This collection of Russian art acquired by the Hermitage is distinguished by superb workmanship.
V.I. Hau
Portrait of Natalia Nikolayevna Pushkina
1844
In late 2009, the State Hermitage Museum acquired a remarkable collection of water-colours of the 19th century and a collection of Russian porcelain of the 18th century from the famous Popoff & Co Paris gallery owner - Maurice Baruch. The collection of the Popoff gallery, one of the most famous in the world, is distinguished by its flawless selection of perfectly preserved painting, the graphic and applied arts.
The foundation of this gallery was laid by Alexander Alexandrovich Popov (1880-1964), a devoted lover of 18th century Russian art. A.A. Popov was a staff officer and participant in the First World War. He emigrated to France in 1919 and, one year later, opened an antiques shop in Paris opposite the Elysee Palace. Pieces of exceptional artistic significance began to accumulate there. In 1935, the gallery was awarded the Paris grand prix for the tremendously high quality of the work exhibited there. Many items in the French collection are well known; they were successfully shown at various international exhibits and were published more than once.
The collection of graphic arts acquired by the Hermitage amounts to 92 pieces, water-colour portraits from the first half of the 19th century, the heyday of that genre. They include works by leading Russian and Western masters: P.F. Sokolov (1791-1848), V.I. Hau (1816-1895), K.P. Bryullov (1799-1852), A.P. Bryullov (1798-1887), O.A. Kiprensky (1782-1836), A.O. Orlowski (1777-1832), K.K. Hampeln (1794-1880), and F. Kruger (1797-1857). This was the first time in many decades the State Hermitage Museum's collection was appended with drawings and water-colours by such a remarkable portrait gallery.
The Popoff & Co. porcelain collection include unique products of the Imperial Porcelain Factory in St. Petersburg and the F.Ya. Gardner Porcelain Factory near Moscow, as well as so-called "rossika" (European porcelain for the Russian palace).
The most interesting period of Russian art is represented by the imperial porcelain of the time of Elizaveta Petrovna, Catherine the Great and Paul I. The porcelain pieces from the 18th century include some unique sets: snuff boxes, grand services, gift cups and small molded items.
