History and culture: Works of draw graphics from the collection of the State Peterhof Museum Reserve presented at the exhibition “Image, the highest approved…”

October 18, 2013 at the Museum of the Benois family (the Peterhof Museum Reserve) opened the exhibition “The image, the highest approved…” which features works from the collection of the draw graphs of the State Peterhof Museum Reserve. The image of Russian emperors and empresses in the XVIII - beginning of the XX centuries, the representatives of the various classes of Russian society was formed due to the wide spread of replicated portraits. Any official portrait was based on the developed genre ritual and certainly was approved by sovereign or censorship. Representatives of the lower social classes of empire also had their own idea of ​​the image of the ruler. Self-taught artists have created portraits of sovereigns in the widespread form of art - splints. These sheets were far from the likeness, but full of emotion and interesting comparisons with the heroes of the rural and urban folklore. They certainly were approved by the censor and were resolved to sell.

The exhibition, held in the Museum of the Benois family, is based on a clear comparison of the official portrait and splint with the image of Russian emperors. It is not just visual but mainly ideological comparison: the presentation of the ruler through the eyes of the higher and lower classes. These portraits are combined with one thing – they were officially allowed by censorship and allowed to spread.

The exhibition is open till February 2, 2014.