In the Press · Art · Museums · Heritage
The Bern Museum of Fine Arts has announced a substantial overhaul of its principles concerning works of art confiscated by the Nazis, reports Artguide. Among the new principles, for instance, is a broader definition of works lost by their owners during Nazi persecution: such works now include those confiscated, those
Books · Observations · Society · Humour
Even so, you will understand, half a million people a year is catastrophically few for a literate, educated country of 140 million. Sad, comrades I alone visit some 300 times a year, though it is unclear here whether they counted unique visitors or the total number of visits. If the
NB! · Archive · Architecture · Moscow · Heritage
Archive · Interviews · Books · People
It is laughable to speak of literature now, because it is not the time of literature at all: visual practices have won a total victory and have entirely crushed the printed word. The word has been stripped of its former myth, and the influence of the visual will grow through
Archive · Faith · Monarchies
Solemn Promise to His Imperial Majesty the Sovereign Emperor and Grand Duke Alexander Nikolayevich. "I, the undersigned, promise and swear by Almighty God, before His Holy Gospel, that I desire and am bound to serve faithfully and without hypocrisy, and to obey in all things, His Imperial Majesty, my
Faith · Art · Museums
John the Forerunner. Icon from the iconostasis of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God at the Ferapontov Monastery. 1490s or 1502-1503. Attributed to Dionisius, the first Russian icon painter of secular status
Faith · Observations · Society
The Vatican has issued yet another document of little consequence; or rather, it has endorsed an international report aimed at resolving the external debt crisis in developing countries. The document, entitled the “Jubilee Report”, was presented on 20 June 2025 by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. Among its authors
Architecture · Moscow · Museums
The exhibition comprises 16 halls devoted to the history of all the Cossack hosts and Guards formations of the Russian Empire. Among the 800 exhibits are a numismatic collection, orders and decorations, weapons, uniforms, banners, paintings, graphic art, sculpture, archival documents and maps.
Coming Up · Architecture · Heritage · Education · Saint Petersburg
The main works are due to be finished by December, but some classes may resume as early as September. Particular attention has been paid to preserving the historic appearance of the building while equipping it with modern facilities. The acoustics of the Rubinstein Great Hall have been improved, and the
Art · Observations · Society
The Italian government has announced a cut in VAT on sales of works of art from 22%, the highest rate in the European Union (EU), to 5%, the lowest rate in the EU. The closest to Italy in this respect are Germany and France, with VAT at 7% and 5.
Faith · Art · Museums
The Nativity of John the Baptist, Russian icon of the late fifteenth to early sixteenth century. The Gospel tells us that in the reign of King Herod an angel appeared to the aged priest Zacharias and said: “Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall
NB! · Society · Humour
Will Stalin come out? Then send Beria down!