Author Topic: Books and Resourses on the Imperial Palaces  (Read 53493 times)

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Offline Joanna

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Books and Resourses on the Imperial Palaces
« on: August 13, 2004, 02:52:00 PM »
Hi Oleg,

In "Tsarskoe Selo Watercolors, paintings and engravings from the XVIIIth and XIXth centuries"; Text by I.P. Sautov; Editorial Director Emmanuel Ducamp; Alainc de Gourcuff Editeur; 1992, the artists are P.F. Borel c1892, A.A. Sergeiev, P. Uchitelev, A.Y. Martynov c1810, J.J. Meier c1845, L. Premazzi c1889, V.S. Sadovnikov c1850, E.P. Hau c1850, A.K. Kolb c1865, K.A. Ukhtomsky c1840, P. de Steinmuller c1860, F. Feichel c1858, I.P. Volsky c1857.

Joanna

Offline londo954

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Re: Books and Resourses on the Imperial Palaces
« Reply #1 on: August 14, 2004, 09:02:34 PM »
There are a host of watercolors posted onm the Hermitage website but these mostly show the Winter Palace but there are a choice few fo the Catheirne Palace and of some of the estates of the nobility. They are gorgeous as an interesting footnote the Hermitage has used Hahn's warercolours of some of the galleries that existed in romanov times to show some of the Master's paintings that were once in the Hermitage but are no more. Most sold by the Bolsheviks in the 20's and 30's or lost.

Offline ArchitectCS

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Re: Books and Resourses on the Imperial Palaces
« Reply #2 on: August 20, 2008, 03:58:07 PM »

Reading this forum lately, I’ve noticed that people have been referencing a lot of books on the Imperial Palaces.  I personally am a huge bibliophile and am always looking to improve my library.  To that end, I propose we start compiling a list of books within this post to help people do their own research.  I have a very nice collection, many of which are extremely hard to find, and I’d be willing to post the titles, ISBN #s, and where I got them, if anyone is interested.  Hopefully other people will do the same.  I know there are a lot of nice books out there that don’t show up unless you specifically look for them, and there may be some great ones out there that are easy to find, but people are unaware of them (in fact, I’m kind of embarrassed to admit that I had never heard about ‘Saving the Tsars Palaces’ until just the other day.  Thanks to the people who posted that!).

For right now, let’s try and keep this post to the palaces themselves (architecture, art, collections, etc.) and then maybe start other ones dealing with the owners etc.

Also be sure to check out the wonderful list that Bob has already compiled at http://www.alexanderpalace.org/palace/book_finder.html that deals primarily with books on the imperial family. 

I’ll post my collection’s info if anyone expresses interest.    It may take me a little while to write everything down, so please be patient.

Hope this takes off!

Chad

Also, credit where credit is due, I got this idea because Robert Hall kindly posted some info on a book on Peterhof in another post.  Thanks Robert!

Offline Vladimir_V.

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Re: Books and Resourses on the Imperial Palaces
« Reply #3 on: August 22, 2008, 01:56:12 PM »
I’ll post my collection’s info if anyone expresses interest.   

It will be very interesting!

Please start with books of TS palaces.
« Last Edit: August 22, 2008, 01:58:57 PM by Vladimir_V. »

Offline Michael HR

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Re: Books and Resourses on the Imperial Palaces
« Reply #4 on: August 23, 2008, 06:48:00 AM »
Pavlosk by Massie is a wonderful book an details the history of the Palace and its destruction by the Nazi's. It then details how the Palace was reconstructed by the Russians and has so much information it is a book you must own.

I have had this book for years and often re read it as it is so uplifting.
Remembering the Imperial Corps Des Pages - The Spirit of Imperial Russia


Offline Vladimir_V.

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Re: Books and Resourses on the Imperial Palaces
« Reply #5 on: August 23, 2008, 12:44:36 PM »
Pavlosk by Massie is a wonderful book.
I have had this book for years and often re read it as it is so uplifting.

I agree. It is very good book that influences on our feelings.S.Massie is a talented writer and historian.

The same powerful book is “Do It For Me” by Adelaida Elkina. (The story of Anna Zelenova – Director of Pavlovsk palace before and after the war.)
But it is in Russian.



« Last Edit: August 23, 2008, 12:46:26 PM by Vladimir_V. »

helenazar

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Re: Books and Resourses on the Imperial Palaces
« Reply #6 on: August 23, 2008, 01:46:36 PM »
Pavlosk by Massie is a wonderful book an details the history of the Palace and its destruction by the Nazi's. It then details how the Palace was reconstructed by the Russians and has so much information it is a book you must own.

I have had this book for years and often re read it as it is so uplifting.

Yes, I agree. Especially since this subject is not something that often is published in the west. There are of course many books published in Russia, in Russian, which are excellent. About Pavlovsk, Pushkin, Strelna, etc. I picked up a few of these books, especially about Pushkin (Tsarskoe Selo) when I was in Russia a couple of years ago. When I get the chance I will try to go through some of them and post if I find some interesting things...

Offline Joanna

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Re: Books and Resourses on the Imperial Palaces
« Reply #7 on: August 23, 2008, 05:41:48 PM »
Another excellent book on Pavlovsk:

“Павловский дворец. А. И. Зеленова Статьи. Воспоминания. Письма”
Pavlovsk Palace A. Zelenova Articles Memoirs Letters

There are many photographs, detailed lists c1930s-40s, journals/letters of A. Kuchumov, etc.
ISBN: 5-89468-034-4

http://shop.urbi-et-orbi.spb.ru/products_pictures/5-89468-034-4s.jpg

Joanna

Offline Cathy

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Re: Books and Resourses on the Imperial Palaces
« Reply #8 on: August 25, 2008, 08:51:54 AM »
Just thought I would add the ISBN 09549137-1-X Polperro Heritage Press UK - "Saving The Tsars' Palaces" by Christopher Morgan and Irina Orlova, 2005

Offline ArchitectCS

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Re: Books and Resourses on the Imperial Palaces
« Reply #9 on: August 25, 2008, 02:07:12 PM »
I'll try and start writing down the info tonight and will hopefully post tomorrow.  I'll start with what I've got on the TS palaces, per Vladimir's request.  I've got a few books on the Amber Room, one specifically on TS, and several on Charles Cameron, who was one of the leading architects at the Catherine Palace and also designed Pavlovsk.  I think all of these are in English as well.

Offline ArchitectCS

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Re: Books and Resourses on the Imperial Palaces
« Reply #10 on: August 26, 2008, 12:23:00 PM »

Tsarskoye Selo: The Imperial Summer Residence
208 pages
ISBN 5-94795-071-5
2005

This is a nice overview of the palaces and ensembles at Tsarskoye Selo.  It also has the most up-to-date pictures I’ve seen published both of the interiors and exteriors.  Some of the trim at the Catherine Palace is gilded and it does show that work has been done to the roof of one wing of the Alexander Palace.  I was also pleasantly surprised to see a rare interior photo of the Upper Bath, which is gorgeously pained in the Pompeian style with a dark red background.  So often the pavilion interiors don’t get shown at all.  I bought this book on the hermitage museum’s website for around $80 with shipping.  It is hard to find otherwise and I’ve seen it go for over $200 on ebay.

Sorry I’m being a bum and only posting one book.  Last night was really hectic and I will post more soon.

Chad

http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/shop/html_En/products/00014_Tsarskoye_Selo.html

Offline ArchitectCS

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Re: Books and Resourses on the Imperial Palaces
« Reply #11 on: August 29, 2008, 12:16:54 PM »
The Amber Room: The Fate of the World’s Greatest Lost Treasure.
Catherine Scott-Clark and Adrian Levy
ISBN 0-670-04432-6
Viking Canada 2004
386 pages
In print.

The authors attempted to track down the Amber Room only to decide, after a long search, that it was destroyed when Konigsberg castle burned.  They follow many of the common theories throughout Germany and Russia.

A lot of information about Anatoly Kuchumov (and not all of it favorable, FYI to all the people here who knew him) and they also met with Alexander Kedrinsky, among others.

Pavlovsk: The Life of a Russian Palace
Suzanne Massie
ISBN 0-316-54970-3
Little, Brown 1990
394 pages

Just thought I'd put down the ISBN info in case anyone needs it.  This is really a phenomenal book, and is a great starting place for anyone interested in the palaces, even if Pavlovsk isn't your favorite one.  Massie includes plenty of information on many of the others as well.

Pavlovsk Palace and Park
Anatoly Kuchumov
No ISBN
Aurora Art Publishers 1973
443 pages
Out of print.  Can find a few used copies at some online booksellers.  Bought mine cheap on ebay.

A heavily illustrated (almost entirely in color) guide to the palace and grounds.  Most of the public rooms and their contents are described in detail.  Over a hundred pages are devoted to the park, along with a description.  Also includes a brief history of Pavlovsk.  Bob has included it on the website at http://www.alexanderpalace.org/pavlovsk/

Gardens of the Tsars
Margrethe Floryan
ISBN 0-89831-051-2
Sagapress 1996
263 pages
Out of print but can be found at some online booksellers, usually for a reasonable price.

In depth look at Russian garden design from the time of Peter the Great to the Revolution.  Talks about the gardens at Tsarskoye Selo, Pavlovsk, Gatchina, Peterhof and many palaces near Moscow and throughout Russia from the Imperial era.

Imperial Palaces of Russia
Prince Michael of Greece
ISBN 1850432317
IB Taurus & Co., Ltd. 1992
200 pages
Out of print but can be found at some online booksellers, usually for a reasonable price.

This book deals with Peterhof, Pavlovsk, Tsarskoye Selo, Gatchina, and several others.  What makes this book unique is that it deals with what happened at the palaces (up until the revolution) instead of with the architecture and design.  The author vividly recounts the parties of Empress Elizabeth, the death of Catherine the Great, etc. in a very engaging prose.

Risen from the Ashes: Petrodvorets, Pushkin, Pavlovsk
ISBN 5730001916
Aurora Art Publishers, 1992
379 pages
Out of print but can be found at some online booksellers, though the book tends to be more expensive (around $100)

This is one of the few books out there (along with Saving the Tsars’ Palaces) that deals extensively with the restoration of the palaces.  The book has extensive archival and post-war photos as well as a detailed text giving an overview of the history and reconstruction of each ensemble.  Really a terrific resource.


I have a bunch more that I will post soon; a few on Pavlovsk, three more on the amber room alone, some dealing with multiple palaces, a couple on Charles Cameron, and some other stuff too.  Enjoy!

Offline Sarushka

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Re: Books and Resourses on the Imperial Palaces
« Reply #12 on: August 29, 2008, 01:03:31 PM »
Info available on the APTM Book Finder:

Aleksandrovskii Dvorets (Alexander Palace), by Larisa Bardovskaia

Nicholas and Alexandra: At Home with the Last Tsar and His Family, by Marilyn Pfeifer Swezey

Peterburgskii Inter'er v Fotografiyakh (Petersburg Interiors in Photographs), by L.G. Myasnikova & Yu.B. Demidenko

Romanov Legacy: The Palaces of St Petersburg, by Zoia Belyakova


Also, click on these titles for a video flip-though of Tsarskoye Selo: The Imperial Summer Residence or Nicholas and Alexandra: At Home with the Last Tsar and His Family.


Chad (or anyone else) -- please PM me if you'd be interested in providing book profiles for any of the titles you've mentioned that are not already included in the Book Finder! I'd also love to add video flip-throughs of new titles...

Offline Vladimir_V.

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Re: Books and Resourses on the Imperial Palaces
« Reply #13 on: September 14, 2008, 11:56:45 AM »
Chad, do you have this book?
(TS by Alain de Gourcuff)


 

Offline ArchitectCS

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Re: Books and Resourses on the Imperial Palaces
« Reply #14 on: September 15, 2008, 12:07:07 PM »

Yes, I do have it.  It is actually part of a 4 volume set on TS, Gatchina, Pavlovsk and Peterhof.  Sorry I haven't been posting books lately, but I will start again this week.  Also, I'm taking pictures of all the covers and they will be put in the AP Book Finder.

Is there anything specific you wanted to know about the book, Vladimir?