Art of Memories: Curating at the Hermitage

The State Hermitage Museum in Russia, formerly the home of Catherine the Great's private art collection, is the largest museum in the Soviet Union and one of the most active museums in the world. In Art of Memories, Vincent Antonin Lépinay documents the museum's curatorial practices and explores the tensions between exploration and self-protection. He analyzes the ethos of Hermitage curators and scholars over the transition from Soviet to post-Soviet museum cultures, considering the mobility of art, documentation of the collection, and the transformation of expertise.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 14 May 2019
Publisher: Columbia University Press

The State Hermitage Museum in Russia, once the private art collection of Catherine the Great, has emerged as the largest museum in the Soviet Union and one of the most dynamic institutions worldwide since the collapse of the USSR. The Hermitage has established itself as a global exemplar for the collection and preservation of fine art, profoundly influenced by its imperative to safeguard both itself and its invaluable holdings from the outside world. In his book "Art of Memories," Vincent Antonin Lépinay offers a fresh perspective on the museum as a cultural laboratory, delving into the complex dynamics between its role as a space for exploration and its deep-seated commitment to self-preservation.

During a period when international travel was limited, a generation of art historians cultivated a culture of confined scholarship, relying on their proximity to the treasures housed within a museum enclave. As the Hermitage has gained increasing prominence on the global museum scene, its culture of secrecy and orality has endured. Lépinay examines the ethos of Hermitage curators and scholars during the transition from Soviet to post-Soviet museum cultures, exploring the mobility of art, the documentation of collections, and the transformation of expertise. Drawing upon his exceptional access to the Hermitage and the scholars who work there, "Art of Memories" provides a captivating glimpse into the inner workings of one of the world's most renowned museums, shedding light on the processes that shape art history. This essential study is of utmost interest to readers who are keenly interested in the interplay between external forces and culture, organizations, and the production of knowledge.

Weight: 348g
Dimension: 140 x 215 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231191890