Paintings in the Hermitage

New York: Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 1990. Cloth. Fine/Near Fine. 12" by 10". None. A beautifully illustrated work on the art collection held in The Hermitage museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia Catherine II, called Catherine the Great (1729 – 1796). Under her direct auspices the Russian Empire expanded, improved its administration, and continued to westernize. Catherine's rule re-vitalised Russia, which grew ever stronger and became recognized as one of the great powers of Europe. Catherine's patronage furthered the evolution of the arts in Russia more than that of any Russian sovereign before or after her. Catherine had a reputation as a patron of the arts, literature and education. The Hermitage Museum, which now occupies the whole of the Winter Palace, began as Catherine's personal collection. At the instigation of her factotum, Ivan Betskoi, she wrote a manual for the education of young children, drawing from the ideas of John Locke, and founded (1764) the famous Smolny Institute, admitting young girls of the nobility. The State Hermitage is a museum of art and culture situated in Saint Petersburg, Russia. One of the largest and oldest museums of the world, and open to the public since 1852. Its collections, of which only a small part is on permanent display, comprise nearly 3 million items, including the largest collection of paintings in the world. In a red cloth binding with the original dustwrapper. Externally, very smart with minor wear to the extremities. Dustwrapper smart with a small closed tear to the top right corner of the front. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and clean. Fine