Henri Matisse At The Hermitage

There's so much great art at the Hermitage, it's difficult for an artist to stand out. Except for Matisse. Stroll into the handful of rooms that exclusively feature his fine work and be ready to be overwhelmed. The colors, the compositions, the bending of perspective, all of these elements create a hallucinatory effect of pure joie de vivre and absolute beauty. A sampling.

Frans Snyders' Market Paintings At The Hermitage

The Hermitage is so big, if you happen to have a half dozen or so giant genre paintings from 15th century Flanders, sure, there's plenty of room to hang them.

Covering a wall, the work of Frans Snyders is along the bottom.

Details from the various shopping stall paintings, featuring great details of overflowing products and animal mischief.

Looking At The Paintings At The Hermitage

So much to see. Sometimes it feels as if the paintings are looking at you.

Pondering Rembrandt. Or Rembrandt pondering?

Enjoying the details. Especially the mastery of satin by Gerard ted Borch.

And the gazes.

Pensive portraits. On the left, Andre Derain, Girl In Black, 1913.

Taking time to see the goat.

Exploring The Mighty Hermitage Palace

Sure, the Hermitage is a huge museum in the center of St. Petersburg, filled with troves of masterpieces spanning many eras. Days of exploration and appreciation are the price of admission.

Bonus, the building complex in itself is a giant work of luxurious art. The Tsars knew how to build, and how to live...in dripping luxury. Catherine the Great started the collection in 1764 and the Hermitage opened to the public in 1852.

Detail of the main building, the Winter Palace.

Joining the crowds, ready to gawk. The Raphael loggias.
Who wouldn't smile to live in such a place?

The palace is dripping with ornamentation and gold. And Large Objects.

A wall of military fame.

More rooms, more details to photograph.

And simply take in.