7 masterpieces of the Hermitage that are worth seeing in 2020

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Scientists have long proven that art has a beneficial effect on human health by reducing the level of anxiety and stress in the body. This is especially true for the fine arts and the contemplation of the beautiful. Therefore, in order for 2020 to be filled with a favorable state of body and spirit, it is worth visiting the Hermitage and seeing the most famous expositions of the museum.

"Apostles Peter and Paul" by El Greco

El Greco is one of the brightest and most original artists. Greek by origin, he studied painting in Italy in the workshop of the great Titian. He learned the oil technique from his idol and was also inspired by the artistic techniques of Italian Mannerism. El Greco stood out among his colleagues for the originality of the dramatically expressive style. In his portraits, he paid great attention to psychological characterization. In this painting from the Hermitage, the artist represents two different types of people. On the left is the Apostle Peter, who denied the existence of Christ three times. His face conveys sadness and uncertainty, while his gestures are tinged with repentance and supplication. The Apostle Paul, who, as you know, was originally a zealous persecutor of Christians, in the picture shows spiritual fervor in affirming the truth. The hand gestures that form the compositional center of the work express a dialogue that unites the two apostles.

The gray-haired Peter, wrapped in a golden robe, tilted his head to the side. In his left hand he holds his symbol - the key to the Kingdom of Heaven. Pavel firmly presses his left hand to the open volume on the table, his right hand rises in a gesture of clarification when looking directly at the viewer. St. Peter and St. Paul appear numerous times in El Greco's work, and they are depicted with striking consistency. The artist always shows Petra with gray hair and beard, and he often wears a yellow robe over a blue tunic. Paul is always slightly balding, with dark hair and a beard, in a red robe over blue or green clothes.

"Penitent Mary Magdalene" by Titian

The Penitent Mary Magdalene is a portrait of St. Mary Magdalene Titian from about 1531, with the signature 'TITIANUS' on the vessel on the left. According to the plot, this is a woman with a dissolute past, who, according to the Gospel (Luke 7, 36-50), came to the house of Simon the Pharisee to ask Jesus for forgiveness. It is a feminine figure portrayed by Titian with thick, concentrated strokes and warm tones. The palette highlights incredible eyes soaked in crystal tears. The copper blonde hair that covers the figure is amazingly written. The theme of the repentant Mary Magdalene, raising her eyes to heaven, gained great popularity in Italy in the 16th century among aristocrats, religious leaders and the wealthy middle class. The lack of clothing symbolizes the refusal of the Magdalene from jewelry, gold and worldly hobbies for the sake of faith in Christ. In addition, the golden hair and the overall figure of the Magdalene meet the standards of Renaissance beauty.

"Madonna Litta" by Leonardo da Vinci

The painting got its name from the Milanese noble family, in whose collection it was found for most of the 19th century. In 1865, the Russian Tsar Alexander II purchased the canvas for the Hermitage, where it is exhibited to this day. This work depicts the Madonna breastfeeding the Christ Child. Note the absence of ghosting in this picture. A number of Leonardo's canvases demonstrate this same feature. The figures are set in a dark interior with two arched openings showing a view of the mountainous landscape. An interesting detail: in the center of the picture, in the left hand of Christ, there is a goldfinch, which is a symbol of the passion of Christ.

The feeling of the joy of motherhood in the painting "Madonna Litta" is especially delightfully depicted thanks to the richness of the very image of Mary - here it found its mature expression of the female beauty of Leonardo. The gentle, beautiful face of the Madonna gives a special spirituality to half-closed eyes and a light smile. The composition of the painting is striking in its striking clarity and perfection. The Madonna and Child was a common motif in Christian art during the Middle Ages and continued into the Renaissance.

"Lute player" Caravaggio

The painting was commissioned by Cardinal Francesco del Monte, who patronized the artist. Caravaggio portrayed a young man fascinated by music: his gaze is full of inspiration, his fingers cling to the strings. The figure of a young man in a white shirt stands out clearly against a dark background. Harsh side lighting and falling shadows give objects an almost perceptible volume and weight. The objects placed in the picture testify to the artist's great love for the world around him, his desire to truthfully reproduce nature, to convey the material quality of every detail. On the notebook lying in front of the hero with a lute, the opening notes of the madrigal popular in the 16th century "You know that I love you" are written.

Love as the theme of this work is also indicated by other objects. For example, the cracked lute was a metaphor for love that fails. At the dawn of creativity, Caravaggio often gave young people feminine features, which, however, was characteristic of Italian art of the late 16th century. Interestingly, the musician from the painting from the Hermitage was often mistaken for a girl, and the composition was called "The Lute Player."

"The Lady in Blue" Thomas Gainsborough

One of the artist's best works, The Lady in Blue, was created by Gainsborough in the prime of his life. The figure of a young woman in an open dress made of transparent white fabric gently stands out against a dark background. Her powdery hair is styled into a quirky hairstyle. Large curls fall over sloping shoulders. The freshness of the youthful face is accentuated by half-open lips and almond-shaped dark eyes. With a light movement of her right hand, she holds the blue silk scarf. Grayish, bluish, pinkish and white tones here and there are enhanced with bright strokes, and help to convey the elegance and beauty of the model.

The boldness of Gainsborough's pictorial techniques amazed his contemporaries. So, Reynolds noted "strange spots and features" in the paintings of Gainsborough, "which seem more the result of chance than a conscious intention." It is this non-academic tradition that is one of Gainsborough's greatest achievements. "The Lady in Blue" entered the Hermitage in 1916 from the collection of A. 3. Khitrovo by will.

The Return of the Prodigal Son by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn

This masterpiece of biblical art once again confirms Rembrandt's status as one of the finest painters of all time and the greatest of all Old Masters in depicting Bible scenes. The painting The Return of the Prodigal Son, completed by the artist in the last years of his life, depicts a scene from the parable of Luke 15: 11–32. According to the outstanding art critic Kenneth Clarke, the canvas is one of the greatest paintings of all time. According to the plot, the father, like the patriarch, lays his hands on the shoulders of a shaven repentant son dressed in worn-out clothes. His eyes are almost closed. The act of forgiveness becomes a blessing of an almost sacramental sacrament.

This is a picture with the utmost spirituality, free from all anecdotal aspects, in which all movements and actions have come to a standstill. The scene plunges into darkness, like a tunnel, from which the faces of the father and his eldest son shine palely. Their red robes give this darkness a glow. Rembrandt has repeatedly painted pictures on the theme of the prodigal son, but in this monumental oil version he came to his most exciting and - thanks to the contrasting of the elder and the younger (prodigal) son - the psychologically most difficult formulation.

"Dance" by Henri Matisse

"Dance" is one of the most famous works of Henri Matisse - an ode to life, joy, physical rejection and a symbol of contemporary art. The piece was commissioned by the influential Russian collector Sergei Shchukin in 1909 to decorate his mansion. Characterized by its simplicity and energy, this artistic orgy left an indelible mark on the art of the 20th century. The dance was written at the height of the Fauvist aesthetic and embodies the emancipation of traditional Western artistic traditions. Henri Matisse's aesthetic choice for this painting caused a real scandal in art salons in 1910. Daring nudity and rough shades gave the picture an extraordinary character for that time, which in the eyes of some viewers seemed barbaric.

Matisse used only three colors to depict this dance: blue, green and red. In keeping with traditional Fauvist color associations, these three shades create intense contrast. However, Matisse's goal was not to shock the audience. On the contrary, he sought to unite people with each other and with nature. As the artist said: "What I dream of is balanced, clean and calm art that can avoid trouble or disappointment."