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International Art Treasures Web Magazine April 2004 |
Hermitage Amsterdam Grand Opening!
February 28, 2004 is a day of historic importance with the opening of the Hermitage in Amsterdam, phase one. Many joint ventures over the years have culminated in a permanent residence for exhibits from the Hermitage St. Petersburg in The Netherlands. State Hermitage in St Petersburg, RussiaThe Hermitage conjures up images of Catherine the Great and her influence on art in historic Russia. The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg is Russia's best known and preeminent art museum. Originally this was the private collection of the Imperial Family that was nationalized after the Russian Revolution of 1917. Since then the collection has expanded to over 3 million works of priceless masterpieces of Old Master, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works of art. The State Hermitage comprises the former Imperial Palace in the center of St. Petersburg, the Baroque Winter Palace, the Neoclassical Small Hermitage, the Old Hermitage and Hermitage Theatre and the Historicist New Hermitage. The Hermitage Amsterdam
The first exhibit in the new museum features Greek Gold from the Treasure Chambers of the Hermitage, both visually pleasing and historically important in the development of art. This exhibit showcases the art of the goldsmith with bracelets, earrings, necklaces and laurel wreaths along with artifacts helping to explain the culture of ancient Greece. How fitting to begin with Greek Gold in 2004, the year the Olympics will return to Athens.
Greek and Russian Collective History
The Greeks as settlers sailed upon the Black Sea reaching the present Crimea and eventually founding the colony known as Pantikapeion in the 6th century B.C. The colony in this Pontic area flourished and eventually founded it's own kingdom that had a golden age in 4 B.C. The Greek civilization declined and it wasn't until the 19th Century A.D. that Russians annexed the area. The Russians excavated the area and the gold and other artifacts formed the Hermitage Collection.
Greek JewelryJewels were offered to the Gods and used as decoration for idols. This exhibit is specific to the funeral rites of ancient Greek culture thanks to the excavation of burial mounds by the Russian archaeologists.
Like the Egyptians the Ancient Greeks believed in including all items deemed necessary for travel to the afterlife. In one excavation, the Seven Brothers burial mound, skeletons of thirteen horses were included with the deceased. Personal jewelry was often found on the skeleton with larger pieces close as hand to ease the journey to the afterlife.
This exhibition at the Hermitage Amsterdam is arranged chronologically by burial site. Included are the oldest dating 6-5 B.C. from Olbia, the Seven Brothers Mound from 5 B.C., Kul Oba burial mound of the 4th Century B.C. and Kekuvatsky Mount also of the 4th Century B.C. The exhibition continues with Hellenistic jewelry, an excellent demonstration of the transition of Greek to Roman art.
Exhibition PlansThe Hermitage Amsterdam plans to rotate it's exhibitions twice a year. Scheduled future exhibitions include the collections of the last Tsar and Tsarina of Imperial Russia Nicholas and Alexandra and Venetian Paintings in 2005 that will include masterpieces from Tintoretto, Guardi, Canaletto and Tiepolo. Upcoming exhibition themes include anthropology, history and art. Education
The Greek Gold Exhibition is the setting for a pilot project aimed to bring art history to children through school participation in children's workshops and a talent class.
Visiting the Hermitage Amsterdam is a must on the list of any serious art enthusiast. Whatever the exhibit the trip will be worthwhile! |
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