Messages

1

The Alexander Palace / Re: Rare Color Photos of the AP Interiors from 1917 RETURN to the Palace!

« on: April 20, 2014, 07:48:26 AM »

Wait. What??

Why do you think they gave Bob the entire set as HR scans so he can build the web page to enable anyone to see them at any time for free?

Why isn't that good enough for people?

Because the book has been published and we have no idea when the web page will be available.  And having the book of reprints which are usually of much higher quality than I get on my computer is why I have spent so much money on large photo books of the palaces which are featured on the site.

I'm not sure where you got this idea. My understanding has always been that the photos WILL be posted on the Palace site.

And I meant that Bob refused the originals and insisted they go to the AP. 

2

The Alexander Palace / Re: Rare Color Photos of the AP Interiors from 1917 RETURN to the Palace!

« on: April 19, 2014, 10:37:11 AM »

The Hermitage shop has a very active and workable online store.  I think the various museums have "territorial" issues that prevent them from sharing resources that would make them all more successful.  It is a shame that an exciting volume like this is so limited and you would think that in light of them trying to set up "Society of Friends of Tsarskoye Selo" this would be an ideal way to begin getting members to contribute and participate.  I think they have lost a tremendous opportunity for support.  In light of the generous gift by Mike Pyles, and Bob refusing to accept them for the Forum,
the museum should feel a responsibility to share them more widely.  While I don't agree with all that Bongo said, I feel his frustration and disappointment.

3

The Alexander Palace / Re: The book can be purchased at the Catherine Palace.

« on: March 30, 2014, 08:14:12 AM »

If any of our Russian members are going to the Catherine Palace and would consider purchasing this book for me, please IM me.
Thanx.
BobG

4

The Alexander Palace / Re: Bob Atchison's Sept 2013 Trip to the AP!

« on: January 27, 2014, 10:16:45 AM »

Bob and Suzanne Massie went together and were the first US citizens to set foot in the Alexander Palace since before World War II!

I wondered if there were any photos from that first visit?  They would make an interesting historical view of the AP as it once was and how far we've come because of him!
Thanks, Bob
BobG

5

The Alexander Palace / Re: Maple Room

« on: October 10, 2013, 11:20:29 AM »

The second link, "The Mezzanines". I believe the study had a mezzanine along the side and the Maple Room had a mezzanine along the back wall. But the plan posted has it the other way around

Yes, you're right. I can't read Russian, but I assume that the largest print on the picture is a watermark. What does it say up on top? Is that where it's labeled wrong?

Sorry, but the plan posted is correct.  Keep in mind the Maple Room was on the Left Side of the Corridor, and the New Study was on the right (as shown in the plan.)  The balcony of the New Study was over the main corridor of the left wing of the palace.  Look at the photos of the rooms and you'll see the Maple room balcony is perpendicular to the windows in the left, and the New Study balcony faced the windows on the right.  Just don't want others to be confused.
BobG

6

Palaces in St. Petersburg / Re: Private rooms of the Winter Palace

« on: February 04, 2013, 08:57:52 AM »

I believe #15 is part of the apartments for the daughters of NI not NII.

I'm having trouble finding the plans that show these room numbers.  Can anyone redirect me?
Thanx,
BobG

7

Palaces in St. Petersburg / Re: The Winter Palace in 1900

« on: December 19, 2012, 07:53:45 AM »

This may show the tower Alan is talking about.


BobG

8

The Alexander Palace / Re: Pictures of the Interiors as they were

« on: October 31, 2012, 06:54:06 AM »

This photo - summer 2012. I have a photo of this place to our great tragedy of the great Patriotic war of the USSR against the Nazis.
On the photo - a corridor on the 2nd floor above the Front halls and the Windows of the corridor look at the colonnade. This hall you can see the layout of the Palace.

I don't see how this could be the Alexei hallway if the windows look out on the colonnade.  It seems to me it is some part of room 40 on the plans, or maybe some rennovated version of rooms 24, 25 or 26.

BobG

9

Tsarskoe Selo Town / Re: Where was the station?

« on: June 11, 2012, 12:59:34 PM »

John,
I found a map of Tsarskoye Selo in 1901.  You can see the train lines on it and clearly the imperial line was a spur on a different line from the one seving the town.  It may have connected further to the north.  The line it seems to connect north and south and may have gone to Krasnoye Selo and Gatchina.  Hope this helps.
Bob G

10

Palaces in St. Petersburg / Re: Russian Palace Architecture

« on: May 14, 2012, 12:54:02 PM »

The English version of the National Library's site can be found here:

http://www.nlr.ru/eng/line/spbpcards/

BobG

11

Palaces in Moscow / Re: Neskoutchnoe Palace

« on: December 22, 2011, 09:37:33 PM »

Is it possible the it might be Marie Feodorovna?   The photos show the same room with the bay windows decorated differently, so they are obviously over a period of time and may date from Alexander & Marie's reign.
BobG

12

The Alexander Palace / Re: Floorplans of the Alexander Palace

« on: November 20, 2011, 11:20:18 AM »

EmmyLee,
I have never seen second floor plans when the concert hall existed, but here is the plan of the first floor:

The Concert Hall is the large double room just before Alexandra's Formal Reception Room and the Small Library.
As I underdstand it the Concert hall was the full height of the first floor and mezzanine, so it would have been the same height as The Maple room and Nichollas' New Study including the balconies.  I do not believe it would have gone into the second floor at all and I imagine the floor plan of the second floor would look fairly similar to the way it looks today. I thinks most of the changes made by N&A were adding internal walls to make the larger rooms into several smaller ones.  The left side of the second floor was probably very similar to the right side as that side wasn't renovated by N&A as far as I know and would be an clues as to what the Children's floor might have originally looked like.
This plan came from the section of the Alexander Palace Time Machine under the AP Palace Tour/Plans, Maps and Churches section where there is a link to Designs for the Alexander Palace by Quarenghi.  Unfortunately, this link seems not to be working.
BobG

13

Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Re: Duplicate Books

« on: November 14, 2011, 08:16:27 AM »

Felix,
I have sent you an PM about Sunlight at Midnight.
Thanx.
BobG

14

Tsarskoe Selo Palaces / Re: St. Petersburg imperial country residences news

« on: October 23, 2011, 01:09:29 PM »

Vladimir,
Thanks for the posting.  I don't understand Russian and wondered when the fire shown in the video happened.  Was it during the the great Patriotic War or later?
BobG

15

The Alexander Palace / Re: Floorplans of the Alexander Palace

« on: October 20, 2011, 10:10:32 AM »

Mandie,
There was an entresol (Mezzanine) Floor and the plan for it lists the room below rooms 27 & 28 as room 8 of the entresol and the translation I have labels it "8. The room for the Aleksey`s things."  As most rooms on the entresol were used for wardrobes (ie The Tsar's Wardrobe, Alexandra's wardrobe, Marie Fyodorovna's wardrobe), it is logical to assume that "Aleksey's things" would refer to his wardrobe as well as other thinngs.
Just an assumption on my part, but maybe someone has a more definitive answer.
BobG