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   Time Not Past: The State
Hermitage Museum and the War of 1812 M. Peshkova: “I returned to my city, so familiar that is bring me to tears” - I recall Mandelstam’s verses, crossing Palace Square, hurrying to the central office of the State Hermitage Museum to meet Mikhail Borisovich Piotrovsky, the General Director of the country’s largest museum, to ask him how lovers of history are doing today. First, permit me to ask you about the War of 1812 and the State Hermitage Museum. What are you going to do? As I understand it, the employees of the State Hermitage Museum have been thinking about that quite actively for several years now. M. Piotrovsky: Well, we don’t really need to think, because the State Hermitage Museum itself is a very significant monument to the War of 1812, although there has been a kind of evolution here. But before talking about evolution, we are certainly thinking about how to do it in the State Hermitage Museum way, and not as others would do it. Everyone with enough interest in the matter, including your radio station, is doing the same thing. But what we are doing at the State Hermitage Museum proceeds from the fact that the whole museum complex of the Winter Palace is a monument, everything rests on the Winter Palace. The Winter Palace is a place for ceremony. We began our work as a museum dedicated to these matters with a special ceremony in the St. George Hall, dedicated to the Battle of Klyastitsy. Right here I can compare our actions with what others do. I noticed that the Echo of Moscow radio station is writing in the magazine Dilettante about Klyastitsy. Some information is presented there, about how a certain battle took there, a rather small one, really, and then another, and then the Russian troops fought badly around the village of Yakubovo. In general, it isn’t a bad summary. At the State Hermitage Museum, on the other hand, the battle of Klyastitsy is something that decided the fate of St. Petersburg. On the day of that battle, which has been somewhat forgotten, a day, so to speak, of victory, we hung Hesse’s picture, the Battle of Klyastitsy, in the St. George Hall, we carried out the banner of the regiment that fought at Klyastitsy, and there was a rota of the honor guard. That is, it was entire ceremony, after which the painting was moved to the St. George Hall. For every day of battle, we have ten paintings by Hesse, dedicated to various battles in that war. On every day of battle, we will carry those paintings out into the St. George Hall. That is the State Hermitage Museum’s approach. The State Hermitage Museum is not simply a museum; it is a universal museum, meaning that it is also a military museum. In its time, the war of 1812 immortalized the Winter Palace itself and all its rooms and grounds, when the Winter Palace was simply the Winter Palace, and the State Hermitage Museum was separate, it was a monument to the military glory of Russia. You know the Field Marshal Hall, which has now practically restored in its entirety. The Small Throne Room represents the victories of Peter. The Armorial Hall – the events of 1612. The other is a military gallery with portraits of generals, and it is our main monument; it has its own unique history, which we will talk a great deal more about, and those years, since so many things happened, so much changed, and today as well. It has always been a subject that can be researched and researched forever. In particular, since the names were mixed up there after the fire, it is necessary to restore various details and the gallery itself; who hit, and who missed. In 1920 there was a wonderful exhibit, which included a photographic portrait of Sergei Volkonsky in Siberia. So, it is a military gallery, then there is the Alexander Hall, and in general the memories of Alexander and the memories of the war, there are medallions there that depict battles, and from the window one can see Palace Square, and in the center, the main monument, the Alexander Column. I will say it once again; this is not the Alexander Pillar. The Alexander Pillar that Pushkin describes is something else entirely. And the Triumphal Arch, so that the entire square in front of the Winter Palace is a monument to the War of 1812. When the Winter Palace was the Winter Palace, and the museum was the museum. Then the palace became part of the museum, and at the time the War of 1812 was the most important subject for the State Hermitage Museum as a scientific institution. The military victories, glory and military history of Russia, all of it received a great deal of attention and was done very well. So now, when we were wondering what we would publish for 2012, it turned out that there was no need to write anything, if we republished Glinka’s books, the book about the war, The State Hermitage Museum and the War of 1812 by Glinka and Pomarnatzky, except with some small additions. And that’s all, nothing more is needed, everything has been beautifully written. This, by the way, is an excellent example of the fact that during the Soviet days they also wrote about military matters in such a way that it can be easily read, written and republished today. This is truly an example of State Hermitage Museum science. So, there were many exhibits. From my childhood I remember the Italian campaigns of Suvorov, a grand exhibit in the Armorial Hall, and then others, connected with 1812, a great many of them. A true museum presentation of Russian culture, a presentation of military history, and Russian culture in particular. And then there was the next step, the State Hermitage Museum is now receiving the East Wing of the General Staff Building, the Arch of the General Staff Building; it is part of the State Hermitage Museum once again. It was not that long ago that the Alexander Column became a State Hermitage Museum exhibit item. Things have truly come full circle; now the State Hermitage Museum is truly also a military monument to the War of 1812; consequently, we also have a different responsibility, and much more. The next step is coming; the idea has emerged from within the State Hermitage Museum to create a museum of the Guard, and we have begun to create it. We want to mark it, just like 1812, with the story of the creation of the museum of the Guard, since 1812, is, of course, the history of the Russian people’s struggle with the French invaders. It is the story of the Russian guard, which, to a great extent, ensured that victory, which made great sacrifices, and, in general, represented itself flawlessly in Paris and Europe. Unfortunately, we have not been able to create a museum of the guard in the form that we would like to, since the Ministry of Defense does not want to create a museum of the Guard, and in order to create a full-fledged institution, we would need a building on Palace Square that is occupied by the army’s administrative offices. In the meantime, we are working on it, and I think that a museum of the Guard will still be created, all the more so because of all of the grand collections; we are now receiving great collections from abroad, and we are constantly exhibiting them. This demonstrates how we take a ceremonial attitude to these things. We have a large exhibit dedicated to the War of 1812; it opens in December. It opens on December 25th, on the day when the aggressor was driven out of our country. This is a very important date, and important national holiday, and we hope to revive it as such. The exhibit itself begins in December and we continue longer. We are doing this to remind people that nothing ended in ’12; it ended when Russian troops entered Paris. The last painting will be exhibited in ’14, when we will mark the entry of the Russians into Paris. That, in principle, is what we would like the mark. M. Peshkova: Will the Moleben come back to the State Hermitage Museum? M. Piotrovsky: The Moleben will come back to the State Hermitage Museum when we restore the Church. Our Church is one of the solutions to the problem; a Church in a museum. Once the Cathedral is restored, we intend for a service to be held there once a year, on that very day, because it is the most appropriate date and the Winter Palace is the most appropriate place for it to be done right. The Moleben and a military parade at the same time. We already hold small parades in the military gallery for various events. Like to mark the battle of Klyastitsy, for example, and on other important dates, so there will be a parade and the Moleben, the kind of the Moleben that suits a parade, the imperial spirit, and not funeral and wedding services and so forth. M. Peshkova: I would like to ask about the Battle of Borodino. How will you be marking it? M. Piotrovsky: The entire country will be marking the occasion of the Battle of Borodino in various ways; I think there will be nothing except a ceremony around the painting depicting the battle; and I think that we will try to do something else, since the Battle of Borodino is extremely important. There are two sides to the Battle of Borodino. For example, one of the interesting features of the State Hermitage Museum collection dedicated to 1812 is the fact that we have many French items, French stories about the war. We have a wonderful collection of drawings of the war by Adam and other artists who became prisoners of war. One even described his time as prisoner. Things that were lost, Napoleonic medals, in particular, medals for the victory at the Battle of Borodino and the victory at Moscow. That is an important side to the Battle of Borodino. All the same, this is an important example of how history is evaluated differently even when people tell exactly the same story about what happened; it was a victory for the French, and a victory for us. However, I think that the Battle of Borodino has become significantly more important for us now. I hope that we will win the next battle of Borodino, because, perhaps, it is only the anniversary that will save the battlefield at Borodino from privatization, from being torn to pieces there, and everything on earth. So far, it seems to be helping to a certain extent; things are beginning to work out precisely because of this historical date. If we win that battle and preserve that historical site, then we may be able to save other historical landscapes. However, we will see what happens. In general, that entire year, 1812, as I have said, is our pure war, it is very good to use it to bring up children, and raise them with military stories about it. But it is also interesting in comparative terms. Of course, it is an entirely different war, but if we compare it with the Second World War, there are many things that are parallel and many that are not. But we will not compare Austerlitz with Spain, where forces were tested, and, doubtless, the war and invasion of Napoleon foretold Tilsit. As a result of Tilsit, Russia received Finland; in a manner of speaking, Russia made a deal with a tyrant and divided the world. Literally a few days ago I was fascinated to read Gordin’s books about the existence of two plans. They presented two plans. One was the Bagration plan, a "preemptive war". To burst forth and fight the French near Warsaw. The second was the Barclay de Tolly plan, a "scythian war", which is precisely what it was called; it stated that it is possible to retreat and retreat, drawing the enemy with us, and destroy them. That was what they did in 1812, and it is also possible to read exactly the same thing about the Great Patriotic War. I think, however, that that war gives us a reason to think about things other than how it is an occasion to be glad, how good it was, how beautiful, it is useful for instructive purposes. People are also instructed by these kinds of thoughts about various historical parallels. I think that the Battle of Borodino make it possible to talk and think about it ambivalently. M. Peshkova: The General Director of the State Hermitage Museum, Academician Mikhail Piotrovsky, about the War of 1812 and the museum that has been entrusted to him, about the events timed to coincide with that date on the program “Time Not Past” on Ekho Moskvi. The State Hermitage Museum is not only a museum and educational center, but its main role is as an academic institution. Do you plan any conferences connected with the War of 1812? M. Piotrovsky: Well, you know, let 2012 pass us by, we are now entering the time of the European campaign and Paris, and there will be both a conference and a ceremony there. However, I think that what we have here is a very important museum and ceremonial issues, because we are a major scientific institution. We are an educational institution, we produce a cultural product that attracts people, and so on, but we are also a monument to Russian statehood in the sense that we present the history of Russia here in Petersburg. Of course, there will be many conferences, big and small. Since, as I have already said, there are a great many things that can be studies and shown. We also have relics that were not seized in the war, although there is the war as well. When it comes to the war, there is the remarkable baton of Marshal Davout. Davout was tremendous marshal, a famous figure, but he lost his baton twice. He once lost it somewhere in Prussia; the Cossacks collected it, and it is preserved in a historical museum. Another was taken from him at Krasnoi. It is preserved at our museum. It is military trophy. The military trophies also include a coat belonging to Marshal Ney, taken in battle. We have two sabers and a sword belonging to Napoleon, which came to us in an entirely peaceful manner, as well as various things connected with Euge`ne Beauharnais, since his son, the Duke of Luxemburg married the daughter of Napoleon I, and he moved here, and many Napoleonic relics came with them. This was also fed by the cult of Napoleon which existed in Russia. The main souvenir that people buy is a statuette of Napoleon. There is nothing to be done about it; in Russia, people love Napoleon more than they do in France. There is a large Luxemburg collection. Everything that is connected with Napoleon’s name became part of the museum peacefully. There is a subject that must be touched on, and we will touch on it in our exhibit; the public relations campaign around the War of 1812. How it was described after the fact by Russian culture and history. In this area we also have a lot of interesting things. One perfect example is a vase made by the Imperial Porcelain Factory; it includes portrait of Alexander, and a globe with Russia on it on the other side. This is the conclusion that Nikolai I reached. Nikolai I deliberately conducted a tremendous campaign to immortalize the memory of the war, to ensure that it would be remembered correctly as a great Russian victory. It was Alexander, of course, who started everything. It was Alexander who began the military gallery. Then there was a fire, and it was recreated. The columns and arches are from Nikolai. The vase is wonderful; it is one of many wonderful examples of the jeweler’s art. We also have a saber belonging to Alexander I, made in Zlatoust, with images of all the major battles. All of this amounts to an interesting collection that shows how the War of 1812 entered the national consciousness. M. Peshkova: Could you please tell us how the library of the War of 1812 was created. It probably began with separate cabinets, separate stands. The State Hermitage Museum has such extensive material about the War of 1812. M. Piotrovsky: The libraries of Glinka and many master of military art went into the State Hermitage Museum library. In this area, our museum is one of the richest, as it is in other areas. We have a grand collection of banners. What makes these banners unique? Only the State Hermitage Museum can bring out the banners of the regiments that found at Borodino. There are paintings, there are stories, the famous bayonet charge, when the infantry attacked the French cavalry. The Semenovsky, Preobrazhensky and Finlandsky Regiments were there, you can imagine what it was like. Or the famous cavalry engagement. A horse regiment, the horse guard and hussars. There was also an engagement much like at the Battle of Prokhorovka. We have the banners, we can present the standards and feel that it is happened. Banners preserve the spirit of the war, as books hold the spirits of the people who brought all of this together. When this connection was, to a certain extent, lost, when people forgot how a person ought to conduct himself. It was preserved through military history. It is always apparent how the intelligentsia preserves tradition that can never be killed. This is one way; through military history. These people, who collected toy soldiers and created exhibits. It must be said that there are also exhibits on the Great Patriotic War of the 20th Century, which were also created at the State Hermitage Museum, and during the evacuation in Sverdlovsk it was simultaneously a way to transfer cultural heritage through military heritage. The army and military history are part of Russian culture, a very important part. This is more than landing craft and tanks, it is people, jackets, concepts of military honor, military duty. Our city has always been a military one. We are trying to somehow retain our military spirit and military appearance. M. Peshkova: I would like to know how the War of 1812 will be reflected in your lecture halls? Has some kind of plan been developed? M. Piotrovsky: Of course, we have a plan. I don’t know the details. We are trying to do what no one else will. Everyone does lectures, and so will we, everyone does exhibits, and so will we, but there are things that can only be done at the State Hermitage Museum; this includes ceremonies, republications of books, the military gallery, tours on how military history is reflected at the State Hermitage Museum exhibitions. The fact that almost all of the field marshals hang in the Field Marshal’s Hall is more important than ten lectures. There they stand. I hope that everyone will remember, we have a wonderful marble tablet, a military gallery, there are fine words there. Not everyone remembers where those beautiful verses come from, and what follows. This is a beautiful poem about Barclay de Tolly, about how the great strategist was removed; he has to be removed, it turned out to be a good combination. These lessons of history, connected with things we will try to do that in the most diverse forms. Tours, events, we will come up with a lot of various events around historical dates and historical figures. M. Peshkova: Will this benefit the wider public; I’m referring to those who, for various reasons, cannot visit the State Hermitage Museum? Will there be films? M. Piotrovsky: Everything is still being put in place, of course. There are films on the Internet; everything will be on YouTube, Twitter, etc. There is not special script for a film. Everything that happens in the State Hermitage Museum is being documented. We just have to put it all together in time, while they still have the footage. M. Peshkova: Thank you very much. By the way, were there military men in your family? M. Piotrovsky: Yes, of course. Our entire family is military on my father’s side. My grandfathers were generals; artillerists, appropriately enough. My uncle, my brother’s father, continued the military tradition, he was a military medic, Uncle Yuri, and his oldest son was a military engineer. M. Peshkova: I met the director of the State Hermitage Museum, M. Piotrovsky in his office before the beginning of the ceremonies dedicated to the rout of the enemy at the Battle of Borodino. The Thunder of the Year 1812 this will be the name of the exhibit from the State Hermitage Museum collection, which will pen on December 25th. Another exhibit will open at the same time; We all come together as a single soul... This is an exhibit dedicated to A. N. Olenin and his contemporaries, dedicated to that very event, as well as an exhibit of tin toy soldiers. The republication of G. V. Vilinbakhov and B. I. Asvarisch, The Patriotic War in the Paintings of Peter Hesse, the publication of V. A. Zhukovsky’s poem A Singer in the Ranks of the Russian Soldiers with portraits of the generals who participated in the war with Napoleon as illustrations, and much more. This is what the museum’s publishing house will produce. The scientific and educational department is preparing a composition entitled The Russian Guard in 1812 including a display of banners, using the marches of regiments and poetic presentations dedicated to the events of 200 years ago. This is only part of what is planned. After the interview, I walked around the interior, following a map to the military gallery of the Winter Palace, bought on the way. I went there not only to look at the collection of the portraits of the Russian regimental commanders and war leaders. The Gallery is located between the St. George and Armorial Halls; I tried to breathe in the aroma of a forgotten epoch, look into the faces of Kutuzov and Barclay de Tolly. When you look at them, you have the sense that they are your ancestors, since their names are as familiar as your own. There are Bagration, Raevsky, Davydov. I also learned that after the Revolution of ’17, they include four portraits of the soldiers from the palace company, participants in the war, men decorated with the highest military honors; they were also drawn by the Englishman Dawe in 1728; I froze at the marble tablet with Pushkin’s words on it: Commander In the Russian Tsar’s halls there is a chamber M. Peshkova: Sound recorder - Alexandr Smirnov, and I am Maiya Peshkova, Time Not Past http://echo.msk.ru/programs/time/925505-echo/#element-text |
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