TY - JOUR

T1 - Venus Gallery Project by Yuri Kologrivov: The List in Italian

AU - Egorova, Sofia

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - This article supplements what is known about the project to create an exhibition space for the Classical art collection at one of Peter the Great’s suburban palaces (either in Kadriorg or Strelna). The project was proposed by Yuri Kologrivov (1680/1685–1754), whose main task was to source pieces of both modern and ancient art in Rome. A letter detailing the plans has survived and consists of the followings items: 1) a textual description (which has been published several times); 2) a drawing of the interior; 3) a scheme with statues numbered and listed on the same sheet; and 4) an additional page in Italian, which has not been published until now. This sheet contains a list of the purchased statues in Italian. It was probably meant for Nicola Michetti, the architect in charge of the palace construction. The Italian text contains Gruppi which allows us to correct point 6 of the list in Russian, where in place of Труп Венусовых забав (incomprehensible The Corpse of Venus’ Amusements) one should read Груп Венусовых забав (The Group of Venus’ Amusements, probably Venus and Cupid playing with a dove). Some other new details are discovered: the statues were divided into two kinds (‘statue isolate’ and ‘statue non isolate’, i.e. for display in niches); and six statues left without specification in point 9 of the list in Russian must have represented male characters (Sign).

AB - This article supplements what is known about the project to create an exhibition space for the Classical art collection at one of Peter the Great’s suburban palaces (either in Kadriorg or Strelna). The project was proposed by Yuri Kologrivov (1680/1685–1754), whose main task was to source pieces of both modern and ancient art in Rome. A letter detailing the plans has survived and consists of the followings items: 1) a textual description (which has been published several times); 2) a drawing of the interior; 3) a scheme with statues numbered and listed on the same sheet; and 4) an additional page in Italian, which has not been published until now. This sheet contains a list of the purchased statues in Italian. It was probably meant for Nicola Michetti, the architect in charge of the palace construction. The Italian text contains Gruppi which allows us to correct point 6 of the list in Russian, where in place of Труп Венусовых забав (incomprehensible The Corpse of Venus’ Amusements) one should read Груп Венусовых забав (The Group of Venus’ Amusements, probably Venus and Cupid playing with a dove). Some other new details are discovered: the statues were divided into two kinds (‘statue isolate’ and ‘statue non isolate’, i.e. for display in niches); and six statues left without specification in point 9 of the list in Russian must have represented male characters (Sign).

KW - Yuri Kologrivov

KW - Antiquity in Russia

KW - Venus of Tauride

KW - Terminology

KW - museum history

KW - Petrine Cultural Revolution

UR - https://ojs.utlib.ee/index.php/bjah/article/view/18661

M3 - Article

SP - 7

EP - 12

JO - Baltic Journal of Art History

JF - Baltic Journal of Art History

SN - 1736-8812

ER -