The Living Exhibit

In France 1717 Peter the great encountered a curious sight; a man taller than himself (seven feet six inches) (Great Soviet Encyclopedia volume 2 pg 586). Since Peter the Great was six feet seven inches tall, he met the man, and learned than he was more interesting than he appeared. This man (nicknamed Bourgeois) was the son of a midget. Peter found Bourgeois so intriguing that he made the Frenchman a living exhibit.

Bourgeois was bought. He was paid to live in the museum for visitors to observe. In his spare time Bourgeois worked as a servant for Peter. Upon his death in 1724, Bourgeois’ skeleton, and select body parts were preserved to serve as exhibits in the museum. The giant’s remains are an impressive part of the Kunstkamera collection, however the idea of a living exhibit made Peter’s museum more impressive.

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