The First Scientific Collections of Kunstkamera: Exhibition Guide

Guide to the exhibition «The First Scientific Collections of Kunstkamera» – the third edition of the series «Halls of Kunstkamera». The guide tells the history of the Peter the Great’s oldest public museum in Russia – Kunstkamera – and about its first scientific collections – cabinet of «naturalies», introduces the collection of F. Ruysch and A. Seba, bought by Peter in Amsterdam at the beginning of the 18th century, and the teratological collection, acquired in Russia by decree of Tsar. 

	FOREWORD
	INTRODUCTION
	PETER I AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL SCIENCES IN 18TH CENTURY RUSSIA
	Peter’s I Range of Interests
	The “Emperor’s Cabinet”
	Peter and his Collection of Monsters
	Giant Bourjois (Giants and Dwarfs)
	Anatomical Theatre
	The First Anatomists of the Academy of Science
	Maria Sybilla Merian and the Gsells
	FREDERIK RUYSCH AND HIS ANATOMICAL COLLECTION
	Frederik Ruysch
	Preparations with Injected Vessels
	Embryo Preparations
	Ruysch’s “Cabinet”
	The Art of Embalmment
	Frederik Ruysch’s Technique
	Frederik Ruysch and Albert Seba
	TERATOLOGY
	Teratology. The History of Science
	Human and Animal Embryos
	Twin Monstrosities
	Single Monstrosities
	Limb Defects
	ROOM “THE FIRST NATURAL-HISTORY COLLECTIONS” IN FIVE MINUTES
	Collection of teeth extracted by Peter I
	Wax Brain Model in a Natural Skull
	Skeleton of Nicolas Bourjois
	Janus-Faced Monster
	Baby Head from F. Ruysch’s Collection
	Injected specimen from F. Ruysch’s collection