British silver Victorian show at the Hermitage
ARTinvestment.RU   01 января 2014

The exhibition presents about 100 pieces of silver, created during the 1840s - the end of the XIX century

State Hermitage Museum
December 8, 2013 - March 16, 2014
St. Petersburg, Winter Palace , room number 307

The Hermitage exhibition " British silver Victorian times ." The exhibition presents about 100 pieces of silver , created during the 1840s - the end of the XIX century, the period style of historicism , called in Victorian England by the name of Queen Victoria (1819-1901).

Last spokeswoman Hanoverian Alexandrina Victoria in 1837 became queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , Empress of India ( 1876 ) . Her reign marked a successful domestic and foreign policies , the prosperity of the economy. As a result, the country has turned into a leading industrial power. It was a time when society was actively interested in its history , as artists, architects and masters of arts and crafts revived the styles of the past. They appealed to the Gothic , Mannerism , Rococo as formal sources of ideas and motifs . Actively developed and naturalistic style .

greatest masters of the first third of the XIX century was Paul Storr . The exhibition presents he created a sports cup in the form of three horses' heads . This is somewhat unusual product is made in the style of early Victorian . Master combines elements of neoclassicism with a finely -designed and meticulously naturalistic form .

PAUL Storr Prize cup . 1832 Silver , cast and chased Source : hermitagemuseum.org

Lord Marmion ( London service ) . 1844 Firm " R. and S. Garrard » Silver , cast and chased Source : hermitagemuseum.org

In 1822 Paul Storr teamed with John Mortimer . Since that time the history of the largest Russian company XIX century - " Storr and Mortimer ", which is a result of changing partners in 1839 was called " Mortimer and Hunt ," and from 1844 to 1865 - " Hunt and Roskell ." Products mentioned companies make up a large part of the Hermitage collection in silver XIX century .

was significantly Garrard and Company , which since 1830 had the status of royal jewelers. They are made ​​in the neo-Renaissance style of " Queen 's Cup ", purchased by Nicholas I. In 1844 the Russian emperor visited London . In addition to official visits , Nicholas I got acquainted with the work of the largest jewelers and ordered a large London service , which includes products made by firms ' Mortimer and Hunt "and" R. and S. Garrard . " The Hermitage of this service , there are two groups of sculptures - " Royal Hunter " and " Lord Marmion ," which depicts a scene from a poem by Sir Walter Scott's " Marmion . Story of the Battle of Flodden , " took place in 1513 between the Scots and the English .

In 1851, the company " Hunt and Roskell " service was booked for the marriage of Grand Duchess Ekaterina Mikhailovna , granddaughter of Paul I, the Duke of Mecklenburg -Strelitz .

Queen Cup . 1844 Firm " R. and S. Garrard » Silver , casting, chasing , gilding Source : hermitagemuseum. org

Stand vase from the service of Grand Duchess Ekaterina Mikhailovna . 1850 Company " Hunt and Roskell » Silver , cast and chased Source : hermitagemuseum.org

One of the monuments is a gold casket , decorated enamel compositions performed by James William Benson in 1874 on the occasion of the visit of Alexander II in London . In casket stored scroll greetings from the members Guildhall City of London Corporation .

In the XIX century there was a sharp debate about the artistic value of the art of the time . On the one hand , fell accusations of bad taste , the other - the truth of life portrayed praised , great knowledge of old ages, masterful techniques .

Russian aristocracy yard and ordered silver products with the best masters . Thanks to this Hermitage won one of the most important collections of English silver .

The exhibition also coins with portraits of Queen Victoria. According to the English tradition , coins with the face of the current monarch issued for regular treatment for the next year after his coronation , so the first denominations Victoria dated 1838 year. Sleek profile young ruler was made ​​by the famous Royal Mint medalist William Vayonom . In memory of the 10th anniversary of the Board in 1847, he also created the so -called " Gothic crown ", where the Queen is represented in the guise of a medieval princess with a characteristic hairstyle and heavy crown of the British Empire. Portrait of an elderly Victoria - in mourning with a disproportionately small crown on his head , released on the 50th anniversary of the reign , - caused extreme disapproval of the public. He was soon replaced by a more solemn image 70 -year-old monarch on coins in 1893 .

Author illustrated scholarly catalog (published by " clean sheet ") and curator of the exhibition - Marina Nikolaevna shovels, Doctor of Arts , Section Head, Department of Western European art metal arts and crafts of the State Hermitage .

Source : hermitagemuseum.org