While being on the trip to Saint Petersburg, I was capturing and posting my photo updates via Instagram app. However, some “squares” have never been published. This post contains all taken Instagram pictures, including photos of Saint Petersburg’s cityscape views and masterpieces from the Russian Museum and Hermitage Museum.
***Just FYI, some interesting facts about the pictures of the artwork below:
- The Crouching Boy is the only sculpture by Michelangelo exhibited in Russia.
- The Madonna Litta, late 15th-century painting by Leonardo da Vinci.
- Danaë, Rembrandt’s painting which was attacked by a man in 1985. The maniac threw sulfuric acid on the canvas and cut it twice with a knife. The restoration of the painting lasted for 12 years.
- The Conestabile Madonna is a small (and probably unfinished) painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Raphael. Its name comes from the Conestabile family of Perugia, from whom it was acquired by Alexander II of Russia in 1871. The Tsar presented it to his consort, Maria Alexandrovna. The painting portrays the Madonna holding the Child while reading a book. In 1881, when the picture was moved to canvas, it was discovered that in the original version the Madonna contemplated a pomegranate (symbol of the Passion) instead of the book.
- Head of a girl by Marcantonio Franceschini, an Italian painter of the Baroque period.
- Venus Consoling Cupid Stung by a Bee by Benjamin West, an Anglo-American (from Pennsylvania) painter of historic and religious subjects.
- Portrait of a family by Konstantin Makovsky, an influential Russian painter, affiliated with the “Peredvizhniki (Wanderers)”. Many of his historical paintings showed an idealized view of Russian life of prior centuries.
- Portrait of Countess A.A.Chernyshova by Stefano Torelli, an Italian painter who in 1762 was summoned to the Russian court where he painted ceilings in the Royal Palace and some portraits of the Russian imperial family and aristocracy. He died in St. Petersburg.
- Portrait of Peter the Great by Unknown Artist.
- The Monument to Nicholas I. unveiled on July 7th 1859, the six-meter statue was a technical wonder of its time. It was the first equestrian statue in Europe with only two support points (the rear hooves of the horse). Around the base are allegorical statues of Justice, Force, Wisdom and Belief modeled on Nicholas I’s wife Alexandra Feodorovna (Charlotte of Prussia) and daughters Maria, Olga and Alexandra.
Click on image to view full size.
gmeanm3r
Such a great informative post! Thank you for sharing the piece of art and history!
Thanks, Masha! so glad you liked it!
Memographer recently posted..The Pigeons of Notre Dame de Paris