Italian Renaissance at the Hermitage

Q: Are there paintings by Leonardo da Vinci in the Hermitage?

Yes, two: the Madonna Litta and the Benois Madonna, both in Room 214.

Q: Are there works by Michelangelo and Caravaggio?

Yes — Michelangelo's sculpture the Crouching Boy (Room 230) and Caravaggio's Lute Player; both are the only works by these masters in Russia.

The Italian Renaissance collection is one of the summits of the Hermitage. Every great name of the era is here: Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, Giorgione, Caravaggio and the only sculpture by Michelangelo in Russia. The Italian rooms occupy an enfilade on the first floor of the Old (Large) Hermitage and the Winter Palace — one of the museum’s richest stretches.

Leonardo da Vinci (Room 214)

The jewel of the collection is the pair of Leonardo Madonnas in Room 214:

the Madonna Litta — the Virgin nursing the Child (about 1490–1491), from his Milan period;
the Benois Madonna, the “Madonna with a Flower”, an early Florentine work (about 1478–1480).

Fewer than two dozen paintings are widely accepted as Leonardo’s, so having two in one room is a claim few museums can make. Side by side they show how the artist changed in a decade — from the lively, almost domestic Benois to the grave, perfectly resolved Litta. This is the undisputed magnet of the whole display.

Raphael (Room 229) and the Loggias

the Conestabile Madonna — a tiny early Raphael (about 1504), painted when he was around twenty;
the Holy Family (the “Madonna with the Beardless Joseph”).

Nearby are the famous Raphael Loggias, a faithful copy of the Vatican gallery commissioned by Catherine the Great — a chance to see “Raphael’s Bible” without travelling to Rome.

Titian and the Venetians (Room 221)

The Venetian school, with its glowing colour and free brushwork:

Titian — the Penitent Mary Magdalene, Danaë, Saint Sebastian; in his late works the master paints in broad, almost “impressionistic” strokes;
Giorgione — Judith, one of the most poetic and enigmatic pictures in the collection;
works by Veronese and Tintoretto, with their decorative sweep and complex compositions.

Caravaggio and Michelangelo

Caravaggio — The Lute Player, an early work and the only Caravaggio in Russia: the subtle play of light on the musician’s face and on a still life of flowers and fruit, with the future revolutionary of chiaroscuro already visible.
Michelangelo — the Crouching Boy (Room 230), the only sculpture by the master in Russia, linked to his Florentine project for the Medici Chapel.

What makes the collection special

Its strength is completeness: you can walk straight through the whole era, from the austere, still half-medieval images of the early Renaissance to the free, sensuous painting of the Venetians and the dramatic light of Caravaggio that heralds the Baroque. Florence, Rome and Venice — the three great centres of the Renaissance — meet on one route. Add two genuine Leonardos, the only Michelangelo and the only Caravaggio in Russia, and it becomes clear why this section ranks among the finest outside Italy.

The rooms also make the change of technique visible: from tempera on panel to oil painting, from flat gold grounds to deep space full of air and light. The Renaissance was a revolution in craft as well as in great names, and here you can see it. Walk the enfilade slowly and you watch painting itself learn to breathe — bodies gain weight, faces gain thought, and landscapes open behind the figures into real, atmospheric distance.

How the collection was formed

The Italian holdings grew from Catherine’s reign and were enriched throughout the 19th century. Much arrived with the great 18th-century purchases (the Crozat collection and others), some later — like the Madonna Litta (1865) and the Benois Madonna (1914). For the wider story see the history of the museum.

See it first

If time is short, prioritise like this:

the two Leonardo Madonnas (Room 214) — the main goal, both side by side;
Caravaggio’s Lute Player — the only one in Russia;
Michelangelo’s Crouching Boy (Room 230) — the only sculpture by him in the country;
Giorgione’s Judith and late Titian (Room 221);
Raphael’s Conestabile Madonna and the Raphael Loggias (Room 229).

Plan the rest of your visit with the one-day itinerary and the floor plan.

FAQ

Are there paintings by Leonardo da Vinci in the Hermitage? Yes, two: the Madonna Litta and the Benois Madonna, both in Room 214.

Are there works by Michelangelo and Caravaggio? Yes — Michelangelo’s sculpture the Crouching Boy (Room 230) and Caravaggio’s Lute Player; both are the only works by these masters in Russia.

Which rooms hold the Italian Renaissance? Leonardo — Room 214, Raphael — 229, Titian and the Venetians — 221, Michelangelo — 230 (first floor).

What are the Raphael Loggias? A faithful copy of the Vatican gallery painted after Raphael’s designs, commissioned by Catherine the Great.

How much time should I allow for the Italian rooms? At least an hour: there are many works, and each of the great names — Leonardo, Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Michelangelo — deserves a pause.

This is an unofficial, informational website. The display and availability of works can change — confirm details on the official museum website.