The Adventures of Baron Munchausen in Russia – exhibition in the Hermitage Automatic translate

On May 31, 2024, the opening of the exhibition “The Adventures of Baron Munchausen in Russia” took place in the Small Hermitage. The exhibition combines episodes from the adventures of the famous literary character with the biography of a real person - Hieronymus Carl Friedrich von Munchausen (1720-1797), whose life was closely connected with Russia.

“We present another wonderful exhibition. The Hermitage is famous for its unique exhibitions, and this one scientifically analyzes the history of Baron Munchausen. It proves that Munchausen not only existed, but also played an active role at the Russian court. This highlights the role of real science in demonstrating that fantasy can be reality,” said Mikhail Piotrovsky, General Director of the State Hermitage Museum.

Hieronymus von Munchausen arrived in St. Petersburg in 1738 as a page to Duke Anton Ulrich of Brunswick. He witnessed many events at the imperial court, participated in the Russian-Turkish war and served in Riga. Munchausen left Russia in 1750, but returned symbolically, as the hero of a popular book. Many real historical episodes confirm the veracity of Munchausen’s stories, some of them are even more fantastic than his fictional stories. The exhibition exhibits allow you to look at the life of the Russian imperial court through the eyes of Munchausen.

“Our company has been supporting the Hermitage for more than ten years. The Hermitage preserves cultural heritage and initiates unique projects, such as this exhibition, which, I am sure, will be a success,” said Andrei Murov, First Deputy General Director of Rosseti PJSC.

The opening ceremony was attended by famous figures: scientific director of the State Archives of the Russian Federation Sergei Mironenko, deputy general director of the State Hermitage Georgy Vilinbakhov, chief curator Svetlana Adaksina, head of the department of the history of Russian culture Vyacheslav Fedorov and exhibition curator Natalya Bakhareva.

The exhibition will last until September 15, 2024, you can visit it with an entrance ticket to the Main Museum Complex, and guide services are available. The general sponsor is PJSC Rosseti.

The character of Baron Munchausen has appeared in many books since his first appearance. Here are the most notable works:

1. “The story of Baron Munchausen about his amazing travels and campaigns in Russia” (1785)
   • Written by Rudolf Erich Raspe, this is the original book that introduced Baron Munchausen to the world.
2. “The Revived Gulliver: or How the Vice of Lying Should Be Exposed” (1786)
   • This is an English translation of Raspe’s original work, published under the pseudonym Baron Munchausen.
3. "Wunderbare Reisen zu Wasser und Lande, Feldzüge und lustige Abenteuer des Freiherrn von Münchhausen" (1786)
   • This German version, written by Gottfried August Bürger, expanded on Raspé’s stories and became the basis for most later versions.
4. "The Amazing Adventures of Baron Munchausen" (1786)
   • An expanded English version of Raspe, including additional stories not found in the original.
5. Various adaptations and sequels
   • Subsequently, many authors wrote their own versions, adaptations or sequels, including The Adventures of Baron Munchausen with illustrations by Gustave Doré (1862) and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen by Sigismund Krzyzanowski (1922).

Adventures described in books

The adventures of Baron Munchausen are characterized by an exaggerated, fantastic character, combining humor with the impossible. Among the most famous stories:

• Cannonball Ride : Munchausen allegedly rode a cannonball during the battle.
• Voyage to the Moon : Using a ship, Munchausen travels to the Moon and back.
• Deer with a Cherry Tree : Munchausen shoots a deer with cherry pits and a cherry tree grows out of its head.
• Single Strand Climbing Rope : Munchausen pulls himself out of the swamp by his own hair.
• A Horse Split in Two : During the battle, his horse is cut in half, but Munchausen continues to gallop.
• Salvaged Ship : Munchausen lifts a sunken ship out of the water using a grappling hook.
• Arctic Adventures : Encounters with unusual phenomena in the polar regions.
• Escape from the Belly of the Whale : Munchausen and his men escape from the whale by lighting a fire inside it.
• Ice Climber : Climbing an icy mountain with just a bottle of brandy.

These stories were intended to be humorous and satirical, reflecting the absurdity of tall tales and the human tendency to exaggerate. The books have been translated into many languages ​​and remain popular, inspiring feature films, animated films and other media adaptations.

Source: https://extraguide.ru/russia/saint-petersburg/hermitage/