Raphael Rooms in the Hermitage — online webcam

How the Raphael Loggias Appeared in the Hermitage

The Raphael Rooms in the Hermitage is not just a museum space, but an architectural replica of the famous Vatican Loggias. Its history began in the autumn of 1778, when Empress Catherine II, having caught a cold and being in low spirits, was browsing art albums and Volpato's colored engravings, after which she wished to have copies of the frescoes from the Vatican Palace. To realize this idea, architect Giacomo Quarenghi was invited, who created the Raphael Loggias between 1783 and 1792 — a masterpiece not only of museum interiors but of all late 18th-century St. Petersburg architecture.

The copies of the frescoes were executed in tempera on canvas over the course of 11 years by a group of artists under the direction of Christoph Unterberger, yet externally they look exactly like the original frescoes of the Vatican prototype. The main difference between the St. Petersburg Loggias and the Roman original is that the windows are located on the opposite side of the room, which changed the character of lighting and perception of the paintings.

Architecture and Interior of the Room

The Raphael Rooms in the Hermitage amaze with their harmony and thoughtfulness of every detail. Rhythmically alternating semicircular arches divide the ceiling into rectangular sections of equal length, each containing frescoes on biblical themes. In total, 13 vaults are decorated with paintings, which is why the Loggias are often called the "Bible on the Ceiling."

The interior is complemented by 12 molded laurel wreaths with the names of places where the most serious battles took place — a detail emphasizing the triumphal character of the room. High ceilings with decorative stucco, ornamented walls with panels, a checkered marble floor — all this creates an atmosphere of the Italian Renaissance in the very heart of St. Petersburg. Glass display cases with a collection of porcelain and ceramic tableware are installed along the walls, and paintings in gilded frames hang on the walls.

"Conestabile Madonna" — the Jewel of the Room

The central exhibition piece that falls within the webcam's frame is the painting "Conestabile Madonna," painted by Raphael around 1504. This is the last work created by the master in his youth in Umbria before his move to Florence. Despite its modest size — only 17.5 × 18 cm, the canvas amazes with the depth and elaboration of its images.

Originally the painting was executed on a wooden panel, but when the wood cracked, it was transferred to canvas — this operation was carried out by Alexander Sidorov, one of the three recognized geniuses of transferring paintings from wood to canvas. It was precisely because of this procedure that in the early 1930s, when the "Conestabile Madonna" was taken abroad to an auction, valued at 245,000 rubles, no buyer could be found for the "doubtful" work.

In 1871, the painting was acquired from the collection of the Counts Conestabile della Staffa for the Winter Palace, and later transferred to the Hermitage. Notably, the painting has retained its original frame with grotesque ornament, apparently executed from a drawing by Raphael himself.

Raphael in the Hermitage: A Unique Collection

The Hermitage holds a special place among the world's museums thanks to its collection of Italian painting. The museum's collection contains only 2 paintings by Raphael Sanzio, and the "Conestabile Madonna" is one of them. The first authentic work of the master appeared in Russia as early as 1772 under Catherine II.

Moreover, the Hermitage is one of the few museums outside Italy that can boast having works by both Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci. This makes the Raphael Rooms in the Hermitage a truly unique place for connoisseurs of the Italian Renaissance.

How to Find the Raphael Rooms in the Hermitage

The Raphael Rooms are located in the New Hermitage, on the second floor, and are numbered 227. They can be found by orienting toward the central enfilade of the museum. The exhibition is fenced off with rope barriers, allowing visitors to examine the interior details without violating museum rules.

For those who cannot visit St. Petersburg in person, the webcam in the Raphael Rooms provides an opportunity to see the interior in real time — from the frescoes on the vaults to the miniature "Conestabile Madonna" in its gilded frame. The online broadcast is available free of charge and allows you to appreciate the scale of the room, its architectural proportions, and the richness of the exhibition.

Exhibition Features and Porcelain Collection

In addition to painted masterpieces, the Raphael Rooms are famous for their collection of decorative and applied arts. Glass display cases with porcelain and ceramic tableware are installed along the walls, organically fitting into the Renaissance interior. Paintings in gilded frames on the walls complement the feeling of immersion in the era of the Italian Renaissance.

The ornate gilded display stand with a baroque frame, in which the "Conestabile Madonna" is exhibited against a dark burgundy background, is the compositional center of the room. It is this fragment that falls into the main online camera, allowing a detailed view of the miniature canvas and its framing.

What You Can See on the Camera

The webcam in the Raphael Rooms broadcasts a live stream with a view of the central exhibition of the room. In the frame is the ornate gilded display stand with a baroque frame, where Raphael's "Conestabile Madonna" is exhibited against a dark burgundy background. Behind the painting, the classical architecture of the room can be traced: high ceilings with stucco, ornamented walls with panels, a checkered marble floor. In the depth of the room, visitors examining the exhibits can be observed, as well as glass display cases with the porcelain collection along the walls. The online camera in the Raphael Rooms operates in real time, allowing you to see the Hermitage interior without the need to visit the museum.