Museums: Exhibition “The Rossi Library’s Collection. Illustrated Book 16th-19th cc. from the Pavlovsk Palace Collection”

May 20 – November 20, 2011 the State Museum–Reserve “Pavlovsk” is staging an exhibition “The Rossi Library’s Collection. Illustrated Book 16th-19th cc. from the Pavlovsk Palace Collection”.

The Pavlovsk Palace Library is an extensive collection of rare and old books, which today numbers over 11 thousand items. They include rare medieval manuscripts, first printed Russian and West European editions, books dated 18th c., decorated by engravings of great masters, illustrated editions of 19th c. Part of this unique collection has been made available within an exposition launched at the historical hall of the Rossi Library.

The Palace Library in Pavlovsk is one of the largest collections of St. Petersburg. The backbone of the collection were 33 books of the “Travelling library” which belonged to Empress Catherine II, who gave it as a present to her son – future Emperor Paul I. In the following decades the library grew due to efforts of Maria Feodorovna. In 1824 to the design of Carlo Rossi was built a special facility to house the library, which was later called after its architect “Rossi Library”. Books were placed in 34 glazed bookcases in systematic order. In 1828 the collection was approaching 21 thousand items and covered almost all fields of knowledge of 18th c. – natural and exact sciences, politics, history, arts and crafts, modern and ancient literature. After the death of Maria Feodorovna (1828) the library remained untouched, while further owners of Pavlovsk preserved it as a memorial. The library was not a strictly closed book collection, however visits to it were exceptional and were hindered by numerous regulations. After the revolution, when the Pavlovsk Palace became a museum, an elaborate inventory was made in the library. However during the sale of museum collection late 1930s over 3 thousand priceless editions were confiscated. The collection suffered dramatically during the war as well. The Library was exported by invaders, and in 1945 it was only its part which returned to Russia.

Opening of the present exhibition coincides with a closing stage of reconstruction of Rossi Library’s historical interior, which was nearly completely lost during war years. By 2012 it is planned to revive missing pieces of the hall’s furniture, what will enable not only to return extensive collections of the Palace Library back to its historical site, but also to unveil them to museum’s visitors within series of temporary exhibitions under a common name “The Rossi Library’s Collection”. Within the framework of this new museum and exhibition project all aspects of this unique collection – graphics, numismatics, mosaics, minerals, herbarium will be put on display during 2011-2013.