A long narrow, overwhelming gallery celebrating the defeat of Napoleon. I suppose the simple layout of rows of identically sized portraits was the easiest way to keep all the generals happy - it also lends a neat ordered feeling to this space in contrast to the earlier part of the 19th century which was a time of chaos for Russia.
It took the English artist, George Dawe, 9 years to paint all these portraits.
Alexander 1 in suitably regal pose.
George Dawe also painted this portrait of the Duke. The Duke of Wellington was made a Russian field marshal and awarded the highest military decoration of the Russian Empire - the Order of St George 1st class - for his efforts against Napoleon.
The hall is used as the setting for official state ceremonies and receptions.
The double-headed eagle is the Romanov dynasty's emblem, here in the Coat of Arms of the Russian Empire.
An amazing parquet floor. So highly polished, it was difficult to take a photo without the reflections spoiling it.
This hall really is a fanciful folly, created in the 19th century to reflect various styles of architecture.
You can just imagine being told tales from the 1001 Nights in this corner.
Catherine the Great acquired this mechanical English clock, but it arrived in pieces with no notes on how to assemble it. It took a long time to get the birds to work correctly.
These gardens were built above the stables and link two of the Hermitage buildings.
Malachite is a semi-precious mineral mined in the Urals, so very patriotic to make large carvings from it.
Several of our Russian guide books like referring to the marvellous enfilades (i.e. the view through open doors) from their halls. When the palaces are so long, you can see why.
Though a copy of the original, it is still one of the greatest treasures of the Hermitage. An enfilade to die for?!
A small intimate work by the master. So much feeling in such a compact sculpture.
High dramatic Baroque.
(On a personal note:- I have to admit a sort of affinity with Mazzuoli's works. As a young boy, I spent many a long boring hour staring at his Baptism of Christ altarpiece in St John's, Malta during the masses there.)
