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Customer Reviews of Hermitage Masterpieces

Breadth But Not Depth
After providing an overview of the Hermitage and the lives of Peter the Great and Catherine the Great, this series of 18 separate half-hour episodes attempts to provide a history of art based solely upon the paintings in the museum. That approach works where the museum's collection for a given period is strong (notably the programs on Egyptian and Dutch art, especially Rembrandt), but is far less successful in those areas where the museum's collection is weaker (e.g,, the Renaissance, Impressionism and Expressionism). The Hermitage is a fine museum, but it's not the Louvre. Its collection offers breadth but not depth. <
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>The narration is painfully bad, the narrator (R. Parsons) being a representative of the psychological school of art appreciation-he repeatedly makes inane comments to the effect of "We can see in her face exactly what this person is thinking." <
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>Of the 18 programs, the final one (focusing on Matisse and Picasso) is the best. Apparently the Communist regime allowed the museum to purchase Picassos, probably because of the strong stand he took against Franco. The Picassos in the museum's collection are both rarely seen and superb. Even Mr. Parson's commentary rises to the occasion. <
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>For the casual or first-time viewer of tapes on the Hermitage, the three-tape VHS set entitled "The Hermitage, A Russian Odyssey," produced by the Christian Science Monitor, is a better buy. Having viewed that, if you still want to see more of the museum's collection, you should then consider buying this DVD. <
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>If you're interested in an historical walking tour of the Hermitage, consider buying "Russian Ark," a 90-minute continuously shot movie of the museum. The extras on the disk (a tour of St. Petersburg, etc.) make it a special value. <
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Yes indeed, it is breathtaking
Hermitage Masterpieces is currently being shown on CUNY TV in New York. You will be blown away. Excellent closeups of the artwork with intelligent narration. It will open your brain. There is accompaniment of music to enhance the subjects, sometimes a little distracting but never mind. This is so rare an opportunity. Unless you live in St. Petersburg next to the museum don't hesitate to buy this DVD.