"Treasures of Catherine the Great"
2000-11-25 until 2001-09-23
Somerset House
London, , UK United Kingdom

Treasures of Catherine the Great are the subject of the first exhibition, giving an intimate picture of her personal possessions, her gifts to close family members and her many lovers, as well as diplomatic gifts. Probably the greatest collector of all time, Catherine the Great (1729 - 96) accumulated over 4,000 Old Master paintings, medals, jewels, antique sculpture and other works or art. She is regarded as the founder of the Hermitage Museum and remains its presiding genius.

The Hermitage Rooms at Somerset House

The Hermitage rooms at Somerset House offer visitors an introduction to Russias premier museum, The State Hermitage in St Petersburg, one of the four greatest museums in the world. The sumptuous collection is housed in the imperial Winter Palace, home of the tsars until the Revolution. Only 5 per cent of its 3 million objects can be displayed in the 10 kilometres of lavishly appointed galleries. Treasures unfamiliar to the public will regularly be shown in London.

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