[Anatomic preparations in the Petersburg "art chamber"]

The first museums on history of nature were opened in early Enlightenment and had originated from baroque curio galleries at most of the European courts. Peter the Great, too, had his "Art Chamber" converted to a universal museum primarily designed to didactic purposes. Much of the space was devoted to anatomic and teratological exhibits. To complete these collections, Peter repeatedly ordered all malformations to be handed over ("Monster Decree"). When travelling abroad, he purchased anatomic, zoological, botanic, and mineralogical collections, such as the famous collection previously owned by Frederik Ruysch in Amsterdam, with injected anatomic specimens with period-style decorations. The Art Chamber collection was later on described by K. W. Burdach, anatomist, and K. E. v. Baer, anthropologist. Many of its exhibits are still at show.