The St Petersburg Panoptical Institute or Okhta College of Arts
Abstract
The jurist and philosopher, Jeremy Bentham, and his lesser-known brother, Samuel, who was equally talented as a naval architect, engineer, and inventor, had a long-standing connection with Russia. Jeremy aimed to aid Empress Catherine II with her legislative initiatives. In 1780, Samuel sought success in St Petersburg and returned as a Brigadier-General with the concept of the Inspection House, or Panopticon, which was widely publicized by Jeremy. The text details the Benthams’ later engagement with the Russian Empire, particularly Samuel’s chance to construct a Panopticon in St Petersburg in 1806 — the sole example of such a structure built by the Benthams. The work aims to demystify the Panopticon, infamously associated with Michel Foucault, by providing a detailed description of the lesser-known St Petersburg building from archival materials. The Benthams’ dealings with Russia during Alexander I’s reign are portrayed as a notable chapter in Anglo-Russian history, with this article addressing an overlooked aspect of their legacy.
About the Author
R. Bartlett
University College London (UCL)
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Roger Bartlett
London, UK
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Review
For citations:
Bartlett R. The St Petersburg Panoptical Institute or Okhta College of Arts. Versus. 2023;3(5):108-154. (In Russ.)
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