

Days of the Hermitage -1999
It is now a tradition to celebrate on 7 - 9 December Days of the
Hermitage. The dates are not chosen by chance.
7 December is the day of St Catherine , saint patron of Catherine the
Great who founded the Hernitage.9 December is the day of St George - saint
patron of Russia.
On 7 December the programme was devoted to the staff of the Hermitage.On
this day Mikhail Piotrovsky spoke at the press-conference devoted to the
Days of the Hermitage and addressed the staff at the great meeting
congratulating them on this occasion. Concert of the orchestra St Petersburg
Camerata was held in the evening. After the restoration and reconstruction
the Pompean Room of the New Hermitage became the place where the exhibition
Applied Art and Crafts of the Roman Epoch opened on 7 December.
8 December was the meeting day with the Friends of the Hermitage. In the
evening the members of the International Friends' Club of the Hermitage
got acquainted with the exhibiton Realms of the Eagle (it opened
for the public the next day). At the ceremony in the Hermitage Theatre
diplomas and medals were awarded to the corporate sponsors of the State
Hermitage with the concert of the orchestra 'St Petersburg Camerata' to
follow.
9 December in St George Hall (Big Throne Room) of the Winter Palace
was held a ceremony of awarding State rewards to the members of the Hermitage
staff who participated in the restoration of the Rembrandt's masterpiece
Danae that suffered of vandalism. The leader of the group Evgeny
Gerasimov was awarded with an Order of Honour. In the General Staff building
opened the exhibition Realms of the Eagle devoted to the European
art of the period of Napoleonic wars. The Exhibition Hermitage in the
World of Publications in the foye of the Hermitage Theatre acquainted
visitors with books and articles representing scientific and exhibition
activities of the Museum.
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