At the Russian Court ('Aan het Russische Hof')

The Hermitage re-opens its doors with the exhibition At the Russian Court - Palace and Protocol in the 19th century, bringing over 1800 objects together from the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. It is possibly the largest exhibition ever taking place in the Netherlands.

Era of the great Russian Tsars
The exhibit centers on 19th century Russia, where six consecutive Tsars reigned the empire. The first was the lesser known Paul I, son of Catherine the Great, the last Tsar was Nicolas II, who would become known as the last Tsar of Russia.

Court life
At the time, Russian court life was rich and opulent and this magnitude is the subject of the exhibition: the elaborate court protocol, the festive dances, the exquisite ballroom gowns.

Priceless objects
Among the objects are hundreds of formal dresses, paintings by Winterhalter and Repin, one of a kind furniture (including the famous Romanov throne), impressive jewelry (including piece by Fabergé), priceless and extensive tableware and the grand piano of the last Tsarina.

Court protocol and parties
One wing of the Amsterdam Hermitage is reserved for the official protocol with its public display of power and wealth, the other tells the story of the magnificant dinner parties, the thematic balls and the grand parties the Tsars threw for their guests within the doors of the Hermitage.