Scientists at the Institute of Russian Literature (Pushkin House) found three previously unknown poem by Mikhail Lomonosov, Tass reported.
On the detected verses spoke at the Department of Russian literature of the XVIII century, the scientific secretary of LPI RAS Andrei Kostin. All three works were created on the occasion of the fireworks, arranged in St. Peteburge and published without a byline. According to Andrei Kostin, the assumption of authorship University arose after comparing archival documents. The text of one of his poems was published in the program that issued the guests at the New Year’s celebration in 1759. During the holiday fireworks display was arranged in the fortress, which guests watched from the windows of the Winter Palace. Another document retained information that Lomonosov for the preparation of the fireworks was handed to 200 rubles. Literary style of the poem also refers to the authorship University. Two other works created for similar reasons, in honor of the New Year fireworks in 1758 and part of the salute at the palace of Count Peter Shuvalov, June 11, 1758.
Mikhail Lomonosov wrote many poems dedicated court fireworks. It is known, for example, his poem about the “illuminations and fireworks” in honor of the new 1754 and construction of the Golovin Palace Elizabeth. Quite a few of these works were included in the drafting of their own collected works in 1756. In later editions of these poems were absent, as is usually published without signature.
illuminations and fireworks in the XVIII century, when Russian imperial palace were organized for the new year and to honor other festive events. The first of these festivals were held in honor of the victories even Peter I the Great Northern War, but the greatest scope reached during the reign of Empress (Anne, Elizabeth, Catherine II). Celebrations were held in St. Petersburg or Moscow, depending on where at the moment was the imperial court. They were carried out on a large scale. For example, on one of the illuminations 1754 per week worked around the clock about a thousand people. Light snatched from the darkness of night the whole architectural structures and pictorial compositions, which explains the meaning of the audience in letters of fire on banners. Illuminations for each time allocated hundreds of pounds of melted beef fat, which burned in the bowl with wicks, illuminate the scenery. These activities have an important advocacy tool, as praised the wisdom and virtue of the ruling empress and prosperity of the country under its rule. As mentioned in the poem University illumination for 1753:
The Goddess, the longer shout at us,
The higher you mortals immortal works.
solemnly gate trophies chariot
In our hearts and vernyya radostnyya person.
The scientist and memoirist Andrej Bolotov recalled one of these celebrations, he had seen in his youth:
«Illumination was really worthy of view, and I lost my eyes, looking and admiring the judges. It was made of colorful lanterns that Shred is different lights seemed to be. On both sides were represented by two churches, and in the middle of the greatest of the greatest of the dais painting of the Colossus of Rhodes, standing with his feet on the two edges of the harbor, which extends in the form of proshpektivicheskom thereof up to the temples and touches the other ends to the add-on. This kind of illumination was already known to me though, but such a huge and magnificent and I have not seen because the judges looked at with great admiration. ” This book is about Bolotov illumination to the day of Patron Saint of the Empress Elizabeth, September 5, 1752, a draft of which was Lomonosov, who wrote to him befitting poetry.
Office of the Chief of artillery and fortifications, responsible for carrying out these events, two months before the date of the fireworks sent to the Academy of Sciences official requests (so-called “promemorii”), with the requirement to draft illumination and write to it the inscription.
This task runs one of the professors. In the 1730s – 1740s, this was done by Christians Krusius and Jacob Staehelin. Last officially considered a “master of fireworks,” and in a contract concluded with it specifically stated that he admitted to the academy “for philology and allegorical inventions for fireworks, illuminations and medals.” Since Staehelin wrote in German, his poems were translated Russian poets. For a while it was engaged Vasily Tredyakovsky. Presented by the Academy project was directed to the Office of the main artillery and fortifications, and finally approved by the Empress personally.
Since 1747 this work was involved and Mikhail Lomonosov, while still “associate physical class.” First Lomonosov was only a translator of German poetry Staehelin, but later became independently develop projects illuminations. In this he was helped by knowledge of chemistry that could be applied to the pyrotechnics. In particular, the projects of fireworks in 1754 refers to the “twisted rocket” invented by Lomonosov and “on the sample shown.” In a report to the President of the Academy of Science of the activity Lomonosov mentions: “Now Klement’ev under my laboratory is seeking in looking at my direction, as if to make fireworks green horse zvezdki».
So Lomonosov shared this activity with Staehelin. Sometimes academic authorities has committed Staehelin and Lomonosov prepare two independent projects, of which the highest zakazchitsa selects one. Preparation of draft court festivities took up a lot of time at the University, hindering scientific pursuits. In addition, it displeased Staehelin, jealous of their activities.
These circumstances have led to the fact that in 1755 Lomonosov requested to be released from the drafting of illuminations. “MRC”, gave it to them on this matter to the Office of the Academy of Sciences was brief: “His Excellency, the court counselor Stelin repeatedly complained that I take away from him the position, making projects for illumination and fireworks, and I then repaired by orders of the Office of the Academy of Sciences . And to commemorate, the court counselor Stelin had no reason to continue to complain about me, the Office of the Academy of Sciences asking me to continue on to leave, that I over my profession and without a lot of things have ».
From around, please Lomonosov was unsuccessful. One report Lomonosov wrote that “did a project with poems for fireworks” to 18 December 1756. However, until the present findings poems Lomonosov to fireworks started after 1755 were unknown.
Every time the finished project, Lomonosov poetry prefaced the description of the scenery. Here’s how it looked for fireworks in honor of the anniversary of the coronation of Elizabeth:
«In the middle of vozvyshennago several places to submit torzhestvennyya gates, which decorations for a decent place consist of hearts, interconnected bay scallops. At the gate to portray vezhzhayuschuyu grand chariot on the Rome usual, on which the name of Her Majesty venzelovoe under the imperial crown; on the frontispiece of the gate with the Russian coat of arms and skiptrom olivnymi vetvmi. On both sides of the gate to put the two pillars, ukrashennyya shields similarity hearts have hanging on festoons around the pillars entwined; on billboards depict the coats of arms of the most illustrious Russian possessions. On the right pillar of the Imperial crown on the top and on the left – Power imagine. Pillars with gate interconnect them standing palmovyh trees and smoking oltaryami by changes in perspective location ».
Usually, the poem on the occasion of the fireworks were short, no more than 4 – 15 stitches. From the 1750s through the Lomonosov they rose to 30 lines or more. This style took over from Lomonosov and Staehelin. Lomonosov also contributed to the theme illuminations historical motifs. In the eighth volume of the complete works of Lomonosov, which included his poems, there are 27 poems to court illumination. Now they added three more.
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