I ogle the golden clock mesmerized by the glittering intricacy. Its elegant glamor is the fondant on the ivory and gold decadence of this balconied room inside the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia. For a moment, I consider what it would be like to own the exquisite machinery: wafting through the room as the golden peacock spreads its tail on the hour inside its gilded cage; hearing the crow of the glossy rooster as I stand upon the upper balcony. I imagine introducing guests to the glittering owl who blinks and swivels its head every sixty minutes and pointing out to them the luster of the miniature squirrel as he patiently waits for his nut. Only for a few minutes I picture this timepiece among my possessions. Then, I am glad it does not belong to me. Set in its splendor within the museum I can meditate upon the intrinsic value of this marvelous contraption then walk away satisfied. To have experienced it is enough for me.
The one-of-a-kind horologe is not the only priceless treasure the Hermitage holds. In 1764, in order to pay off his debt to Queen Catherine II, German merchant Johann Gotzkowski gifted her his collection of 225 paintings. This act inspired a lifetime of acquisitions for the empress, who would avidly purchase European sculptures, tapestries, and other valuable objets d’art to decorate her gleaming palace. Exotic interiors of malachite, lapis lazuli, and gold are set off by Raphael paintings, works by van Dyck, and masterpieces of Rubens, all of which she gained from auctions and through art dealers. Rows of old Masters hang from the silk draped walls, precious faience twinkles in the reflection of crystal chandeliers, and Baroque moldings give gravitas to classical statues along the many halls of the Hermitage museum.
Catherine the Great’s taste in art was impeccable, yet as I stroll through these glitzy embellished rooms I am curious to know if she paused to study any of what she owned, if she appreciated her trove. When she gazed upon Watteau’s “An Embarrassing Proposal” did she dream of English summers filled with pale rose-cloud skies? When she passed by Rembrandt’s “Return of the Prodigal Son” did the sight twist her heart-strings?
“Did the look on the father’s face compel her to pause?”
An ambitious woman, Catherine craved political power. She planned the successful military coup of her husband and alienated herself from her two sons, whom she disliked, in order to control the throne. In her private life, she joined forces with a string of young noblemen, none of whom met her cultural standards. She amassed a good part of the Western world’s finest artworks and was endowed with bountiful material wealth, but was she able to savor her acquisitions? Did she believe simply owning these Rubens and Veronese made her affluent or did she desire to understand the beauty and love behind these works?
While I appreciate the empress’s treasury, I am happy they belong to the public and not to me. I am grateful that I can admire them and then walk away from them, keeping only my memories on the return journey. I do not own gilded turn-of-the-century furniture or even copies of the masters to hang upon my walls.
“What I own is simple and it is enough for me.”
Perhaps by the standards of society that makes me unsuccessful, but by my standards I have obtained the wealth of many princes. Through my journeys I have experienced the sun’s role inside an Incan observatory. I have read the poetry of an emperor’s marble love story and tasted the honeyed history of a reticent culture. I have stared into the eyes of a wild beast and made friends with a giraffe. I have gazed upon enough jewels to last a thousand lifetimes. More importantly, inside an elaborate room of the Hermitage, I have watched the fog settling over Caspar Friedrich’s “Riesengebirge.” That is all the wealth I need, all the gold I require.
TRAVEL NOTE:
Since Catherine II’s reign, the Hermitage museum has added quite a bit to its collection. It now houses over three million paintings, sculptures, artifacts, and scientific devices. Among its prodigious horde are several unusual objects belonging to Saint Petersburg founder Peter the Great, including a traveling medicine chest used by the emperor who considered himself both a barber and a dentist.
Do you have a favorite museum that you have visited? What was the most powerful work of art or ancient artifact you saw? Is there a masterpiece you would love to own?
Bespoke Traveler 
Lovely post! The riches we carry within us are what count. (But I would love to visit the Hermitage one day!)
Thanks. 🙂 The amount of art on exhibit there was astounding, but a tiny portion of what they have in storage! Aside from the art, I think you would be floored by the palace itself which is incredibly extravagant. Probably one of the most decadent museums I’ve ever seen.
Catherine was an incredible intellect and visionary leader. The hermitage blew me away. Love your photos!
Thanks Cindy!
Reblogged this on yoursamrat.
Beautifully written. I especially liked how you pondered Catherine the Great’s appreciation of her amassed wealth, and then contrasted such material belongings with your rich wealth of experiences.
Favorite museums? The Musée D’Orsay, Uffizi, and Split’s Archaeological Museum (perhaps because the last one isn’t as frequently visited as others). Our time in St. Petersburg was so brief that we had to choose between the Hermitage and Peterhof. Next time we’ll certainly have to visit the former! Lovely pictures too.
Thank you! Likewise, if I am ever in Split I shall be hunting down the Archaeological Museum. It must have truly captured your attention to be in the same list as the d’Orsay and the Uffizi.
The Portrait Gallery in DC, hands down! The photo of Lincoln with the crack through his head gets me every time. 🙂
The photo of Lincoln you mention sounds intriguing and something we’ll have to check out when we travel to DC.
The Portrait Gallery is one of my favorite places on earth! I think because it is the perfect intersection of my love of art and my love of people. I have taken the “docent’s choice tour” so many times I can almost give it myself, but I keep returning because each time they pick a different set of portraits to highlight in addition to the standard tour (which includes Lincoln). So they always introduce me to a few historical figures that I was previously unaware of. I love it! 🙂 And to make matters better, there’s an amazing Greek fusion restaurant across the way! 🙂
Sometimes, museum tours can feel a bit stuffy or rushed, but from your description the docent’s choice tour sounds like a worthy option. One of our favorite haunts is the NYC Metropolitan Museum, but your love for the Portrait Gallery is making us really want to head to DC soon! (Also wouldn’t mind catching those stunning cherry blossoms in bloom.)
I love the Met too! 🙂 But the Portrait Gallery will always be my fave. 🙂 Yes the cherry blossoms are in full bloom…I was there two weeks ago right when they were opening up. 🙂
Wonderful. Thank you for sharing your travels with us. Fantastic blog.
Thank you for stopping by and for your support!
I’ve been there and it’s amazing…!!
Glad you enjoyed it! There is so much to see at the Hermitage museum.
splendid!
It’s fabulous beyond belief, isn’t it? But I can’t help a feeling of ‘too much’. My brain couldn’t take all that in at one sitting. But I’d like to try 🙂
I have a certain fondness for London’s V & A.
If you can believe it, I still haven’t made it to the inside of the V&A, though I spent awhile in the Brompton area!
Some rainy day … 🙂
The Hermitage is truly amazing. Something that surprised me when I visited, however, was the lack of care given to some of these priceless artworks – if I remember correctly, some were hung opposite open windows, poorly protected from the elements, and so on (our tour guide also felt that some of the artworks were not given the respect they deserved). I suppose that is what happens when you have so many masterpieces!
I can’t verify the truth of this, but I heard a story while at the museum that there was a Van Gogh painting thought lost for decades which someone finally found stacked away in the Hermitage’s storage facility. With so many treasures to account for and look after, the curators must have an impossible time giving each the attention and care it deserves.
A really pertinent question–and one I’ve asked myself a thousand times when wandering from room to room inside castles or fortresses or palaces: did they actually notice everything they amassed? And was it ever important? It is challenging to wrap one’s head around the amount of money and treasures locked behind guarded doors, all for the sake of being able to own and accumulate as much as possible.
I certainly hope Catherine took the time.
😀 Perhaps this is something only those of us without hordes locked behind castle doors wonder about….
Grand, grand museum!! Beautiful photos. Thank you for the tour!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Decadence was certainly the best choice of words for this visit. Though a great place to see I too wouldn’t want that clock – a dust collector in my view and who’d want it crowing every hour?
True! After awhile the crowing would probably get on one’s nerves. 🙂
I adore this museum.
Aaahhh, The Hermitage museum must be a feast to the eyes, the photos alone are fascinating, still wishing I could get there someday.