29.01 18:00

Language: Russian/French

On January 29, 2026, the first Hermitage Evening of the new year will take place on the virtual platform of the Russian House in Brussels. The event will focus on the famous porcelain services from the era of Catherine the Great. It was she who bestowed the porcelain manufactory in St. Petersburg with the high title of “Imperial” and designated her own monogram “E II” as the factory’s official mark.

The Russian ruler is honored through the highest monograms and portraits placed on the porcelain, as well as dedicatory inscriptions, allegories, and trophies. “Greek-style” vases demonstrate the artisans’ commitment to Classicism and highlight the technological achievements of the manufactory.

The evening will open with an introductory talk by Irina Bagdasarova, Senior Research Fellow and Curator of Porcelain at the Department of the History of Russian Culture of the State Hermitage Museum. This will be followed by a video tour allowing guests to see these objects firsthand in the Hermitage exhibition.