascade with three waterfalls, 64 fountains and impressive statuary. Another palace of note is the Catherine Palace, a gorgeous blue and white structure with extensive grounds built as a tribute to Catherine by her daughter. Lovely china and impressive silver is on display in the castle.
I could not leave St. Petersburg without experiencing an evening at the Russian ballet. I did not get to the Bolshoi, but spent an exhilarating few hours at the Ballet Theatre of Konstantin
Tatchkine watching a brilliant performance of Swan Lake in the majestic setting of the Officer's Club. We entered the theatre by way of a stately marble staircase leading to our seats in a small intimate auditorium. It was a sheer delight to observe the stunning technique of the dancers, their feats of elevation and classic artistic ability. For me, this was a rare opportunity to see Russian ballet at its finest. Everything from the orchestra, the sets and the costumes were superb and an evening of Russian culture that should not be missed. My only regret was that this fabulous Renaissance Baltic Cruise was coming to an end with my last destination, Stockholm. You can read about it in next week's column.
For more information on Renaissance Cruises, contact your local travel agent. For the Ballet, e-mail: Tatchkineballet@incom.ru
Copyright by Marcia Abramson
E-mail: mascribe@aol.com
