The Hermitage

On Sundays or Saturdays
Or whenever I can
I rush to the Hermitage
For a rendevous with my loves
Those hang on the walls
Danaes, Floras, Madonnas, Venuses, Psyches...
Compete for my attention...
And wow what I see...
The menacing cupid, untying the girdle of Venus
Tahiti girl with her tropical fruit,
The woman with the wild flower,
Judith trampling over the evil,
Mary Magadelene lying in the grotto,
Zeus, the bull taking away lovely Europa,
St. Cecilia playing music  for dying Cleopatra
Or perhaps for the broken hearted lute player?
The dance of the veils on the banks of the Neva
The saviour of the treasures of civilizations-
Pharao's tombs, gold and diamond treasures,
But above them the Onessa petroglyphs,
Hermitage, you are the only one!
And, I'll rush to you,
From far corners of the Earth,
For a rendevous with my loves,
That hang on your walls.

Chuck Close at the Hermitage

Pictures taken by Abhay K.
Chuck Close- who is he?
A painter, photographer and a master printmaker. Chuck was born in Washington, USA in 1940. He has painted large portraits from photographs and
belongs to the school of hyperrealism.A hyperrealistic painting is a painting that resembles a high resolution digital photograph. For example this oil painting of Bill Clinton by Chuck Close.

The painting of this woman below by Chuck Close is also an example of a hyperrealistic painting.

Chuck Close also works with the carpets and the self portrait of Chuck Close that can be seen below is his work on a carpet.

Chuck Close is a master photographer as well. His photos of the top model Kate Moss has been published by the Adamson Editions, Washington DC. The six prints of Kate Moss by Chuck Close can be seen by clicking here.