Russia Engages the World

This checklist is a record of the items, in order and by section, on view in the exhibition Russia Engages the World, 1453–1825 (October 3, 2003–January 31, 2004).

Russia’s Catherine the Great

Russian Exploration

The World: Engaging the Muslim Empires

Russia and the West Interact

Russia’s Catherine the Great

The items in this section reveal the full europeanization of Russian elite culture and confirmation of Russia’s status as a major imperial power that occurred during the reign of Catherine the Great (1762-96).

A Global Empire’s Attention and Favor
Catherine II, Empress of Russia (1729–1796)
Imperial Charter issued by Catherine II, granting privileges for service to the state
[St. Petersburg], August 10, 1775
NYPL, Spencer Collection

Catherine’s Monument for Peter
Jacobus van der Schley (1715–1779)
Engraving depicting the delivery of the “Thunder Stone” for the base of the statue of Peter the Great
St. Petersburg, ca. 1770
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

The Great Monument in Place
Hand-colored engraving of the Bronze Horseman statue, St. Petersburg
German, late 18th century
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

Catherine’s Debut
Jean Louis de Veilly (fl. 1759–1763)
Engraving depicting the coronation banquet of Catherine II
[St. Petersburg], ca. 1762; first printed 1857
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

The Spirit of Enlightenment Laws
Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu (1689–1755)
De l’esprit des loix [On the Spirit of Laws]
Geneva: Barillot & fils, 1748
NYPL, Rare Books Division

The Enlightenment and Punishment
Marchese Cesare Bonesana di Beccaria (1738–1794)
Razsuzhdenie o prestupleniiakh i nakazaniiakh [Discourse on Crimes and Punishments]
St. Petersburg: Gubernskoe Pravlenie, 1803
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

Catherine’s Busy Courtier
Antoine Radigues (1721–1809)
Engraved portrait of Ivan Ivanovich Betskoi (1704–1795)
St. Petersburg: Imperatorskaia Akademiia Khudozhestv, 1794
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

Educating Russia’s Youth
Schedule of classes and exercises for the Cadet Corps, from:
Ivan Ivanovich Betskoi (1704–1795)
Les plans et les statuts, des différents établissements ordonnés par Sa Majésté Impériale Catherine II. Pour l’éducation de la jeunesse et l’utilité générale de son empire [Plans and Regulations for the Different Establishments Decreed by Her Imperial Majesty Catherine II for the Education of Youth and for the General Utility of Her Empire]
Amsterdam: M. M. Rey, 1775
NYPL, General Research Division

Catherine as Legislatrix
The Grand Instructions to the Commissioners Appointed to Frame a New Code of Laws for the Russian Empire: composed by Her Imperial Majesty Catherine II
London: T. Jefferys, 1768
NYPL, General Research Division

Catherine the Great and Voltaire Interact
Catherine II, Empress of Russia (1729–1796)
Perepiska rossiiskoi imperatritsy Ekateriny Vtoryia s g. Volterom, s 1763 po 1778 god [Correspondence of the Russian Empress Catherine II with Mr. Voltaire from 1763 to 1778]
St. Petersburg: Imperatorskaia Akademiia Nauk, 1802
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

For a Russian Billet-Doux
“Letter” (paket) snuff box
Porcelain
Imperial Porcelain Factory, Russia, 1760
Courtesy of A La Vieille Russie

A Polymath’s Version of Early Rus’
Mikhail Vasil’evich Lomonosov (1711–1765)
Drevniaia rossiiskaia istoriia ot nachala rossiiskago naroda do konchiny velikago kniazia Iaroslava pervago, ili do 1054 goda [Ancient Russian History from the Origins of the Russian (Rus’ian) People Until the Death of Grand Prince Iaroslav the First, or up to 1054]
St. Petersburg: Imperatorskaia Akademiia Nauk, 1766
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division, Bates-Pantuhoff Collection

A Russian Amateur Historian
Vasilii Nikitich Tatishchev (1686–1750 )
Istoriia rossiiskaia s samykh drevneishikh vremen [Russian History from Earliest Times]
[Moscow ]: Imperatorskii Moskovskii Universitet, 1768–1848
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

A French Traveler in Siberia
Elevations of the author’s trip from Paris to Siberia, from:
Jean Chappe d’Auteroche (1723–1769)
Voyage en Sibérie [A Journey into Siberia]
Paris: Debure, père, 1768
NYPL, Map Division

A French Critique of Russia …
Nicolas-Gabriel Clerc (1726–1798), called LeClerc
Histoire physique, morale, civile et politique de la Russie moderne [A Physical, Moral, Civil and Political History of Modern Russia]
Paris: Froullé, 1783–an II [1793]
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

… and a Vigorous Russian Response
Ivan Nikitich Boltin (1735–1792 )
Primechaniia na Istoriiu drevniia i nyneshniia Rossii g. Leklerka [Notes on the History of Ancient and Modern Russia of Mr. LeClerc]
[St. Petersburg]: Gornoe Uchilishche, 1788
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

Catherine’s Acid Pen
Catherine II, Empress of Russia (1729–1796)
The Antidote; or An Enquiry into the Merits of a Book, entitled: A Journey into Siberia
London: S. Leacroft, 1772
NYPL, General Research Division

Catherine Shops for Master Paintings
Abraham’s Sacrifice of Isaac
Workshop of Rembrandt van Rijn
Oil on canvas, ca. 1650–75?
Museum of Art and Archaeology, University of Missouri–Columbia, Gift of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation

A Manuscript for Catherine’s Diversion
Raznost’ i priiatnost’ [Diversity and Pleasure]
[Russia], ca. mid-18th century
NYPL, Manuscripts and Archives Division

A Signpost in Russian Literary History
Nikolai Ivanovich Novikov (1744–1818 )
Opyt istoricheskago slovaria o rossiiskikh pisateliakh [Attempt at a Historical Dictionary of Russian Writers]
St. Petersburg: [Imperatorskaia Akademiia Nauk]. Petersburg; , 1772
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

Creating Russian Literary Immortals
Platon Petrovich Beketov (1761–1836 )
Panteon rossiiskikh avtorov [Pantheon of Russian Authors]
Mos cow: [Senatskaia Tipografiia u Selivanovskago], 1801
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

Russians Adopt a Classical Heritage
Ermil Ivanovich Kostrov (1750?–1796 ), translator
Gomerova Iliada [The Iliad of Homer]
St. Petersburg: Imperatorskaia Tipografiia, 1787
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

Conjuring Epic Figures from the Past
Mikhail Matveevich Kheraskov (1733–1807)
Vladimir vozrozhdennyi, epicheskaia poema [Vladimir Reborn, An Epic Poem]
Moscow: Universitetskaia Tipografiia u N. Novikova, 1785
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

A Russian Professional Writer
Aleksandr Petrovich Sumarokov (1718–1777)
Polnoe sobranie vsekh sochinenii, v stikhakh i proze [Complete Collection of All Works, in Verse and Prose]
Moscow: Universitetskaia Tipografiia u N. Novikova, 1781–82
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

A Journal for the Russian Theater
Rossiiskii featr [Russian Theater]
St. Petersburg: Imperatorskaia Akademiia Nauk, 1786
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

Russian “Eroticism” in Word and Image
Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin (1743–1816 )
Anakreonticheskiia pesni [Anacreontic Songs]
St. Petersburg: [Shnor], 1804
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

Debating a Proper Russian Style
Rassuzhdenie o starom i novom sloge rossiiskago iazyka [Discourse on the Old and New Styles of the Russian Language]
St. Petersburg: Imperatorskaia Tipografiia , 1803
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

The First Russian Woman Writer
Anna Petrovna Bunina (1774–1829 )
Neopytnaia muza [Inexperienced Muse]
St. Petersburg: Shnor, 1809–12
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

Russian Romanticism
Vasilii Andreevich Zhukovskii (1783–1852 )
Stikhotvoreniia Vasiliia Zhukovskago [The Poetry of Vasilii Zhukovskii]
St. Petersburg: Meditsinskaia Tipografiia, 1815–16
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

Russia’s Romance with the Caucasus
Aleksandr Sergeevich Pushkin (1799–1837)
Kavkazskii plennik. Povest’ [The Captive of the Caucasus. A Story]
St. Petersburg: N. Grech, 1822
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

Catherine Writes for Children
Catherine II, Empress of Russia (1729–1796)
Skazka o tsareviche Khlore [A Tale of Prince Khlor]
St. Petersburg: [Akademiia Nauk], 1782
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

Catherine as Russian Historian
Catherine II, Empress of Russia (1729–1796)
Zapiski kasatel’no rossiiskoi istorii [Notes on Russian History]
St. Petersburg: Imperatorskaia Tipografiia, 1801
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

Catherine’s Interlocutor Acclaims Peter’s Legacy
François Marie Arouet de Voltaire (1694–1778)
Histoire de l’empire de Russie sous Pierre le Grand [History of the Russian Empire During the Reign of Peter the Great]
[Geneva: Cramer], 1765
NYPL, Rare Books Division

A Russian Remake of Catherine’s Rembrandt
“A Polish Nobleman”
Tapestry after a painting by Rembrandt
Imperial Tapestry Manufactory, Russia, late 18th century
Lent by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, Gift of Julia A. Berwind, 1953 (53.225.22)

St. Petersburg’s Newspaper
Sanktpeterburgskiia vedomosti [The St. Petersburg News]
St. Petersburg; No. 37, 1777
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

A Russian Ladies’ Journal
Modnoe ezhemesiachnoe izdanie; ili, Biblioteka dlia damskago tualeta [A Fashionable Monthly, or A Library for Lady’s Dress]
Moscow: Imperatorskii Moskovskii Universitet, 1779
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

Russians Discuss Their Literary and Linguistic Heritage
Sobesednik liubitelei Rossiiskago slova [The Colloquium or Interlocutor of Lovers of the Russian Word]
St. Petersburg; Vol. 10, 1784
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

Russian “Types” Through Foreign Eyes
Augustin Dahlstein (fl. 18th century)
Russische Trachten und Ausrufer in St.-Petersburg [Russian Costumes and Public Criers of St. Petersburg]
Cassel: W. C. Mayr, [1750]
NYPL, Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs, Art and Architecture Collection

France’s Sentimental View of Russia’s Demi-Monde
Jean-Baptiste Le Prince (1734–1781)
Divers ajustements et usages de Russie [Various Modes of Dress and Customs of Russia]
[Paris, 1775?]
NYPL, Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs, Print Collection

A Street-level View of Russian Manners and Mores
Johann Gustaf Richter (text) and Christian Gottfried Heinrich Geissler (1770–1844) (drawings)
Sitten, Gebräuche und Kleidung der Russen aus den niedern Ständen [Customs, Habits, and Attire of Lower-class Russians]
Leipzig: Industrie-Comptoir, [1805]
NYPL, Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs, Art and Architecture Collection

An Apologist for Poland
Joachim Pastorius (1611–1681)
Bellum Scythico-Cosacicum [The Polish-Cossack War]
Gdansk: G. Förster, 1652
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

Ukraine’s History in a Russian Mirror
Dmitrii Nikolaevich Bantysh-Kamenskii (1788–1850)
Istoriia Maloi Rossii [A History of Little Russia (i.e., Ukraine)]
Moscow: S. Selivanovskii, 1822
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

A Ukrainian Patriot
Count Vasilii [Vasyl] Vasil’evich Kapnist (1758–1823)
Iabeda , komediia v piati deistviiakh [Slander, A Comedy in Five Acts]
St. Petersburg: G. Krutitskii, 1798
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

An English Cleric Roams Northern Europe
William Coxe (1747–1828)
Travels into Poland, Russia, Sweden, and Denmark
London: Printed by J. Nichols, for T. Cadell, 1784
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

Poland’s National Poet and Epic
Adam Mickiewicz (1798–1855)
Pan Tadeusz [Pan Tadeusz]
Paris: Aleksander Jelowicki, 1834
NYPL, Rare Books Division

Destroying Polish Sovereignty
Polen, zur Zeit der zwey letzten Theilungen dieses Reichs [Poland at the Time of the Last Two Partitions of This Country]
N.p., 1807
NYPL, General Research Division

The Depiction of Poles in Russia
“Polish Soldiers, ca. 1792”
Watercolor, based on a sketch by A. N. Olenin, from:
Fedor Grigor’evich Solntsev (1801–1892)
Odezhdy Russkago gosudarstva [Costume of the Russian State]
[St. Petersburg?], 1820–69
NYPL, Rare Books Division

A Depiction of Jews in the Russian Empire
“A Jewish Man in Poland, ca. 1792”
Watercolor, based on a sketch by A. N. Olenin, from:
Fedor Grigor’evich Solntsev (1801–1892)
Odezhdy Russkago gosudarstva [Costume of the Russian State]
[St. Petersburg?], 1820–69
NYPL, Rare Books Division

Russia Absorbs Poland and the Baltic
Polen, Litauen und Kurland [Poland, Lithuania, and Kurland (present-day Latvia)]
[Berlin: Sotzmann, 1797?]
NYPL, Map Division