VENUS GALLERY PROJECT BY YURI KOLOGRIVOV: THE LIST IN ITALIAN

Abstract

This article supplements what is known about the project to create
an exhibition space for the Classical art collection at one of Peter the
Great’s suburban palaces (either in Kadriorg or Strelna). The project
was proposed by Yuri Kologrivov (1680/1685–1754), whose main task
was to source pieces of both modern and ancient art in Rome. A letter
detailing the plans has survived and consists of the followings items:
1) a textual description (which has been published several times); 2) a
drawing of the interior; 3) a scheme with statues numbered and listed on
the same sheet; and 4) an additional page in Italian, which has not been
published until now. This sheet contains a list of the purchased statues
in Italian. It was probably meant for Nicola Michetti, the architect in
charge of the palace construction. The Italian text contains Gruppi
which allows us to correct point 6 of the list in Russian, where in
place of Труп Венусовых забав (incomprehensible The Corpse of Venus’
Amusements) one should read Груп Венусовых забав (The Group of Venus’
Amusements, probably Venus and Cupid playing with a dove). Some
other new details are discovered: the statues were divided into two
kinds (‘statue isolate’ and ‘statue non isolate’, i.e. for display in niches);
and six statues left without specification in point 9 of the list in Russian
must have represented male characters (Sign<ori>).