Marking the 350th anniversary of Peter the Great: The exhibition “Conqueror of Lightning and Waves” presented in Kaliningrad

The State Tretyakov Gallery presents the exhibition Conqueror of Lightning and Waves in the Kaliningrad History and Art Museum, marking the 350th anniversary since the birth of Peter I (1672–1725). The exhibition is based on thirty eight paintings, graphics and sculptures from the collections of the gallery that tell about the famous deeds of the first Russian emperor: gaining access to the Baltic Sea, establishment of the Russian fleet, as well as the history of sea and land battles.

The slogan Conqueror of Lightning and Waves, minted on the medal commemorating the capture of Azov in 1696, has been chosen as a title of the exhibition not by accident. The exposition tells about glorious victories of Peter I, young Russian fleet and the regular army on land and at sea. The image of the hero-commander in the public view is reflected through wonderful lubok images of the middle XIX century.

The idea of military craft is reflected in topographic images, while the Russian marine art of the XVIII-XX centuries is greatly complemented by paintings of Dutch masters, acquired by Peter I himself during foreign travels, as well as other exhibits from his collections, provided by the Peterhof Museum-Reserve. These are faience painted plates from Delft, a French sundial with a compass, a lacquered Chinese travel box.

The State Archive of the Russian Federation displays rare documents at the exhibition: letters of Peter I to the first Russian Vice Admiral N. A. Senyavin from the Ingermanlandia ship (June 8, 1719), to Head of the Admiralty A. V. Kinin from the Saint Catherine ship (June 9, 1714), to the first Commandant of St. Petersburg K. A. Naryshkin “from the wagon train from Narva” (June 11, 1704).

The exhibition will run until November 6, 2022.