Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii - Photographs for the Tsar

[Forum Admin]

All "known" plates have been catalogued by the Library of Congress. We have hope that perhaps there are some yet unknown plates that may be lurking out there as yet undiscovered in some attic or barn.

[Belochka]

The St. P archive collection is now relocating to a nice new building, a process that will take a couple of years as I have been reliably informed.

It is quite possible that while they re-organize and catalog their holdings onto the new database, a color glass plate of the I. F. may emerge amongst the hidden treasures.

[AlekseyKrayevskiy]

Hi everyone!
May be some of you knows this site - but if not - here it is:
http://www.prokudin-gorsky.ru/Russian/collection.shtml

When the photographer leaved from Russia all photos of imperial family have been confiscated. Lead it could only one photo of cesarevitch Alexey. Now in the State archive in Moscow restore ancient photos - on their site just there is a photo of restoration of the image of imperial daughters.
Nikolay the Second like to make fotos too as you know, I hope.
Best regards.
Aleksey

[Sarushka]

Now in the State archive in Moscow restore ancient photos - on their site just there is a photo of restoration of the image of imperial daughters.

Do you have a link to that photo?

[AlekseyKrayevskiy]

Strange - I try to find and can't. Hope to see it again and I'll send you.
Best regards.
Aleksey

[leushino]

lWhat an incredible site, Aleksey. I could spend hours in there examining these wonderful photographs. Thanks for sharing them with us.

[julia.montague]

I have some of his photos in a magazine, I will try to scan them

[grandduchess_42]

amazing!

[Lisa]

Photographs of Ekaterinburg by Prokudin Gorski: http://www.prokudin-gorsky.ru/Russian/database.php3?first=0&sText=Åêàòåðèíáóðã

[Alixz]

I know that Vladm mentioned this book somewhere else in the forum, but I tried search and I can't find it.

This is a coffee table book printed in 1980.  The complete title is Photographs for the Tsar - The pioneering color photography of Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin - Gorskii commissioned by Tsar Nicholas II

The color photos are truly wonderful, however, over half of the book is still in sepia or black and white.

The are no photos of the Imperial Family except for a black and white of Alexi because Produdin-Gorskii may not have brought them out of Russia with him when he fled the revolution.

Quote from the introduction page xxii  (  ) are mine.

"His collection of slides remained basically intact, although he was obligated to leave behind his projector and equipment.  Certain pictures and negatives were deemed to have strategic value, and were confiscated by the authorities.  These for the most part were the pictures taken to satisfy Rukhlov (S. V. Rukhlov Minister of Ways and Communications), and according to Prokudin-Gorskii they "had no meaning for the general public".  In addition he left behind ten negatives of the Romanov royal family, about which he stated only that they were "hidden in Russia."  To this day there is no evidence that they have been found."

I know that Vladm posted a link to a site where the pictures are posted on line, and that was what caused me to look into buying it.  The color pictures are breathtaking and look as if there were taken just yesterday, not 100 years ago.

[s.v.markov]

Gorskii and his photographs are also the subjects of a 1 hour documentary called 'The Tsar's Last Picture Show', written and presented by Orlando Figes (author of 'A People's Tragedy', 'Natasha's Dance' etc). It was made by the BBC and shown on BBC4 a year or so ago. I have it on VHS video. I agree that the photographs are stunning.

[TheAce1918]

I took this out from a library and halfway through I was re-checking the scripted year because the photos were so clear that they could pass off as new!   
It is truly a rare gem about the land of Russia and her natural beauty, despite what was to come in the future. 

[archvstlisa]

Unbelievably wonderful gems in my humble opinion!

http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2009/10/21/color-photography-from-russian-in-the-early-1900s/

[Nicola De Valeron]

Sadly, but nothing is changed, it's still the same.

On one side incredible beauty with it's own Russian uniqueness. On another: the same villages, same unploughed fields, the same wooden or stone houses, the same impassable roads and trails, the same grubby peasants in rags, all the same - one to one, as it were before, during and after the 70 years of the Communism rule.

And I forgot the main thing - it would hardly change in the future;).

[Alixz]

Nicola De Valerion

After reading your comments, I went back a took a good look at the photos.  I don't see to may people in rags.  Most of the clothing is bright and colorful and well taken care of.

Yes, the streets are unpaved and the fields are in various states, but in the early 20th century, the USA was no different in the mid west and far west and even in the deep south.  Only in the cities did people have paved roads and only the wealthy had unmended clothing.

I thought that even though the houses and the street that were farther away from the center of the towns and commerce were not magnificent, they were still on par with what one would have seen in any other country in the deep country or by the side of a river in that time period.