Archive · Art · Monarchies · Saint Petersburg

The Imperial Family of the Russian Imperial House in Alexander Eikhov's photograph of 1867, showing Alexander II with his wife, children, brothers and nephews, one of the first examples of photomontage in the history of photography

The Imperial Family of the Russian Imperial House in Alexander Eikhov's photograph of 1867, showing Alexander II with his wife, children, brothers and nephews, is one of the first examples of photomontage in the history of photography. All the figures were photographed separately. Moreover, as Alexey Loginov, curator

NB! · Observations · Society

God Grant Good Health to Oleg Imameev, Mayor of the Amur Capital

Observations · Mores · Society · Humour

A short remark on the social importance of observing a dress code

“He came in a suit and did not look like a madman”. a brief but pithy remark on the social importance of observing the dress code

Archive · Society · People

Vysotsky's paternal grandparents and Lev Levin, the doctor executed in 1938

The paternal grandparents of Vladimir Vysotsky were called Wolf Shliomovich Vysotsky and Dora Ovseyevna Bronstein. Wolf was a schoolfellow of Mikhoels and Babel. Dora Ovseyevna's stepfather, Lev Levin, physician to members of the government and to Maxim Gorky, was shot in 1938 on a charge of participating in

Archive · Monarchies · Paris · People · Humour

Louis XVI's Fear of Cats and Two Incidents of Killing Them

Louis XVI could not abide cats and was mortally afraid of them. Once, during a brilliant reception at Versailles, a cat somehow slipped into the hall; Louis, beside himself, leapt from his seat, seized a heavy candelabrum and killed the animal on the spot. On another occasion, hammer in hand,

NB! · Observations · Humour

Enough Hanging from the Ceiling

Enough hanging from the ceiling. Back to the reality of the new working week!

Archive · Mores · People

Lilya Brik and Elsa Triolet with their mother, Elena Kagan, in 1918

The last known family photograph, taken before Elsa left Russia with her mother in the summer of 1918. In the photograph: Lev Grinkrug, Elsa, her friend Tamara Beglyarova, Elena Yulyevna Kagan and Lilya Brik

NB! · Books · People

George Gordon Byron, “Don Juan”

NB! · Observations · Mores

In chess the black and white pieces are sworn enemies, but those who command them are usually the best of friends

Archaeology · Monarchies · Heritage

Excavations at Pompeii from Domenico Fontana to a cap of 20,000 visitors

The first excavations at the site of Pompeii were begun by Charles III of Bourbon, King of Naples and Sicily, in April 1748. In truth, the place had been discovered by chance as early as the end of the sixteenth century by the architect Domenico Fontana, while digging the Sarno

A framed drawing of a black steam locomotive with red wheels hangs on a dark blue wall, with the driver visible in the cab.

NB! · Art · People

Alexander Deyneka’s work “Full Speed” depicting a steam locomotive

Full Speed Ahead. Alexander Deineka

Cinema · People · Pop Culture

Isabella Rossellini

Parents: Roberto Rossellini, Ingrid Bergman Husbands: Martin Scorsese, Jonathan Wiedemann Partners: David Lynch, Gary Oldman

Alexandr Radayev