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Konstantin Batiushkov's essay 'A Stroll to the Academy of Arts', published in Syn Otechestva in 1814, has been considered the point of departure for the analysis of Russian art criticism. It is one of the first exhibition reviews published in Russia. Although the article was written with the assistance of Aleksei Olenin, who was subsequently appointed as president of the Academy in 1817, the article gives an ambivalent assessment of academic art: for instance, the painting Scourging of Christ by Aleksei Egorov is commended for its correct drawing and composition but criticised for a lack of expression. In contrast to the majority of exhibition reviews published in the Russian press during the nineteenth century, the article written by Batiushkov is a work of literature rather than mere journalism. Its first part which praises Peter the Great and the beauty of St Petersburg was later echoed by Pushkin in The Bronze Horseman. The essay was printed shortly after Batiushkov's return from his trip to Western Europe and demonstrates his acquaintance with French art and possibly with French art criticism. For instance, Batiushkov used the form of a dialogue between visitors to the exhibition to express different points of view about works of art. This is a characteristic feature of French art criticism of that period, as is the form of a letter, which the article takes, and the inclusion of poetic texts to illustrate works of art. However, Batiushkov's attitude to French art, and in particular to David and his school, is negative and contrasts with his pride in the progress of Russian art and architecture. The development of the national art was one of the main topics for Russian art critics of the nineteenth century, including such writers as Stasov and Diaghilev. Batiushkov's article is one of the earliest expressions of this patriotic sentiment which reflected the enthusiasm of Russian society in the immediate aftermath of the defeat of Napoleon.
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