Bronze portrait bust of Peter I
Adjoining the Gallery of Peter I are rooms housing the material relating to the history of RUSSIAN CULTURE OF THE MIDDLE-AND THE SECOND HALF OF THE 18th CENTURY (Hermitage, 1st floor, rooms 187—173, 190). Here are paintings, drawings, and water-colours representing outstanding architectural monuments and giving evidence of the high level of the Russian architecture of the period in question; genuine works of art illustrative of Russian portrait and landscape painting; books and manuscripts of great value relating to the complicated social history of the eighteenth-century Russia; a number of objects representing different branches of science, of which the material on the scientific and artistic activitvity of the great Russian scientist M. Lomonosov is the most notable (Hermitage, room 186).
A porcelain cup and a snuff-box executed by D. Vinogradov in 1749—1752,
Porcelain snuff-box made in 1752 by
I. VINOGRADOV (1720 1758).
however small and unnoticeable if compared with the splendid productions of the later times, are of great importance as they rank among the earliest specimens of Russian porcelain, the secret of porcelain-making being discovered by D. Vinogradov independently of China or Europe. Hermitage. Hermitage, room 186. Special mention deserves the material relating to the activity of the Russian outstanding mechanic I. Kulibin.
Egg – shaped clock made in 1765 1769 by
I. P. KULIBIN (1735 -1818).
Testifying to the high standard of his craftsmanship is his famous clock shaped as a goose-egg and composed of about 600 details, including a music-box and moving figures made of silver. Hermitage, room 183. The most exciting however are numerous representations of the specimens of applied art such as stoneware, metalwork, ivories, textiles etc., but this formal enumeration gives no idea of the gaiety of the enamel and glass collection, the surprising workmanship of the Tula craftsmen shown in their steel-work, the elegance of the ivory-carvings or the sumptuous beauty of the silver collection.
Among the silversmiths productions draws attention a superb tomb of Alexander Nevsky, Prince of Novgorod and a prominent military commander of the 13th century, made at the Petersburg mint in 1750 1753 to commemorate the renowned general. Hermitage, room 190). The monument consisting of a pyramid which is a decorative one and serves as a background for the sarcophagus, two groups of arms and armour, and two candlesticks,— all made of silver, — weighs 1.5 tons and apart from enormous dimensions presents an astonishing variety of the manner of execution. Of great interest are bas-reliefs embossed all round the sarcophagus, depicting events from the life of Alexander Nevsky and his famous victories. The three scenes represented on the side of the sarcophagus facing the spectator are: the victory over the Swedes on the Neva in 1240 (whence Alexander Nevsky won his surname); the liberation of Pskov in 1240; the victory over the Teutonic Knights on the ice of the Tchudskoye Lake in 1242. All the bas-reliefs are remarkable examples of skilfully executed group compositions.