Hermitage Magazine - Autumn 2008
Chris de Burgh on Hermitage Museum
CHRIS DE BURGH IS A MUSICIAN AND SONGWRITER WHO CURRENTLY RESIDES IN IRELAND. HE ACHIVED LASTING SUCCESS AROUND THE WORLD WITH THE SONG THE LADY IN RED, WHICH REACHED No. 1 IN 25 COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE UK, AND HAS SOLD MORE THAN OF 8 MILLION COPIES WORLWIDE. IN DECEMBER 2007, CHRIS BECAME THE FIRST WESTERN ARTIST TO PERFORM IN IRAN FOLLOWING THE REVOLUTION 1979 AND IS NOW PREPARING FOR THE RELEASE OF HIS LATEST STUDIO ALBUM, FOOTSTEPS, IN OCTOBER. HE IS ALSO A HUGE FAN OF THE HERMITAGE, AND ONE PICTURE IN PARTICULAR... Over the years I have visited the Hermitage several times. My first visit was about 15 years ago, in 1994. One can't talk about the Hermitage without mentioning the city. For me, as somebody who has the opportunity to tour the world and likes being a good tourist so that I can really indulge my interest in architecture and museums, it is the perfect place to go. I have been to St. Petersburg in all weathers and know perfectly well, like everyone who lives there, that in Winter it is one of the coldest places on the planet —but what a beautiful city! It is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. When I visit St. Petersburg, despite all the hard work and lack of time, I always make a point of dropping into the Hermitage. Each time I am there, I am struck by an understanding that very few people in the West seem to have of the importance of Russia and the Soviet Union as a phenomenal world power. It has been one of the most powerful countries on earth for centuries. And this becomes abundantly clear when you visit the Hermitage and see the way that European heads of state would send gifts to the Russian Imperial family—magnificent, astounding things that can all still be found in the museum. When I think about the Hermitage, I not only think of the Winter Palace but also about the beautiful Palace Square and the impression of a slightly faded but immense grandeur. The interior of the Hermitage is absolutely stunning and I am always impressed by the number of schoolchildren there; by the thousands of children able to see these extraordinary treasures. Personally, I have an absolute love for the French Impressionists. On the three visits I've made, only ever having a few hours to visit the museum, I usually make a quick tour of the other areas of the museum but invariably seem to gravitate naturally towards the works by Degas, Cezanne, Renoir, Manet, Monet and all those amazing riches. I will never forget the experience of walking through the many rooms of the French Impressionists— rooms dedicated to one great artist after another and finally coming into a gallery and seeing an absolutely outstanding painting that was very, very dense. I stood there for a long time trying to figure out what on earth it could be and it wasn't until I backed across to the other side of the room that it became clear that it was a painting by Van Gogh??his Lilac Bush. I was absolutely transfixed. I must have stood there for 20 minutes drinking it in, and thinking to myself how utterly enchanting it was; how could he have painted it up close and achieved the effect that he wanted? I was immediately struck by the genius of this man who saw expression and soul in all of nature, particularly considering his history. I will never understand how no one could see the beauty of his work at the time he made it. People must have blind. I would give just about anything to have a Van Gogh painting of my own but, until then, I will continue visiting the collections of work by the French Impressionists around the world and, of course, look forward to my next visit to the Hermitage when I can see the Lilac Bush again.