Messages

61

The Alexander Palace / Re: Was this room in the Alexander Palace?

« on: February 21, 2009, 06:41:16 PM »

There were stained glass Tiffany transoms above the door of the Maple Room and the New Study that led into the corridor.  There was opalised glass in the cornice of the Maple Room (really, if people could see the Maple Room as it was they would see what a marvel it was) and panels around the mirror on the balcony that were backlit.  The Maple Room balcony also had inset panels of crystal or stained glass.

Bob, I have seen a b/w photo of the transom above the door to the corridor of the Maple Room and it does look lovely.

The watercolour by Yury Naprentsev of the playroom of Alexei 1931 shows a 3-paned transom above the door that appears to be coloured glass.

62

The Feodorovski Cathedral & Gorodok / Re: Feodorovsky Gorodok

« on: February 14, 2009, 08:05:58 PM »

Thanks Scott - the pictures are great.

63

The Alexander Palace / Re: A Question Regarding The Alexander Park

« on: February 12, 2009, 06:43:17 AM »

I heard there was a race couse and a golf course near the palaces. Does anyone know where they were and have any photos of same.

There was the Hippodrome in Tsarskoe Selo - see Race Track thread under TS Town for details.

64

Palaces in St. Petersburg / Re: Anichkov Palace

« on: February 10, 2009, 08:58:49 AM »

Vassili_Vorontsoff, your photos are great.

We had a wonderful tour of the Anichkov palace interiors - it was in Russian and we had to listen to some lectures about the children's rooms and art work (after the revolution it was a children's centre - The Pioneer Palace - but is now called the "Palace for Creative Youth" - the word pioneer has disappeared along with the soviet system) but for the most part it was great. The main staircase is gorgeous. The garden room and the library were outstanding.

On the Nevsky between the Anichkov and the Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace (I have never been able to take a tour - it seems to only be open at concert times) is the Anichkov bridge over the Fontanka, famous for its 4 Klodt's horses at each corner.

I do have an old postcard of the Anichkov Palace painted a deep dark red.

65

The Alexander Palace / Re: A Question Regarding The Alexander Park

« on: February 09, 2009, 03:15:47 PM »

Please note that BobG has already said that the door to the balcony was in the Maple Room.

66

The Alexander Palace / Re: A Question Regarding The Alexander Park

« on: February 09, 2009, 03:09:50 PM »

I wish that I could post my pictures but unfortunately they are not digital and I do not have a scanner.
One can get much closer than Robert's picture indicates. The green wooden fence in his picture is covering a 'garbage area' of used rusty metal pieces etc. behind and between the kitchen and AP.
I have never seen any indication of balcony posts.
As many times as I have looked and looked I have never been able to figure out where the door to the balcony was and so I assume that a window was used as replacement.

67

The Alexander Palace / Re: Alexander Palace Restoration

« on: February 07, 2009, 07:39:16 PM »

.. Were the watercolours you refer to  done by Hau ? ( I think that was his name) He did fantastic watercolours of Gatchina. Are they on this site ? I have seen something similar, but only of the rooms in the N & A wing, before the changes were made.

Watercolours by  Eduard Hau - Study of Nicholas I 1860, the Bedroom of Alexandra Fiodorovna 1861,
   "            "   "  I. Volsky     - the Dining Room 1856,
   "            "   "  Luigi Premazzi - the Crimson Drawing Room 1863, the Billiard Room 1854, 
   "            "   "  Anatoly Yar-Kravchenko - the Bedroom of Alexei 1931, the Rooms of the Grand Duchesses 1931,
   "            "   "  Yury Neprintsev - the Playroom of Alexei 1931, Bedroom of the Younger Grand Duchesses 1931.

68

The Alexander Palace / Re: A Question Regarding The Alexander Park

« on: February 07, 2009, 03:05:45 PM »

I'm wondering, is the fence still up around the semi-circle balcony?  How close is one actually able to get to the balcony?  I would like to see some recent photos of the balcony and all along the back wall to the corner where Alexandra's balcony once stood and up the side there too.  Does anybody have any?  I assume it is not possible to go down that side of the palace, is that correct?  Thanks

The green wooden fence is gone; now there is a chain-link fence but it is only a matter of feet away from the back of the AP - you are quite close to the semicircular hall.

It is more difficult to walk up the side where A. had her balcony but you can get very decent pictures of that corner and up the side from the back park.

69

Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Re: The Tsarina's Daughter - Carolly Erickson

« on: January 18, 2009, 07:22:41 AM »

Just thought that I would mention that this book was a good read - historical entertainment. It was a novel!! Fiction!! It did denigrate N & A to a ridiculous level and some will take offence at the somewhat skewed events and characters. But it is fiction!! It was written a little too childish for my tastes but it will appeal to many. One thing I loved was the "Note to the Reader" at the end of the book - "...what I hope emerges from the congeries of invention is an image of Tatiana Romanov's world,and of the darkness that closed over it at her brief life's end. The real Tatiana was not allowed to escape that darkness, but the fictional one overcame it, and lives, in these pages and in our hearts."
Haven't we all wished history had been different and that they may have had the chance to live? Would a new history have evolved and been better or worse!!

70

Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Re: The Tsarina's Daughter - Carolly Erickson

« on: January 18, 2009, 07:16:30 AM »

Just thought that I would mention that this book was a good read - historical entertainment. It was a novel!! Fiction!! It did denigrate N & A to a ridiculous level and some will take offence at the somewhat skewed events and characters. But it is fiction!! It was written a little too childish for my tastes but it will appeal to many. One thing I loved was the "Note to the Reader" at the end of the book - "...what I hope emerges from the congeries of invention is an image of Tatiana Romanov's world,and of the darkness that closed over it at her brief life's end. The real Tatiana was not allowed to escape that darkness, but the fictional one overcame it, and lives, in these pages and in our hearts."
Haven't we all wished history had been different and that they may have had the chance to live? Would a new history have evolved and been better or worse!!

71

Tsarskoe Selo Palaces / Re: War Damage of Tsarskoe Selo and Peterhof

« on: January 17, 2009, 10:49:37 AM »

It is just a theory! And I think that the book The Amber Room by Levy & Scott-Clark may be too sensationalized to sell the book and a little biased (imho) against Russia!

72

The Alexander Palace / Re: The Russian House Restaurant near the Alexander Palace

« on: January 17, 2009, 10:32:26 AM »

Yes, The Russian House is a lovely restaurant.
If you are talking about the house at the east corner of Malaya and Dvortsovaya streets (round at the corner, a portion of the house on Malaya with the # 5/1 on that side of the house and another portion along Dvortsovaya), I think that it is a new building (not even a restructured one), built over the last 15 years on a previously empty lot.  I think it is an apartment block. It is not a hotel.

73

The Feodorovski Cathedral & Gorodok / Re: Feodorovsky Gorodok

« on: January 05, 2009, 04:06:50 PM »

Recent tourists (at least the past 10 years anyway): has anyone ever tried to see the inside of the Gorodok's main building that one can access through the crumbling staircase/entrance. I have been there 3 times and each time I really really wanted to but I 'chickened out' each time!!

74

Tsarskoe Selo Town / Re: The train station at Tsarskoe Selo

« on: January 05, 2009, 04:02:08 PM »

If I recall, one cannot get into the main building through the front entrance. One could climb through the open windows. You can see the foyer ceiling inside the front entrance but you can't then walk into the building. At least I did not. 

75

The Tudors / Re: New Showtime series about the Tudors

« on: January 03, 2009, 10:42:31 AM »

After 35 pages of posts on the subject, one may wonder why I am now getting into the thread!!
I love the series 'The Tudors' although I admit it is American in content and portrayal. But it is a good show to watch in an evening.
I have just watched Elizabeth with Cate Blanchet and I loved it!
I have also just watched 'The Other Boleyn Sister' (I think that was the title) which was so American and not a keeper but OK to watch.