Galerie de L'Hermitage Gravée au trait d'après les plus beaux Tableaux qui la composent. Avec la description Historique Par Camille De Genève. Ouvrage approuvé par S.M.I. Alexandre Ier. et publiée par F.X. Labensky. Tome Ier (II) avec permission de la Censure.
The first frontispiece is signed as drawn by Reichel and engraved by Sanders; the second, as drawn by Gerard and engraved by Sanders. The two title-plates are signed as scripted and engraved by Sanders. Most numbered plates are signed by their draughtsmen (Reichel, Choustow, Scotnikow, Michailow, Yacowlof (or Jacoblew or Yacoblow), Glovatchevsky, Sokolow), and all are signed by their engravers (Sanders (or J. Saunders), Scotnikow, Kollmann, Podolinsky). Most plates in Vol. I are also signed as directed by Labensky.
The work is dedicated by F.X. Labensky to the Emperor Alexander I.
References
On the history of the Hermitage collections see M. Piotrovski and O. Neverov, Hermitage collections (1997); G. Norman, The Hermitage (1997); C. Burrus, Les collectionneurs russes (1992).
Summary Note
The publication-date of 1805 is given on both the French title-plates and on the Russian title-page of Volume I; but the publication-date of the Russian title-page of Volume II is that of 1809. The work appears to have been published serially: the tables of plates state that the first volume was issued as 9 cahiers in three livraisons, and the second volume as six cahiers in three livraisons.
The half-titles read, 'Description De La Galerie De L'Hermitage. Tome Premier. (Second.)'. The Russian titles read, 'Ermitazhnaia Gal(l)ereia Gravirovannaia shtrichami ... Camilem Urozhentsem' Zhenevscim'. S' Frantsuzcago perevel' Sergii Glinka (Pavel Titov) ... i izdano F.I. Labenscim'. Tom' Pervuii (Vtoroi) ... Alitsiia ... v' Tipographii Shnora, MDCCCV (pechatano pri Senatscoi Tipographii, MDCCCIX.)'.
The text is given in French and Russian (apart from the half-titles, which are in French only). Each language has its own text-pagination.
The work shows and describes a selection of paintings from one of the most celebrated European collections, that of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. The imperial collections were begun by Peter I, greatly enlarged by Catherine II and continued by Alexander I and Nicolas I.
The frontispieces show portraits of Empress Catherine II (vol.I) and Emperor Alexander I (vol. II). The numbered plates show paintings by: Raphael (2 plates), Rubens (3), Poussin (6), Rembrandt (2), F. Albani (2), Leonardo, S. del Piombo, S. Mieris, Correggio (2), Domenichino, S. Rosa (4), Veronese (2), Van Dyck (9), P. Potter, E. Le Sueur (4), F. Barocchi, Guido (5), Ann. Carracci (2), C. Maratta (2), Murillo, S. Bourdon, Claude, Perugino, C. Dolce, Giorgione, A. del Sarto (2), Titian, L. Giordano, Sassoferato, Subleyras, Fra Bartolomeo, M. Valentin, Garofalo, P. da Cortona, Lahire, F. Mieris, Fragonard, Mengs, Velázquez, Parmegianino, Caravaggio and Feti.
Provenance
The front pastedown is inscribed in pencil, 'S:A:H', i.e. S.A. Hart, librarian of the Royal Academy 1864-81.
Binding Note
19th-century half red morocco, marbled-papered boards; spine lettered 'Galerie De L'Hermitage' and 'R.A.'
Paintings, European - History
Collections - Art Galleries - Russia - St. Petersburg - 19th century
Catalogues - Russia - 19th century
Pictorial works - Russia - 19th century