Edwardcharles thank you too for the exquisite photos of the Moika Palace, and Helen A for the circa early 1900's photo and it's duplicate today. Gosh I hope they rebuild that church some day. Isn't it curious how modern that other building to the left looks. Is that the back facade of the Admiralty building? Moika Palace has a certain harmony of proportions that is quite pleasing. I had only seen the theater and the Persian rooms so it was such a treat seeing those lovely photos and it looks so cared for and untouched.
The thing I so adore about St. Petersburg are the rich italianate colors of the palaces. When I see certain photographs of St. Petersburg I feel this sense of warmth and remember Dostoyevsky's wonderful description in "White Nights" of walking along the Embankment and how the houses seemed...
"to run forward in the streets to look out at me from every window, and almost to say: "Good-morning! How do you do? I am quite well, thank God, and I am to have a new storey in May," or, "How are you? I am being redecorated tommorrow"; or, "I was almost burnt down and had such a fright," and so on. I have my favorites among them, some are dear friends; one of them intends to be treated by the architect this summer. I shall go every day on purpose to see that the operation is not a failure. God forbid!..."
When I saw those lovely photos of the Moika's entrance hall and grand staircase I felt it calling out to me, "Do look at my lovely frock. Can you believe that it is still so smart and quite as charming as when I first wore it! Is it not remarkable, how unfaded this lovely gown is after all I have gone through? I tell you it is a modern day miracle. God be praised?"
Oh dear, do forgive me Dostoyevsky, but once again thank you Edwardcharles.
