The exhibition "Pastels by Artists of Western Europe of XVIII - XX Centuries in the Hermitage Collection" was opened on September, 18, 2001, in the Twelve-Column Hall of New Hermitage. The exhibition includes 65 works by French, German, Swedish, Norwegian and Italian masters of XVIII - XX centuries who had worked in the pastel technique, among them: Rozalba Karrijera (1675 - 1757), Morris Canten de Latur (1704 - 1788), Gustaf Lundberg (1695 - 1786), Edward Mane (1832 - 1883), Max Libermann (1847 - 1935), Edgar Degas (1834 - 1917), Pierre August Renoir (1841 - 1919), Pablo Picasso (1881 - 1973). The last big pastel exhibition was held in the State Hermitage 30 years ago. The choice of works for the present exhibition had had its purpose to show not only special masterpieces, but also to demonstrate a kind of common image of the Hermitage collection, of technique and style evolution in pastel painting that had taken place in the history of art. The exhibition will last until January, 13, 2002.