Exhibition, dedicated to the contest of essays “My Peter I”, open in the Lenin Library

The Lenin Library in St. Petersburg hosts an exhibition of illustrations to the best works – participants of the contest of essays “My Peter I”. The contest is held by the All-Russian literary and art magazine for schoolchildren Kostyor together with the Presidential Library and is dedicated to the 350th anniversary of the birth of the first Russian emperor.

The exposition, first presented in the Presidential Library in May of this year, continues in the institution of the Centralized Library System of Petrogradsky District of St. Petersburg. The exhibition will run until July 31, 2022, at Voskov Street, 2. Reference information: +7 (812) 232-40-62.

Author of the original illustrations, painter Yelena Ergardt combined them through the lubok images. Her works are complemented by quotes from the best essays of the contesters. The simplicity and accessibility of such images, from fryazhsky sheets of the XVI century to engravings of the early XX century, have always attracted Russian people. Lubok can be found in peasant houses, monasteries, royal chambers. Tsarevich Peter had about a hundred of them. Later, in 1711, the Emperor established a special engraving chamber in St. Petersburg. Nevertheless, everything has started with those first simple images – inspirations for textbooks, newspapers, calendars and even… comics.

Acceptance of entries for the contest of readers' essays "My Peter I" continues until November 15, 2022. Any pupil under the age of 17 has opportunity to take part in the contest regardless of the region of residence. 

The participants’ essays must be dedicated to the ideas, plans, activities, accomplishments of Peter the Great. One should note why Peter is of interest to a contest participant and what new things he learned about the ruler. A prerequisite is the use of materials from the collections of the Presidential Library, for example, the materials of the collection dedicated to the first Russian emperor. Essays must be sent with the note “To the contest “My Peter I”” to root@kostyor.ru. In order to do everything correctly, it is necessary to read the information and the regulations on the contest on the Presidential Library’s portal. As of today, over 1500 participants have sent their works to compete.

The most interesting works are regularly published on the pages of the Kostyor magazine. The results will also be announced there in January, 2023. The winners will be awarded diplomas and book prizes.