G.I. Kozlov. Design of the Manuscript of the Privileges and Statute of the Imperial Academy of the three greatest arts. 1764.

      In the Academy of Arts Museum collection there is a distinctive item connected to the foundation of the most significant centre of arts in Russia - the impressive manuscript copy of the first Statute of the Academy of Arts from 1764, personally signed by Empress Catherine the Great. The date of the Empress's gift of the Statute and Privileges has become the second date of the founding of the Academy of Arts.
      In the decree dated 4 November 1764, Catherine, who wanted to be involved in founding the Academy of Arts, noted that although the Academy of Arts in Russia had been established during the reign of her obliging aunt, the Empress Elizabeth (daughter of Peter the Great), it was not officially recognized at that time as a State institution since Elizabeth had not managed to legalize the document before she died. Thus, Catherine planned to provide the Academy with a Statute and Privileges.

Etching by I.P. Chesky from the original by P.P. Svinin. Academy of Free Arts.

      The manuscript of the Privileges and Statute was written on parchment paper with Indian ink, cinnabar and gold and decorated with amazing miniatures and ornamental inserts of tempera and gouache. The author of the manuscript's creation was Gavril Kozlov, a talented painter and head of the history class of the Academy of Arts. His students helped him, along with Mikhail Popov, artist of enamel painting, and miniaturist Feodor Yakovlev. Particular skill was used in the creation of the covering page of the Privileges (picture) and it is distinguished by its complete compositional mastery. Three allegorical figures - Minerva, Glory and a woman with a staff and bridle, symbolizing power and the limits of wisdom, support a round medallion with a portrait of Catherine II, a reduced fragment of a copy of the Empress's coronation portrait of 1763 painted by F.S. Rokotov (located in the Pavlovsk Palace Museum).

Elena Ivanova
Elena Plusnina