The Council Staircase

This staircase designed in the mid-19th century by the architect Andrei Stakenschneider connects three buildings - the Small, the Great and the New Hermitages. Light colours dominate the interior. The ceiling painting Virtues Introducing Russian Youths to Minerva by Gabriel Doyenne originally had decorated the Oval Hall that was replaced with the staircase. The malachite vase in the "Russian mosaic technique" was produced at the Yekaterinburg Lapidary Works in the 1850s. The entrance and the staircase owe their name to the meetings of the State Council held on the ground floor of the Great Hermitage in the mid-19th century.

The Room of Italian Art of the 13th to Early 15th Centuries

This interior, once known as the First Reception-Room, was part of the suite of state rooms of the Great Hermitage decorated by Andrei Stakenschneider in 1851-60 and used for accommodating important guests of the imperial court. The interior is a beautiful example of the Historicism style. The gilded ornaments on the ceiling and overdoor decorations, the doors adorned with precious kinds of wood and painted porcelain medallions add to the impression of majesty produced by the room. The hall features works by Italian artists of the 13th to early 15th centuries. Worthy of special attention among them is a wing of a diptych by Simone Martini (c. 1284-1344), The Madonna from the Annunciation scene (1340-44).

Madonna from the Annunciation, 1340-1344 Simone Martini, c.1284-1344

In Martini's painting the Madonna is depicted in the traditional pose of the confused Virgin listening to the words of the Archangel Gabriel, who has come to announce the birth of Christ. The right panel of a diptych is now in the National Gallery of Art, Washington. The image has a number of features typical for gothic style – elongated shape, golden background, flat image. We can also trace some features typical for Renaissance Art – Virgin looks feminine. There`s a suggestion that the woman depicted by Simone Martini isn`t an ideal human being, but was painted from a very real person – Laura, a beloved one of a famous Francesco Petrarca, an Italian scholar and poet, who happened to be a friend of Martini.

Madonna with a child, St. Dominic and St .Thomas 1424-1430

Fra Beato Angelico

Fresco Madonna with a child, St. Dominic and St .Thomas comes from St Dominic monastery in Fiesole near Florence. The monastery was closed (19^th century), the frescos (a piece of the wall) were cut out and sold.

Figures of sitting Madonna and figures of standing St. Dominic and St.Thomas are of the same size which isn`t very realistic but is a typical feature of medieval frescoes. All the depicted saints look very serious, concentrated, looking into themselves taking no interest in the world around them. Inner spiritual life and perfection of a soul of a human being – that is what seems to be most important to them.

New: Each character has unique individual features. There`s a suggestion that Angelico used the monks of his monastery as models. He was a monk himself. And his very name – Fra Beato Angelico means brother blessed the Angelic One (букв. «брат Блаженный Ангельский»).

This name was already in use during his lifetime or shortly thereafter, in reference to his skills in painting religious subjects. In 1982 Pope John Paul II conferred beatification, in recognition of the holiness of his life, thereby making this title official. (beatification /biˌætɪfɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/-беатификация,причисление к лику блаженных (первая ступень канонизации у католиков)

The Hermitage has two paintings by Filipino Lippi – “Adoration” and “Annunciation”. He started his career at Botticelli’s workshop and was influenced by him immensely. Moreover he is considered to be the most talented artist of Botticelli’s circle.

He worked with other painters on the frescoes at Lorenzo Medici's villa. Lippi was famous for his sophisticated style appreciated by Lorenzo Medici (the ruler of Florence of the period) in the 15^th century.

The artist is interested in spiritual experiences of his characters, which is well-demonstrated in the Adoration-scene (mid 1480^th). The earthly world here delicate and fragile. Pay attention to the landscape on the background, which includes sea, castles – ideal world. He paid great attention to the details – flowers, vases and prayer-book.