One of the most important stages of the “Hermitage Butterflies” study, part of the Russian-Dutch Museum 15/24 project, has been completed: A full record of depictions of lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) on different exhibits in the Hermitage’s stocks has been compiled and scientifically classified. The “Collection of Hermitage Butterflies” will be published as an illustrated catalogue.
Russia(?). Second half of the 19th century
Jan van Huysum
Holland. 1722
Jan Davidsz de Heem
Holland. Between 1606 and 1684
Russia. 1861–84
Kornilov Brothers’ porcelain factory
Germany. Circa 1735–40
Meissen Porcelain Factory
Japan. 19th century
Unknown artist
Western Europe. 1890s – early 1900s
Over the course of 2019–20, the “Hermitage Butterflies” research project has been underway in the museum. Participants in it have been members of the International Youth Consultative Board (IYCB) of the Museum 15/24 project, children and their parents cared for by the Butterfly Children Foundation (whose patron is People’s Artist of Russia Xenia Rappoport), Hermitage researchers, entomologists from Saint Petersburg State University, and members of the museum’s youth audience.
The ”Hermitage Butterflies” is the first such extensive research undertaking, aimed at studying the museum’s stocks. Around 500 different species of lepidoptera were “caught” on the museum’s works of fine and applied art. Then all the depictions in the paintings, drawings and sculptures, as well as on porcelain, textiles and other materials were scientifically identified by the biology faculty of Saint Petersburg State University.
Painted ladies, tortoiseshells, fritillaries, owlet moths, blues, whites and satyrs – more than 400 butterflies, moths and caterpillars were named in accordance with modern scientific classification. The young researchers came to the conclusion that popular “models” with artists of centuries past were swallowtails, emperor moths and tiger moths. The “butterfly hunters” established that many of the depictions of lepidoptera related to impressions from travels in South America and Asia, while quite often the images incorporated into pictures were embellished or invented by the artists. Besides lepidoptera, the project participants found and identified more than 200 other insects in Hermitage artworks – dragonflies, crickets, beetles, ladybirds, ants and many others. The entomologists also proposed the latest clarifications for the classification of insects that appear in historical catalogues of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Before the end of the year, as part of the Museum 15/24 project, it is planned to bring out an artistic-entomological publication of the Hermitage Butterflies, with all the profits from its sale going to the Butterfly Children charitable foundation.
The head of applied programmes for the Museum 15/24 project, senior researcher of the State Hermitage Irina Bagdasarova; executive secretary of the board of the project Svetlana Datsenko, a representative of the Hermitage on the Amstel foundation; Zorina Myskova, a member of the project’s supervisory board , chairwoman of the board of the Hermitage 21st Century foundation.
The Museum 15/24 project
The Museum 15/24 project is a complex innovative programme for the State Hermitage being implemented by an international consortium made up of the Hermitage–Amsterdam Exhibition Centre, the Hermitage 21st Century Foundation, and the Outsider Art Museum (Netherlands). The project is part of the Dutch-based international programme Creative Twinning.
The aims of the project are to develop new methods of involving young people aged 15–24 in traditional and innovative museum practices with museums in Russia and abroad, educational and research institutions in Russia and the Netherlands. The programme is being implemented under the guidance of the State Hermitage.
The International Youth Consultative Board
Eleven young people from the Netherlands and ten from Russia in the relevant age group come together to discuss and implement the Museum 15/24 project initiative. Board members also act as experts to assess proposals and the results of work on all aspects of the project.
