Messages

391

Servants, Friends and Retainers / Re: Jim Hercules

« on: August 29, 2004, 10:47:43 AM »

In the Tsarskoye Selo Watercolour Book, the Ethiopian guards are shown in the Zubov wing of the Catherine Palace on page 54 outside the Great Chinese Hall and in greater detail on page 64 outside the dressing room of Tsarevich Alexander Nokolaievich.  Both watercolors were done by Hau in 1850.  This would indicate they served a greater function than just outside the Imperial Suites.
Bob G

392

Palaces in St. Petersburg / Re: Palace of Grand Duke Sergei, aka Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace

« on: August 20, 2004, 08:29:23 AM »

I had read in Romanov Autumn that Usovo was directly across the river from Ilinskoie, and Sergei built a brick and stone house on the property and they moved to Usovo in the autumn.

393

Tsarskoe Selo Palaces / Re: Pavlovsk, the Palaces

« on: August 19, 2004, 05:18:45 PM »

Antonio,
You come up with the greatest pictures!  Thanks so much for posting the wooden palace.
Bob

394

Tsarskoe Selo Palaces / Re: Pavlovsk, the Palaces

« on: August 19, 2004, 06:45:31 AM »

There was also a wooden Konstantine Palace that had been moved from Tsarskoe Selo  to the Pavlovsk Park and many of the family preferred to live in this smaller more intimate palace.  It is pictured in the watercolors in Ducamp's book.  Unfortunately, I have no way to scan the drawing in.

395

The Alexander Palace / Re: The appartment of Alexander II (Cathrine Palac

« on: August 17, 2004, 07:52:19 AM »

Alexander II's suite was on the ground and first floors of the Zubov wing of the Palace.  When Alexander was married and Tsesarevich, he had Catherine's suite and the lower floor redone for his family's use.  His wife, the future Empress Maria Alexandrovna used many of Catherine's rooms, while his rooms were on the ground level.  The book of watercolours Tsarskoe Selo by Ivan Sautov has quite a few of the rooms of Alexander's suite.
As I understand it, Alexander I's suite was in the Chapel wing on the opposite end of the Great Catherine Palace.  The above book has a watercolour of his room also.

396

Tsarskoe Selo Palaces / Re: The Lower Dacha (New Palace), at Peterhof

« on: August 10, 2004, 06:28:57 PM »

Scott,
On the Tickets to Russia Web site, which has great maps, I believe the building is shown as a rescue station.  Probably used today for those on the Gulf of Finland.
http://www.ticketsofrussia.ru/maps/peter2640.html
Bob

397

Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Re: Views of Palaces of Tsarskoe Selo

« on: August 09, 2004, 08:52:19 AM »

Joanna,
Since my last post, I have reviewed the AP chapter in Romanov Autumn.  It doesn't seem like Alexander I really ever lived in the palace.  It does say, however, that the rooms of the  left (east) wing of the palace were prepared as a honeymoon suite for Alexander II's daughter Marie, who married Queen Victoria's son Alfred, the Duke of Edinburg in 1872.  Before that, it doesn't really tell how the rooms were used, but maybe as guest suites for those visiting the occupants of the right wing.
Bob
PS. Romanov Autumn by Charlotte Zeepvat is a great book. Hope you have it.

398

Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Re: Views of Palaces of Tsarskoe Selo

« on: August 08, 2004, 10:38:08 AM »

Joanna,
This is strictly a guess, but since the AP was originallly built for Alexander I, it's possible that the right wing might have been his rooms.  There seems to be a tradition of leaving rooms for their previous owners, and they may have been retained as Alexander I left them.
Since, Alexander III and Marie had the Right Wing, Nicholas II and Alexandra may have taken those rooms by default. (Enough time would have passed to allow Alexander I rooms to be redone.)
Alexander I ultimately preferred living at the Catherine Palace, but that would not prevent him from having a suite in the AP as well.  In the Tsarskoye Selo book, there are watercolors of Nicholas I's rooms in the Catherine Palace, even though he mainly lived in the AP.

399

Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Re: Views of Palaces of Tsarskoe Selo

« on: August 04, 2004, 12:56:15 PM »

Hi Leanora, BobG & Robert,

Leanora, I have sent you an instant message with my information ok!

BobG, when looking at the watercolors I believe they are in sequence i.e. Nicholas I study, schoolroom, children's bedchamber, Empress bedroom, then it is The Raspberry Drawing Room with a caption that says "On the other side of the semicircular central bay ..."  This room was the chapel c1900. Therefore if I am correct in my deduction, Nicholas I's suite would have been in the left wing where Nicholas II lived. The schoolroom and bedchamber of the grand dukes are high ceilinged with window embrasures that would have been on the main/first floor. I have to look again at all my notes to decipher what rooms were prior to N&A's years! I too am curious of the rooms of the right wing especially of the second floor.

I was looking at some old downloads from the site and I found a page on the English Suite.  It states that these were Nicholas I's private suite and actually has a copy of the watercolor  of GD Mikhail and Konstantin's bedroom(from the Tsarskoye book).  So I think the sequence going up the Right Wing (on the courtyard) might be Study of Nicholas I, Schoolroom, GD Mikhail and Konstantin's bedroom.  I think the reference on the other side of the the semi circular bay is just a reference to the State Drawing room earlier in the book.

Still would love to have more details on the Right Wing, if anyone can help?

400

The Alexander Palace / Re: Daily Life in the Palace

« on: August 02, 2004, 05:43:21 AM »

In the section on Ambassadorial Visits to the Palace, the following appears:
"At the entrance to the Palace they were met by one kammer-fourier, one hof-fourier and one footman who led them through the halls of the Palace to the Corner Sitting Room."
Can anyone explain the terms kammer-fourier and hof-fourier?  They sound like strangely translated titles, but what do they mean and what were they exact function at the palace?

401

The Alexander Palace / Re: Alexandra's Formal Reception Room

« on: August 01, 2004, 11:00:23 AM »

Thanks, Daniel.
That now makes perfect sense to me and I appreciate the detail of the reply.  I assumed visitors to Nicholas used "A" but I was wondering how the shy Alexendra handled formal outside visitors.

402

The Alexander Palace / Re: Alexandra's Formal Reception Room

« on: July 31, 2004, 11:20:48 AM »

How would they enter the Palace?  Though "B" and up to the Parade rooms through the Libraries?  It seems they might go throught Room "16" but they would have to walk through the courtyard.

403

The Alexander Palace / Alexandra's Formal Reception Room

« on: July 30, 2004, 12:39:17 PM »

I have read often that Alexandra received Ambassadors etc. in her formal reception room.  Does anyone know the approach these dignitaries would take into the room.
I presume they would not use the Family entrance, but would they use the "B" entrance to the Palace and then go through the libraries, or would they enter through "16" and proceed through the Parade rooms?

Is there any detailed description as to how these visits were handled?

404

The Alexander Palace / Re: Visiting the Palace

« on: July 30, 2004, 11:00:37 AM »

This is a question for Bob Atchison:

I just caught up with this thread and noticed the following:

In 1901 Nicholas and Alexandra realized they didn't have enough space for their children, staff and themselves.  There were other problems with the heating system of the palace, plumbing and electricity.  They had two choices - to move out of the palace, move to the right wing or to remodel part of it.

Their choice was to replace the Music Room with more rooms for the children and their staff, a small palace clinic and two new spacious rooms for their own use.

Bob

Could you tell us where the Clinic was located?  I have never seen it on any of the palace plans and as I recall earlier when there was a plan of the children's rooms it wasn't there.  I'm always fascinated with part of the Palace we've never seen.
Thanks.
Bob

405

The Alexander Palace / Re: Visiting the Palace

« on: July 30, 2004, 10:39:18 AM »

Paul,
It would be wonderful if we could see some of your pictures.  I'd like to request that you try to take a picture from one of the windows in the former Maple Room that would simulate Alexandra's view from her balcony.  We've seen so much about what she tooked out on, and how close to the road etc. that I would love to see a picture like this.  When I visited the AP I was so busy looking at the displays I don't think I once looked out the windows in any of the rooms to see what the vistas were like.
Even if you don't get a chance to take the pictures, I hope you really enjoy the palace.  My tour was tied to a visit to Catherine, Alexander, and Pavlovsk and I never felt so rushed in my life! (No wonder I never looked out).
Have a great visit!