Book of Water Colors of Rooms in Palaces?

[mclisa]

I can't recall or find by much searching the title, authors and publication information of a book of water colors from albums painted for the imperial family to depict rooms in the Winter Palace and the Anichkov. I borrowed it on interlibrary loan some time after 2000, so I know it exists. I had read about it on these boards. It was published either by the Hermitage or by one of the Soviet era publishers. This is particularly frustrating since I'm a librarian and should be able to locate it. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Thank you.

[Sanochka]

Mclisa, from one librarian to another:  Was it in Russian or English?  Paperback or hardcover?  Do you remember the cover image?  Was it about only the Winter and Anitchkov palaces? 

[mclisa]

In English but of course it was a translation. Russian editor and I think published by a state publisher before the end of the Soviet Union. The editors and text writers were from the Hermitage which holds the originals. Large paperback, again IIRC. The watercolors were done for albums with the imperial family had done to document the appearance of rooms in the family's apartments and the reserved apartments in the Winter Palace.  I think it was Winter Palace and Anichkov only. I know all the illustrations pre-dated Nicholas II.  It was longer than it was high, presumably because of the subject matter, and I think the dimensions were about 10 in. by somewhat more than a foot. Not sure about the cover image after all this time. Hau and Uktomsky were the artists.  I have tried them as access points. I even went to Worldcat -- I'm a retired cataloger -- and looked under subject headings. I'll be most grateful if you can find out what it is. I know I first heard of it on here. The reason I'm looking is that I want to see if I can't buy a copy. It used to be available from the Hermitage shop but isn't now. I know it's going to be horribly expensive but I want it.

[mclisa]

Thanks for inspiring me to try again on Worldcat, Sarochka! I don't know why I couldn't pull it before. The successful access point was the name of the Winter Palace in Russian. It's The Winter Palace, St. Petersburg by M B Piotrovskiĭ; M F Korshunova; Tatʹi︠a︡na Borisovna Bushmina; Tati︠a︡na Borisovna Semionova; Emmanuel Ducamp
Publisher:    Paris : Alain de Gourcuff Éditeur, Saint Petersberg : State Hermitage Museum, 1994 ; 1995.  Now that see the catalog entry, I remember being surprised that it had some of the Anichkov rooms. The title implies Winter Palace only.

[Katya_C]

In English but of course it was a translation. Russian editor and I think published by a state publisher before the end of the Soviet Union. The editors and text writers were from the Hermitage which holds the originals. Large paperback, again IIRC. The watercolors were done for albums with the imperial family had done to document the appearance of rooms in the family's apartments and the reserved apartments in the Winter Palace.  I think it was Winter Palace and Anichkov only. I know all the illustrations pre-dated Nicholas II.  It was longer than it was high, presumably because of the subject matter, and I think the dimensions were about 10 in. by somewhat more than a foot. Not sure about the cover image after all this time. Hau and Uktomsky were the artists.  I have tried them as access points. I even went to Worldcat -- I'm a retired cataloger -- and looked under subject headings. I'll be most grateful if you can find out what it is. I know I first heard of it on here. The reason I'm looking is that I want to see if I can't buy a copy. It used to be available from the Hermitage shop but isn't now. I know it's going to be horribly expensive but I want it.

Here it is on AbeBooks:

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=korshunova+militsa+filipovna+bushmina+tatiana&bi=h&ds=5&n=100121503&sortby=1&tn=winter+palace+saint+petersburg&cm_sp=mbc-_-ats-_-filter

Regards,
Katya C

[Sanochka]

Mclisa, I found what might be the book you're looking for on Ebay.  And now Katya_C not only confirms it, but beat me to the punch.  (Smiling)

Here is the link:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/THE-WINTER-PALACE-SAINT-PETERSBURG-Korshunova-Watercolor-Art-History-Russia-/281437219644?hash=item4186f72b3c:g:nYwAAOSwfcVUEhTC

It's very expensive, both at Abebooks and Ebay.  When that happens to me - no matter how much I want the book - I hold off until something less expensive comes along.

Meantime, I'm so glad the mystery is solved!  Now you can do some hunting.