PAVEL MIKHAILOV. 1786–1840. VOYAGES TO THE SOUTH POLE

In 1819-1821 Pavel Mikhailov (1786-1840) took participation in the expedition of F.Bellinsgauzen and M.Lazarev that opened the sixth continent - Antarctica, and in 1826-1829 - in the expedition of M.Staniukovich and F.Litke that was sent to explore the shores of Bering Sea and the central part of Pacific Ocean. The artist had fixed in his album the discovered lands, views of towns and villages. Also he created the portraits of aboriginals and thoroughly depicted the examples of exotic flora and fauna. The water colours and drawings by Pavel Mikhailov (among them are many sketches) are distinguished by the high reliability and exactness in depiction of nature. Many drawings have author's inscription, often with the indication of date of execution and geographic coordinates.

The exposition includes about 100 water colours and drawings from the collection of the Russian Museum that owns the unique collection of the works that are of great interest to the specialists of different professions - art-critics, geographers, ethnographers. The materials of first expeditions are presented together with the lithographs for the Trips of captain Bellinsgauzen in South Ledovity Ocean during 1819, 1820 and 1821 years book, and various things that were bring by the expedition of F.Bellinsgauzen.

         The exhibition is organized by the State Russian Museum in collaboration with Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography named after Peter the Great (Kunstkamera, St. Petersburg) of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Russian National Library