The State Pushkin Museum houses a watercolor portrait of Modest Andreyevich Korf, created by the Russian artist Eduard Petrovich Hau. Although the portrait is undated, it is traditionally associated with Korf’s appointment as director of the Public Library in 1849. However, some argue that Korf is depicted as a “scientist at rest” who continues to pursue his passion. Comparative analysis of lithographed portraits of Korf from the 1860s and photographs from the early 1870s allowed researchers to conclude that the portrait was most likely created in the latter half of the 1860s.

Modest Andreyevich Korf was a friend of Pushkin from the Lyceum and a prominent government official. His abilities, diligence, and perseverance made him stand out among other students, as noted by his Lyceum teachers. These qualities helped him build a brilliant career: he worked as a translator at the Ministry of Justice, then as an official “for special missions”, and later as a department head at the Ministry of Finance. From 1826, Korf had the opportunity to work under Mikhail Mikhailovich Speransky at the Second Section of His Imperial Majesty’s Own Chancellery for approximately five years. Speransky described Korf as his best employee and assistant, calling him his “golden pen.” It was through the active involvement of Korf that the “Complete Collection of Laws of the Russian Empire” in 48 volumes and the “Code of Civil Laws of the Russian Empire” in 15 volumes were compiled.

Emperor Nicholas I saw Korf as Speransky’s successor. From 1849 until 1862, Korf was Director of the Public Library. During the last years of his career, Modest Korf was a senior government official, serving as Chairman of the Department of Laws of the State Council from 1864 to 1872.

Korf did not maintain a close friendship with Pushkin, however, their communication continued throughout years, albeit sporadically. It increasingly became more secular and professional in nature, despite the fact that they continued to address each other in the familiar “you” form that was characteristic of their Lyceum years. Between 1817 and 1820, Pushkin resided in the same house as Korf in St. Petersburg. Pushkin greatly appreciated the gift of the bibliographer and historian Korf, who had proven himself a capable administrator and serious scholar, managing the Public Library. In 1836, upon Pushkin’s request, Korf compiled a comprehensive list of publications on Peter the Great, after which Pushkin expressed both fear and shame, as “most of the books cited” were unfamiliar to him. On 14 October 1836, Pushkin wrote to Korf,