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.

Meetting of the staff of the Museum in the Hermitage Theatre

Press-conference of the Director of the Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky