The great collection of The Hermitage was started in 1764 by the Empress Catherine the Great to decorate the Winter Palace of the Tsars in St Petersburg. The museum ranks with the British Museum, the Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum of Art as one of the world's finest. In almost 400 rooms are gathered together three million works of art, ranging from ancient Scythian gold to Catherine's jewellery, sculpture and paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Rubens, El Greco, Cézanne and Picasso. The museum also houses one of the finest numismatic collections of coins and medals.

The treasures in gold are astonishing, reminding us that the rivers of Russia and Siberia were ancient sources of gold. The gold artefacts are mostly in the dedicated 'gold galleries' on the ground floor, which are open only for pre-booked visits, normally at 12.15 and 14.15 daily. The guides speak excellent English and the tours take about 1½ hours. The five rooms offer perhaps the most concentrated displays of gold ornaments going back almost 3,000 years to be found anywhere. They are divided into three main themes: 140 gold items crafted by Scythian nomads living around the Black Sea from 700 BC; Greek ornaments from 50 BC to 200 AD made by goldsmiths living in Greek colonies by the Black Sea; and the Oriental collection of ornate gifts from India and China presented to Russian rulers between the 14th and 17th centuries.

The most famous of the Scythian treasures include the kneeling figure of a stag, its antlers spread all along its back, and a curled panther brooch found near the Altai river in Siberia, both of which date from the 7th century BC. A gold comb with 19 long teeth and crowned by sculptured gold figures of men on horseback fighting from the 5th century BC may be the most beautiful hair ornament ever created. A quiver for bow and arrows sheathed in gold embossed with wild animals and domestic scenes was found in a Dnieper river burial mound of the 4th century. A gold vase with figures of men leaning on their spears as they talk comes from the same period. And the gold death mask of a 3rd century BC ruler, Rhesouporis III, found near the Bosphorus, is reminiscent of the gold masks found at Mycenae, now in the National Archeological Museum in Athens. An extension to these gold galleries is due to open in May 2002 and will include other gold artefacts from Western Europe.

Elsewhere in the museum, Catherine the Great is remembered by her jewellery and possessions in gold such as snuff boxes, perfume bottles, clocks and watches. And Carl Fabergé, the master goldsmith who worked in St Petersburg from 1870, devising exotic ornaments for the Imperial family and rulers throughout Europe, is remembered by a special display of his creations.

See also: Hermitage/exhibitions and Somerset House/exhibitions.

The State Hermitage
38 Palace Embankment (Dvortsovaya Embankment)
St Petersburg
Russia

Tel.     +7 812 311 3465 (General)
          +7 812 110 9625 (Recorded info)
          +7 812 311 3420 (Exhibitions)

Web    www.hermitagemuseum.org

Open

Tuesday to Saturday 10.30 -18.00
Sunday 10.30 - 17.00
Closed Monday