The State Hermitage Museum: Hermitage News

The Sphynx who took his secret to the grave. Alexander I. Reality and Legends.
A meeting with Viktor Faibisovich, Director of the State Hermitage's Department of New Acquisitions

On 25 February 2005 students met with the director of the State Hermitage’s Department of New Acquisitions, Viktor Mikhailovich Faibisovich, who holds a doctorate in cultural studies. The meeting took place in the Youth Center within the program entitled VIP Guests of the Youth Center. Dr Faibisovich used the occasion to raise the veil of secrecy surrounding the enigmatic personality of Alexander I. In his opinion, Alexander I was the only occupant of the Russian imperial throne who tried to combine politics and morality. "Alexander I has his share of misdeeds on his conscience, but he truly wanted to do good. He was a noble and humane person.”

It is understandable that during the encounter many questions arose among the students. What did Alexander I signify for the Fatherland? Who was in his entourage? What were the details of his life? Why is it that Catherine the Great selected a firm partisan of republican state constitutions, the Frenchman Frederic Cesar de La Harpe to be Alexander’s tutor? Did Catherine the Great’s royal grandson really die in Taganrog? Why is it that after Alexander I’s death his brother Konstantin renounced the throne? All the questions which the students posed received exhaustive replies.

The fact is that the Youth Center’s guest, Viktor Faibisovich, has long worked on the preparations for the exhibition devoted to the Emperor. Although the State Hermitage has works of art which describe the reign of Alexander I, it was a rather difficult task to collect exhibits from other museums. Nonetheless, in a short while this long-awaited exhibition will open in the halls of the Neva Enfilade of the Winter Palace.

In the near future, Lyudmila Ilyinichna Kiselyeva, doctor of history and staff member of the Russian National Library will meet with students in this same VIP Guests of the Youth Center program. The theme for her chat will be medieval book miniatures.

Viktor Faibisovich's lecture

At the meeting in the Youth Center