Reliefs of the Summer Palace: An Early Onset of Russian Antiquity

The reliefs of the Summer Palace represent an early attempt at classical art in Russia, distinct from the works of Andreas Schlüter or his successors. These 28 bas-reliefs and one haute-relief, themed around Ovid’s Metamorphoses, blend propagandistic allegories with personal reflections on Peter the Great's life. The study reveals that while some reliefs are modeled after engravings by Giovanni Andrea Maglioli, the majority draw inspiration from a set of 226 engravings by Charles Le Brun, accompanying a free-verse translation of Metamorphoses by Isaac de Berserade. This work, encountered by Peter during his Great Embassy or among European friends' collections, provided the first comprehensive plastic representation of Ovid’s works in Russia. The reliefs exhibit inventive compositions and recurrent maritime motifs, suggesting Peter's direct involvement and a unique synthesis of literary, allegorical, personal, and statesmanlike elements.

Korolev, A. V., Pozdnev, M. M.,. (2020). Reliefs of the Summer Palace: An Early Onset of Russian Antiquity. Philologia Classica, 15(2), 292–321. https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu20.2020.208