Memorable Dates of Russia: The exhibition “Gifts to Peter the Great. From the Hermitage Museum’s Collections”, marking the Year of Peter the Great, opened

The exhibition Gifts to Peter the Great. From the Hermitage Museum’s Collections was opened on July 6, 2022, marking the Year of Peter the Great at the Museum.

The exhibition presents an impressive array of items that were once given to Peter the Great and are now part of the State Hermitage Museum’s collections.

The exposition features diplomatic gifts, as well as presents from the tsar’s kin or close associates. Over 50 exhibits, which are a vivid illustration of Peter I’s various interests and hobbies, are showcased. Those are gifts from the Emperor of China, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony Augustus the Strong, and Kings Frederick IV of Denmark and Frederick I of Prussia. A mirror in an amber frame and an amber box, for instance, were specifically chosen by Peter the Great among the lavish gifts of King Frederick I of Prussia, as Peter was known to highly appreciate amber. A monstrance by Hans Rissenberg was offered to the tsar by Alexander Menshikov. Since European monarchs also presented Peter the Great with small lapdogs, the exhibition shows an Italian greyhound from his Winter Palace. Located next to the Peter the Great Gallery, this temporary exhibition of the tsar’s gifts is intended to provide visitors with more knowledge about the State Hermitage Museum’s Petrine collections.