Peter the Great. Journeys to Europe

Ceremonial cuirass of a cavalry officer
Sweden, 1718-1720.
Iron, copper alloy; forging, casting, stamp.
Ober-Officer Badge of a Guards Captain
Russia, 1700.
Silver; stamp, gilding, engraving.
Pattern 1706 calvary officer’s sword
Sweden, 1706-1721.
Steel, copper alloy; forging, gilding, casting, inlay.
Ewer with Neptune as a stem
Germany, Augsburg, 1649-1653.
Silver; chasing, casting, gilding.
Presented to Tsar Peter the Great by King Charles XII of Sweden in 1699.
Beaker
Sweden, Stockholm, 1676-1698.
Silver; filigree, gilding.
Maker Justinus Johannes von Yhlen (Uhlen).
Presented to Tsar Peter the Great by King Charles XII of Sweden in 1699.
Riga City key
Livonia, Riga, 1710.
Maker Johann George Eben.
Gold; casting, carving, niello.
Presented to Field Marshal General Count B.P. Sheremetev by the magistrate of Riga city in 1710.
Tankard in the shape of a melon
Denmark, Elsinore or Prussia, 1657-1664, before 1676.
Maker Villum Albertsen (?).
Silver; chasing, casting, engraving, punching, gilding.
Presented to Tsar Peter the Great by King Charles XII of Sweden in 1699.
Candlestick
Sweden, Stockholm, 1698.
Maker Andres Bengtsson.
Silver; chasing, gilding.
Gift to Tsar Peter the Great from King Charles XII of Sweden in 1699.
Hunting sword
Holland; handle – Japan, first third of the 18th c.
Steel, copper alloy; forging, engraving, blueing, carving, flat chasing, oxidation.

8 June – 13 November 2022

Moscow, State Historical Museum

Organized by the

State Historical Museum

Participants:

Russian Academy of Sciences Library, State Tretiakov Gallery, State Darwin Museum, State Historical Museum, State Museum and Heritage Site 'Peterhof', Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, State Russian Museum, State Hermitage, Historical and Documentary Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, The Moscow Kremlin Museums, Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography named after Peter the Great (Kunstkammer) of Russian Academy of Sciences, 'Kuskovo' Estate Museum, Pereslavl-Zalessky State Historical, Architectural and Art Museum and Heritage Site, Russian State Library, Russian State Archive of Ancient Documents, Serpukhov History and Art Museum

The Moscow Kremlin Museums participate in the new exhibition project of the State Historical Museum "Peter the Great. Journeys to Europe". Peter the Great's personal knowledge of Western Europe became a significant factor in the development of Russia, which comprehensively borrowed the advanced experience of European countries in science and technology, art and education, manufacturing, military affairs, and shipbuilding. The Russian Tsar made contacts with Western Europe on the principles of respect for the national interests of his state and equality with the other great powers. Peter the Great's journeys to West European countries clearly demonstrate how military triumphs and the development of productive forces helped to establish Russia's authority and expand its foreign policy and economic ties.

The Kremlin collection contains significant artefacts directly related to Peter the Great’s personality. These include the Tsar's regalia, arms, pieces of clothing, diplomatic gifts presented to him, and various utensils that served him in everyday life.

The exhibition will show thirty-two unique objects from the Moscow Kremlin Museums’ collection. Those are ambassadorial gifts from King Charles XII of Sweden, sent before the beginning of the Great Northern War; swords and broadswords of commanders and personal bodyguards of the Swedish king, which became trophies of the Russian army, including those from the Battle of Poltava; the officer badges of the famous Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky Guards Regiments, as well as the goldkey of Riga presented at the capitulation of the city to the commander of the Russian army, Field Marshal General Count Boris Petrovich Sheremetev.