Author Topic: The appartment of Alexander II (Cathrine Palace)  (Read 7005 times)

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oleg

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The appartment of Alexander II (Cathrine Palace)
« on: August 14, 2004, 09:34:44 AM »
I am very interested in the little appartment where Alexander II lived at the ground floor of the Zubov aile in the Cathrine Palace. I know that there are at least two books about it (N. Bova. Detskoye Selo. Rooms of Alexander II in the Catherine Palace. Leningrad, S. A. 1930s and A. M. Kuchumov. Rooms of Alexander II. A Guide-Book. Leningrad, 1935), but I was never able to find them.
  First, I want to ask if there is someone who has them.    
  Secondly, I saw three watercolors of this appartment that is to say: the asiaitic room, the study (green wallpalper) and the dressing room (blue wallpaper). Is there someone who konw if there are other watercolors of this appartment or if they are the only exsisting ?
  Thirdly, I am looking for every other information on it and overall I'd like to see a plan of these rooms and photos if possible.

Many Thanks

leanora

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Re: The appartment of Alexander II (Cathrine Palac
« Reply #1 on: August 14, 2004, 11:16:17 AM »
Hello Oleg  ;)

About the plan of the Catherine palace, you can try this link:

http://eng.tzar.ru/information/plans/cathchart

Leanora


Offline londo954

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Re: The appartment of Alexander II (Cathrine Palac
« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2004, 08:54:11 PM »
Alexander's Apartments as I understand were built by Cameron near his grandmothers. If you go to the Hemritage Website you can find a sketch and color drawing of his bedroom. the study has been restored and I beleive the bedroom as well but I could be wrong on that factor

leanora

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Re: The appartment of Alexander II (Cathrine Palac
« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2004, 09:03:57 PM »
Hi London954 ;)

Oleg was talking about the Alexander II's rooms in the Catherine palace, and not about Alexander I's rooms.. I have never seen the  ALexander II's appartements in the palace.. maybe engravings and paintings of theses rooms can be found somewhere on the web, I really don't know..

Offline BobG

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Re: The appartment of Alexander II (Cathrine Palac
« Reply #4 on: August 17, 2004, 07:52:19 AM »
Alexander II's suite was on the ground and first floors of the Zubov wing of the Palace.  When Alexander was married and Tsesarevich, he had Catherine's suite and the lower floor redone for his family's use.  His wife, the future Empress Maria Alexandrovna used many of Catherine's rooms, while his rooms were on the ground level.  The book of watercolours Tsarskoe Selo by Ivan Sautov has quite a few of the rooms of Alexander's suite.
As I understand it, Alexander I's suite was in the Chapel wing on the opposite end of the Great Catherine Palace.  The above book has a watercolour of his room also.

Offline BobAtchison

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Re: The appartment of Alexander II (Cathrine Palac
« Reply #5 on: August 21, 2004, 09:44:16 AM »
This came from an old site I did on Tsarskoe Selo at: http://www.alexanderpalace.org/tsarskoe/fifth2.html

In the lower story a door in the vestibule of the bosque staircase opens into a small foreroom, with which begin the Rooms of the Emperor Alexander II.

These apartments form a row of comparatively small, low rooms, which are distinguished by the simplicity of their ornamentation, and are situated on a level with the ground. All the windows of those rooms overlook the Private Garden. Luxury is to be found only in the "Asiatic Room". The furniture and ornaments of these rooms are worked, according to the directions of the Emperor Alexander II, showing the modesty of his personal tastes.

From the little foreroom a door leads into the Reception Chamber, which has two windows.

Its walls are covered with common paper; on the ceiling is the most simple modeling; along the walls stand low half cupboards of mahogany, and a divan covered with green shagreen. Several armchairs in Empire style, of the time of the Emperor Nicholas I, complete the furniture of this room. The walls are covered with battle pictures, illustrating the different uniforms of Russian and Prussian troops. There are pictures by Suhodolski, for instance, "Battle at Varna"; "Battle near Ostrolenka" by Moller, "Cossack Battery in a Ravine", by Schultz, and others. On the wall, near the chimney, hangs a picture by P. Vernet, representing the Count Orlov-Denissov with his suite; near the window, above a small desk, is a water-colour, "Jockey", by Baron Peter Klodt in 1842.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM by BobAtchison »

Offline BobAtchison

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Re: The appartment of Alexander II (Cathrine Palac
« Reply #6 on: August 21, 2004, 09:47:24 AM »
here's some more continuing a description of the rooms from the site:

The next, very small room is the Room of the Imperial Standards.

It has one window, is hung with, common wall-paper and is covered with models of uniforms of different regiments. On the wall, separating this room from the preceding room, is a picture by Schwarz. "The Review of the Horse Guards in the Mikhailovski Manege in St. Petersburg on the 7th of November 1846, the 50th anniversary of the day, when the Emperor Nicholas I became their Chief". In this room are still kept the standards of the troops of the Tsarskoe Selo garrison, during the presence of the Imperial Court.


The next room, with one window, is called the Arsenal Room.

Its walls are also hung with paper, and are covered with drawings of military uniforms. In this room, during the life time of the Emperor, invalids, who compose the Arsenal guard in the Alexander Park, was always on service.


A door from the Arsenal Room leads into the Asiatic Hall ornamented in Eastern Style.

All the walls, and the embrasures of the two windows, are covered with a collection of Eastern arms; along the walls are low divans; in the middle of the room is a small eastern fountain; the floors are covered with Persian carpets; the door is richly ornamented in Eastern style; in the embrasure of the second window is a small writing-table, hidden in the wall. The collection of arm's belonged to the Emperor Alexander II and formed a part of the collection, kept in the Arsenal of Tsarskoe Selo. Beside these arms, there is also a collection of other eastern things such as; goblets, trays, bowls, pipes, incense-pans, mirrors etc. Among the eastern arms are also a few European ones, as for instance, a Russian sword the 17th century, with gilt carving and an inscription: "Christ, help to vanquish"


The next room is the Study.

It has also two windows; the walls are covered with paper, and hung with pictures of the Russian military uniforms, and with portraits of the Imperial Family. In the centre of the room stands a big mahogany table, with a green cloth; against the wall, adjoining the Asiatic Hall, is a large mahogany writing-table; and close to the other walls stand half cupboards, containing books. Between the windows is a broad looking glass in a gilt frame of the 18th century, and in front of it a gilded wooden table of the same period. On the writing-table, among the family portraits, are two watercolors by Hau of 1843-1845, representing; the Tsarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich, and the Grand Duchess Alexandra Alexandrovna. On the wall, adjoining the next room, are several miniature portraits : the Empress Catherine II, in a rich round bronze frame; Maria Fyodorovna, the spouse of the Emperor Paul I; William II, King of the Netherlands, and Prince of Orange. On the table stand the miniatures of the Emperors Alexander I, and Nicholas I, by Winberg.


The next room is called the Dressing Room.

It is ornamented in the same style as the preceding rooms. Against the wall stand a mahogany divan of the time of the Emperor Nicholas I, and two half-cupboards; between the windows is a mirror; on the walls hang portraits, photographs, and pictures of military uniforms; near the divans is a little chest of drawers with a folding cover, hiding a modest porcelain washing-set; near the chimney hangs the uniform of His Majesty's Life Guard Cuirassiers regiment, worn by the Emperor during the last summer of his residence in Tsarskoe Selo; and his game pouch. A simple looking glass stands at the window near the door, leading into the footmen's room; on the wall, next to this door is a watercolor, by Teich, dated 1858, representing the Grand Duchess Maria Aleksandrovna in the Alexander Park.

Behind the Dressing Room are two small rooms more, containing each one window; the Footmen's Room, from which an inside staircase leads into the apartments of the Empress Catherine II; and the Wardrobe Room, facing the Private Garden, and communicating with the hall by a private entrance.

Offline Antonio_P.Caballer

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Re: The appartment of Alexander II (Cathrine Palac
« Reply #7 on: August 21, 2004, 03:34:33 PM »
You could also find more information in the catalogue of the exhibition held last summer in the Cameron Gallery titled "Alexander II and Tsarskoe Selo". There was a chapter on his rooms at the Zubov wing.