The Presidential Library studies the history of Peter Sevastyanov’s photo archive

Thе Presidential Library restores historical memory of Peter Ivanovich Sevastyanov (1811 1867), whose 203^rd birthday anniversary is celebrated August 18.

Lawyer, naturalist, explorer and archaeologist, he created using the results of his expeditions a collection of photographs of Christian relics – a unique thing at the time. Some of these photographs depicting the Greek Mount Athos were presented 155 years ago in the building of the Synod, which now houses the Presidential Library. It was the first exhibition where the general public saw pictures of ancient manuscripts, sculptures, church plates and other monuments that are stored on Mount Athos. The exhibition itself was also captured in photographs, which accurately determine its location more than one and a half century ago. The photographs demonstrate how carefully the modern restoration was held in the complex of the Synod.

Collection of photographs of the researcher was highly appreciated by scientists. The following was written about him: "the honor of applying photos to the needs of archeology belongs to P. I. Sevastyanov; it is a special honor, because his first pictures depicted the monuments, which were inaccessible to scientists, the monuments of Mount Athos."  

In April 1859, Sevastyanov again went to Mount Athos as the official leader of the expedition with the recommendations of Archaeographic Commission; as a result he brought together a large collection of antiquities. All the exhibits were brought to the Academy of Fine Arts and stored there; those were about 1,200 iconic images, up to 200 drawings of Byzantine architecture, more than 5,000 pages of manuscripts and 150 great original icons.

Owing to digitization, the Presidential Library preserves a number of photographic and pictorial postcards depicting the views of Mount Athos monasteries of the time.

Revivalist, a man with a wide range of interests, Sevastyanov first achieved success as a major government official. After graduating from university with a degree of candidate, he alternately served in the Ministry of Justice, the War Ministry, the Ministry of National Education, the City Duma and parliamentary assembly. However, despite a successful career, awards and honors, Peter Ivanovich was indifferent to the service.

During his numerous trips across Russia and to Europe, Sevastyanov became interested in searching for monuments of Christian culture. Following the resignation, Peter Ivanovich devoted himself to collecting unique historical and cultural monuments. Most of all, he was attracted by the islands of the Greek world, the northern coast of Africa, Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Smyrna, Constantinople, the monasteries of Mount Athos. Deeply interested in the origins of Christian art, he dreamed of creating a "Key to Christian iconography" – a generalized encyclopedia of the survived monuments. His idea of creating a "photographic archive of manuscripts and other antiquities" was later embodied in France. However, Sevastyanov did not have time to create himself a systematic album of his many unique finds.

P. I. Sevastyanov’s now known collection of antiquities is held by the Historical Museum, the Russian State Library, Museum of Fine Arts, the Tretyakov Gallery, the Hermitage, the Russian Museum, the National Library of Russia and the Academy of Arts.  

The Presidential Library, whose holdings comprise today more than 320, 000 items, is not only the leading national electronic repository, but also the largest cultural and educational center, one of the projects of which, the photo contest "Foreign View" is organized the fifth year in a row. The contest brings together photos made by foreign guests in Russia, and those taken by Russians during their travels around the world. Pictures of the winners and participants join the collections of the Presidential Library. Thus, the materials supplied to the library come not only from state institutions, but also from ordinary people from different countries. The Presidential Library has accumulated more than 4, 000 digital copies of photographs and original digital images.

And, of course, the competition "Foreign View" has a lot in common with Peter Sevastianov’s photo exhibition, which took place 155 years ago within the walls of the Synod and aroused great interest among experts and the general public in St. Petersburg.