Assembly Under Peter the Great
1858
-
Location in museum
The Mikhailovsky Palace
Open the panorama of the hall in the virtual tour
Room 18. Historical Painting. V. Schwartz, P. Chistyakov, V. Jacobi - Period Late 19th century
- CategoryHistory Painting
- Share
In 1718 Peter the Great issued a decree on assemblies, evenings of entertainment that became an essential part of society life in St Petersburg; time at them was usually spent in dancing, various games and interesting conversations. In introducing assemblies Peter was pursuing his aim of grafting onto Russian soil certain everyday West European traditions that seemed useful to him and that would also help in both the internal and the external liberation of women whose lives up to then had been devoted solely to fulfilling their domestic duties. In the painting by Stanisław Chlebowski the attention of the people present is drawn to a man who has just come in; he has a long beard and is dressed in the old style of the boyars. The guest is trying to refuse a large goblet of wine that is apparently being offered to him as a fine for his late arrival. Peter the Great is sitting at a table and watching the scene with interest. The artist has placed Empress Catherine I and one of her daughters on the right.
Programs/films related to this work:
