History of Russia: "Russia at the end of XVIII  the beginning of XIX century in foreign view" exhibition in St. Petersburg

"Get to know the truth at first-hand, don’t believe what others say!" Russia at the end of XVIII - the beginning of XIX century in foreign view" exhibition from the collection of the National Pushkin Museum opens on November 3, 2014, on the eve of the Day of National Unity, in the G. R. Derzhavin Museum-Estate (St. Petersburg).

The exhibition shows the complex, multilayered Russia with its people, customs, and diverse nature through the lens of foreigners’ perception. The displayed travel notes, sketches of traditional costumes and religious festivals, leisure time activities, games, fun and frolic, the lively genre scenes create a colorful mosaic of urban and rural Russian life. The exhibition features gravure prints of masters from England, Germany and France: John Atkinson, Christian Geisler and Jean Baptiste Leprens. Sheets from the album "The Scenic Pictures of behaviors, customs and entertainment of the Russians, Tatars, Mongols and other peoples of the Russian Empire", sheets from the album of suites titled "Russia and the Russians, 1764-1768", the "Picturesque Sketches" album give an idea of what life was like at that time, while the comments show the foreigners’ attitude towards new and sometimes very exotic environment. The exhibition displays the world, culture, customs and traditions of the amazing Russian nation, the unique characteristics and distinctive features of a country that has always been mysterious and therefore attractive to foreigners. Presented engravings are a kind of guidebooks, first encounter with the curiosities of the huge country.

New exhibition opens within the nationwide "Night of the Arts" action.