Mr Vladimir Vekshin of the Museum’s Military History Department has donated to our collection a 1916 book published by the Society for the Revival of Artistic Russia, whose members greatly contributed to Tsarskoe Selo.
Founded in 1915, the Society brought together many outstanding scientists and artists who set the goal of spreading knowledge about the ancient art of Russia. Their members included the architects Stepan Krichinsky, Vladimir Maksimov and Semyon Sidorchuk, and the painters the Pashkov brothers. All of them were directly involved in the creation of the Martial Chamber, the Fyodorovsky Gorodok ensemble and some other buildings of Tsarskoye Selo.
The short-lived society ceased to function in October 1917. Their Antiquities of Russia Vol.1: Metalwork was the first and only publication of a planned series. The book of 1916 with a print run of 1,000 was edited by historian Alexei V. Oreshnikov (1855–1933), head curator of Moscow’s Historical Museum of Russia and one of the Society’s founders. It contains 10 sheets with examples of metal artworks by old masters.
The donation will join our Rare Books collection and be featured in temporary exhibitions.
