The novel “The Serapion Brothers” by the famous German romantic writer E.T.A. Hoffmann (1776–1822) is a cycle of narratives united by the framing story of young writers - the Serapion brothers. Incredible events, vampires, necromancers, mysterious beauties come to life on the pages of a book that has not been published in Russian translation for more than 70 years.

The painter Salvator Rosa, having arrived in Rome, fell ill with a fever and almost died. gave up the ghost, but the young surgeon Antonio snatched him from the clutches of death. Imbued with friendly feelings, the artist began to help the young man in his creativity and love affairs.