Thank you Bob for your very moving tribute to a very remarkable man. Every observation rings with truth. Thanks also Robert for your thoughtful condolences.
Indeed Ivan Petrovich appeared in Oleg Panfilov's film about the final days of the Romanovs. In fact, it was through his collaboration with this highly-respected film producer and director, that, finally, a chink appeared in the Russian Navy's armour, and after over half a century, the public was allowed within the doors of the Alexander Palace once more. The quid pro quo was that Nicholas' New Study be reconstructed (please note NOT restored) for use in the film.
Ivan Petrovich was, first and foremost an architect. He wrote his dissertion on none other than Giacomo Quarenghi. His love affair with the Alexander Palace began when he was barely out of his teens.
Ivan Petrovich was much too big a character to be caught between the lines and angles of his profession. He was a rounded, utterly outgoing man with a joie de vivre such as I have never met in any other human being. A man of great vision. It was he who saw the possibility of restoring the Amber Room and it was thanks to his personality and persuasive powers that Tsarskoe Selo Museums received significant financial grants from Ruhr Gas. Indeed, during the Soviet period, Ivan Petrovich began a relationship with a small house museum in Germany - Schloss Britz. As well as mounting his first, small, overseas exhibitions there, he continued the link for the rest of his life. Each year in the week before Christmas, accompanied by some members of Tsarskoe Selo Museums staff, Ivan Petrovich drove from Pushkin to Berlin. Why??? To make blinis, of course.
These German visits afforded Ivan Petrovich introductions which eventually led to the seeds of the new Amber Room already being sown. I remember him telling me, some time prior to the German investment and after ten years of work on the Amber Room using gifts of amber and primitive equipment, that it would take at least another 12... even twenty years until this, one of the most famous rooms in the world, (some even refer to the Amber Room as the 8th Wonder of the Modern World) would be completed. 'Then', he said, 'It will be my luck, just as we are about to open this exquisite new jewel box, the original Amber Rooms will be discovered'. Well, he was proved wrong in this case and, thanks only to him, the Amber Room is in situ once more. While still on the topic, since its completion and the end of the German funding, Ivan Petrovich has strived to keep the team of amber masters and mosaic masters together. He knew their skills were priceless, but that individually they could not make a living out of these skills. The Amber Workshop is now open to the public, at extra cost, and the produce in its multitude of magnificent forms is sold around the world. The creative brilliance of these jewellers has, for now, been saved.
I would very much like to write a tribute to our dear friend, but I am sorry, at the moment, this is impossible.
One thing I know for certain - if Vanya could read Bob's tribute, he would be absolutely delighted.
Christine
