«Treasures and Secrets of the Winter Palace»

The State Hermitage Museum

On October 1, the Russian House in Brussels invites guests to the lecture “The Hermitage and the Viewer: A Contemporary Look at the Traditional Museum” and to the opening of the exhibition “Hermitage. Solitude.”

Language: Russian/French

The State Hermitage is a true treasure house of world art and culture, an encyclopedic museum that presents works ranging from antiquity to contemporary art. Yet the Hermitage is not only the guardian of unique collections, but also the keeper of many secrets.

The museum’s main exhibition is housed in the Winter Palace — the imperial residence built at the command of Peter the Great’s daughter, Empress Elizabeth. The founder of the imperial collection was Catherine II, under whose patronage the collection began to grow rapidly. All members of the Russian imperial family took part in enriching it. In the 20th and 21st centuries, the Hermitage’s holdings have continued to expand with new acquisitions.

Visiting the Hermitage is not only an encounter with masterpieces of world art, but also an opportunity to experience the history of the Russian imperial residence.

Yet as time and technology advance relentlessly, the question arises: should a traditional museum keep pace with modernity, offering visitors access to the latest achievements of science and technology?

These issues will be addressed in a lecture by Svetlana Datsenko, Advisor to the Director General of the State Hermitage. She will speak about how a museum with centuries of history engages with today’s audience, reveals the story of its collections, and what secrets of the Winter Palace continue to be uncovered even now.

Immediately after the lecture, the opening of the exhibition “Hermitage. Solitude” will take place — an author’s photographic project by Yuri Molodkovets, Chief Photographer of the State Hermitage Museum. The author will take part in the event.