Marking the 350th anniversary of Peter the Great: Exhibition “In the name of Peter” presented at the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg

The exhibition In the name of Peter has been opened in the Nevskaya Kurtina (Nevsky Curtain Wall) of the Peter and Paul Fortress (St. Petersburg), marking the 350th anniversary since the birth of Peter I. The exhibition tells about the first Russian Emperor, the founder of St. Petersburg, as a symbolic figure, image and character of cultural mythology. The exposition features items from the collections of the State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg, the State Museum of Urban Sculpture, the Museum of Russian Drama (Alexandrinsky Theatre), the Mariinsky Theatre, the Central State Archive of Film and Photographic Documents, the Mostotrest Technical Archive of St. Petersburg.

Mythologization of Peter the Great, his transformation from the real ruler into the symbolic figure has started during Emperor’s lifetime and continued after his death. Peter’s image obtained a special meaning during the reign of Catherine II. That time marks the start of Peter’s mythology, when Peter the Great became the national symbol, the embodiment of power and the Russian Empire.

In 1782, the Bronze Horseman, the first monument in honour of Peter the Great was opened in St. Petersburg (sculptor – É.-M. Falconet). Its image not only formed the basis for the canonical Peter’s iconography in the following years, but also became the most important symbol of St. Petersburg, embodying the unbreakable bond between the city and its founder. The exhibition showcases many items, associated with the Bronze Horseman as a key element of urban iconography and cultural mythology: photographs and documents, sculptures, pieces of decorative arts, graphics, souvenirs, printed products, etc. Here, visitors have an opportunity to see the head of Peter I made for the Bronze Horseman monument by Marie-Anne Collot (casted in XX century based on the model of 1765-1770), the publication of the poem “The Bronze Horseman” (1923) by A. S. Pushkin with the illustrations by A. N. Benois, as well as the photographs of the monument from different time periods – during the days of celebration of Peter the Great’s 200th anniversary in 1872, and during the Great Patriotic War and the Siege of Leningrad.

The exhibition also demonstrates plans, drawings and photographs of the monuments dedicated to the first Russian Emperor: To Great Grandfather from Great Grandson in front of the Engineers’ Castle (C.-B. Rastrelli), Tsar-Carpenter on the Admiralty Enbankment, Peter I holding young Louis XV, King of France in his arms in Petergof, monuments of the Emperor in Kronstadt, Strelna, on Kirochnaya Street and near the St. Sampson Cathedral, monument of Peter I in the Peter and Paul Fortress (M. Shemyakin), the project of Peter I’s monument in honour of renaming of Leningrad (K. M. Simun).

The exposition also displays two sculptural images of Peter the Great, created by the renowned masters M. M. Antokolsky and A. M. Opekushin.

A special section of the exhibition tells about Peter’s toponymy and its changes. Geographical objects, settlements and streets have been named after Peter the Great (Petergof, Petrovsky Island, Peter Embankment). In honour of the Emperor have been named educational, medical, cultural and scientific institutions (Polytechnic Institute, Botanical Garden, Peter the Great Hospital, Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, and others).

The more rooted was Peter’s image in culture and public conscience as a national symbol, the stronger was the symbolic bond between St. Petersburg and its founder. The image of Peter the Great in his canonical depictions became the most important city brand, its emblem and symbol. One of the exhibition’s sections is dedicated to the Peter’s iconography in the mass souvenir production, packaging and advertisement of products, the use of Emperor’s image in city’s decorations.

Another section explores the topic of Peter the Great’s image in literature, art and film. Stylistic and semantic evolution of Peter’s image is shown through the painted and graphic pieces of the skillful masters of XVIII-XX centuries. Here are displayed the illustrations to the literary works of A. S. Pushkin and A. N. Tolstoy about Peter, costumes, photographs, invitations and showbills of theatrical productions, shots and posters of films about Peter and his time – from the silent film of 1910 “Peter the Great” till the late Soviet films.

The exhibition will run until August 25, 2022.