«За твое прилѣжанiе жалую тѣбя Академiи Наукъ Профессоромъ…». Об одном альбоме рисунков из фонда Корсаковых в РГИА
«For your diligence I name you Professor of the Academy of Science…». On the album of drawings from the Korsakovs fund in the Russian State Historical

Summary/Abstract: The article is dedicated to the unique album of drawings which originates from the family archive of the eminent historian D. A. Korsakov and is now found in the collection of the Russian State Historical Archive in Saint Petersburg. This album contains the allegorical and emblematic images related to the reign of Peter II and Anna Ioannovna, but bears neither particular date nor signature. In the article, the drawings from the album are compared with the panegyrical works of the first half of the 18th century, such as programmes of triumphal arches, illuminations and fireworks. At the same time the attention is drawn to certain principles and methods of representation, which stand in stark contrast to serious semantic content of the album and are reminiscent, as a whole, of the art system of the lubok — of popular folk prints, intended for mass audience and appearing in Russia in the 17th century. The manner of executing the drawings also appears slightly primitive. Finally, the author of the article suggests that the album was created in the second half of the 19th – early 20th century by someone belonging to D. A. Korsakov’s circle.

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