From July 21, 2021, the Apollo Hall of the Winter Palace presents
"The Beautiful Gardener - Madonna and Child and John the Baptist Raphael Santi (1483-1520).
This masterpiece is among the first works by Raphael to arrive in France and is the jewel of the Louvre collection. The unique painting was awaited in the Hermitage back in December 2020, when it was to become part of the exhibition "Raphael's Line. 1520-2020". Because of the restrictions associated with the pandemic, the Beautiful Gardener has arrived in St. Petersburg only now, but thanks to this large-scale project "Raphael's Line. 1520-2020" was continued with an exhibition of one painting from the series "Masterpieces of the Museums of the World at the Hermitage".
"The front niche in the "Raphael Line" exhibition perfectly fulfilled its role as an empty space with meaning. Today it is a symbol of the museum community's fidelity to its promises, even in the face of force majeure. We are grateful to the brotherly Louvre for the opportunity to admire the Beautiful Gardener in Hermitage style - privately," said Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director General of the State Hermitage.
Prepared on the materials of the official site of the museum
State Hermitage Museum.