VENUS GALLERY PROJECT BY YURI KOLOGRIVOV: THE LIST IN ITALIAN

Abstract

This article supplements what is known about the project to createan exhibition space for the Classical art collection at one of Peter theGreat’s suburban palaces (either in Kadriorg or Strelna). The projectwas proposed by Yuri Kologrivov (1680/1685–1754), whose main taskwas to source pieces of both modern and ancient art in Rome. A letterdetailing the plans has survived and consists of the followings items:1) a textual description (which has been published several times); 2) adrawing of the interior; 3) a scheme with statues numbered and listed onthe same sheet; and 4) an additional page in Italian, which has not beenpublished until now. This sheet contains a list of the purchased statuesin Italian. It was probably meant for Nicola Michetti, the architect incharge of the palace construction. The Italian text contains Gruppiwhich allows us to correct point 6 of the list in Russian, where inplace 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). Someother new details are discovered: the statues were divided into twokinds (‘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 Russianmust have represented male characters (Sign<ori>).