The collection of the Vladimir Arseniev Museum of Far East History includes a sculptural portrait of Admiral Gennady Nevelskoy (1813–1876) created by the academic sculptor Robert Bach.

The research activity carried out by Gennady Ivanovich Nevelskoy in the Far East was both of scientific and political importance: the delimitation of borders between Russia and China in the Far East (1858–1860) strengthened Russia’s political weight in this region. It was decided to immortalize the name of the scientist and sailor in June 1889, when the Maritime Assembly of Vladivostok held an evening in memory of the famous admiral in honor of the 40th anniversary of the expedition on the transport vessel “Baikal”.

The design of the monument, approved by Emperor Alexander III, was made by Alexander Antipov, a naval mechanical engineer, in 1890. The sculptural elements in bronze, created by the talented St. Petersburg sculptor Robert Bach included a bust of the admiral, three plaques depicting the aft part of the transport vessel “Baikal” with inscriptions and listing of the participants of the Amur expedition (they were cast in St. Petersburg), a balloon and a double-headed eagle. The laying of the monument took place in May 1891 with the participation of Tsesarevich Nicholas, and the official opening ceremony took place on October 26, 1897. The monument was erected on the donations of citizens raised by subscription. Subsequently, the Maritime State University in Vladivostok, streets in Russian cities, sea transport and military vessels were named after Gennady Ivanovich Nevelskoy; he was commemorated by monuments in Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Korsakov, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and Nikolaevsk-on-Amur.

Robert Bach depicted Nevelskoy in his admiral’s uniform with decorations. The left side of the uniform features the star of the Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd degree, which was accompanied by the cross of the Order on the neck ribbon. The right side has a star of the Order of St. Anne, 1st degree, established in 1735 as a dynastic award of the Duchy of Holstein-Gottorp and introduced on April 5, 1797 by decree of Emperor Paul I in the award system of the Russian Empire for the distinction of clerics, civilians and court officials. A fragment of the ribbon on which the cross of the Order of St. Anne, 1st degree was worn, can be seen under the uniform.