Masterpieces of the Hermitage | Italian Renaissance (Episode 1)

A 2011 Art documentary series directed by Vladimir Ptashchenko, with English narration.

This series contains 6 films about European art of the Middle Ages. Italian Renaissance, Netherlandish painting, Great Flemings, 17th century Dutch painting, English art, Golden Age of Spanish painting. The film will help to compare creations created in different European traditions and understand art in its various manifestations.

The Hermitage has a wide collection of Italian art, lodged in 30 rooms in both the New and Old Hermitage, encompassing its development from the 13th century to the beginning of the 19th century. The pride of the collection are works by the great masters of the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Giorgione, Titian and Michelangelo. The collection represents diverse artistic schools and trends in Italian art, as well as creative work of many outstanding painters of the time.

Of just ten or twelve original works by Leonardo known in the world today, Russia possesses two, both in the Hermitage: Madonna with a Flower (The Benois Madonna, 1478) and Madonna Litta (1490-1491). Raffaello Sanzio - Raphael - is also represented by two works: Madonna Conestabile (1502-1503) and The Holy Family (1506). In addition, there are copies of Raphael's famous frescoes in the Vatican Gallery, the Raphael Loggias. The originals were painted by the artist's pupils after his design in 1518-1519. Giorgione's Judith is widely recognized as among the artist's most perfect creations. Tiziano Vecellio, known as Titian, who dominated the Venetian school of art during the first half of the 16th century, is represented mainly by works from his mature period (1559-1570).

Other Italian artists whose works are exhibited at The Hermitage include: the revolutionary Caravaggio; the fresco painter and landscape artist Annibale Carracci, leader of the classical Bolognese school; the Neapolitan decorative artist Luca Giordano; the flamboyant etcher Salvatore Rosa; the Novaro artist Gianmaria Crespi known as Il Cerano; the fresco genius Giambattista Tiepolo; and the view-painter Francesco Guardi.