Archaeology · Art · Observations · Science

The Palaeoart Centre of the Institute of Archaeology and a programme with Elena Levanova

I am often asked about the origins of art in the earliest epochs of humanity, but this is not quite my field, despite several articles on the subject and a few interesting thoughts. Our Academy of Sciences has a team that deals with the questions of ancient pictorial practices with

Art · Society · Reportage

A very cool art object on one of the squares of Nizhny Novgorod: the "Bitter Experience" kiosk, alluding to Gorky, the city's former name and one of Nizhny's most famous natives

The display boards of the kiosk, on which a sign reading "back in 5 minutes" has hung for four years, carry works by contemporary artists from Nizhny, among them Artem Filatov, Ivan Sery and Kurs Studio. Among them is, for example, an advertisement for SLON Travel promising an

A white-stone building in Russian style with round towers and green conical roofs under a cloudy sky. In front are yellow fences, stacks of paving stones and workers.

NB!

White-stone building with towers and paving repairs in front of it

Architecture · Monarchies · Heritage · Society

In Soviet times the coat of arms of the USSR was raised on the dome of the tower of the Nizhny Novgorod office of the State Bank, while all the imperial decor connected with the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov, which richly adorned the whole bui

In Soviet times the coat of arms of the USSR was raised on the dome of the tower of the Nizhny Novgorod office of the State Bank, while all the imperial decor connected with the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov, which richly adorned the whole building, including the

Cinema · Books · Observations

Gurilyov’s romance and Baratynsky’s elegy “Razuverenie” as sung by Larisa

Remember when Kharita Ignatyevna was teaching Larisa how to handle wealthy suitors, and she took up her guitar, sat down by the window and sang "Matushka, golubushka, solnyshko moe, Pozhalei, rodimaya, dityatko tvoe!" What, in essence, does this romance by Gurilyov, to words by Nikormsky, signify? On the

Books · Moscow · Museums · Mores

In Pushkin, a Singing Girl with a Guitar Tries to Lure the Eligible Bachelor Lensky:

They call the neighbour to the samovar, And Dunya pours the tea; They whisper to her: "Dunya, mind your manners!" Then they bring in the guitar too: And she starts to squeak (good God!): Come to my golden palace! Literal translation Here the guitar is a sign of

NB! · Faith · Art · Moscow · Observations · Humour

Tell me, why does even Van Dyck's Preparation for the Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian remind me of the unbearable Moscow heat?

Faith · Monarchies · Society

Regent Maria Christina's decree of 1834 finally abolished the Spanish Inquisition

On 15 July 1834 the last remnants of the Spanish Inquisition ceased to exist. On that day a decree was issued by Maria Christina, Regent of Spain, finally abolishing the Inquisition throughout the empire. On the mainland the Inquisition had already been shut down under Napoleon's Joseph Bonaparte,

Archive · Books · Mores · People

A Memorial Plaque to Vladimir Chertkov, Friend, Editor and Publisher of Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy

Many Tolstoys, for understandable reasons, do not care for Chertkov, the closest friend, confidant, fellow thinker and comrade-in-arms of Lev Nikolayevich. To appreciate Chertkov's place in Tolstoy's life, it is enough to recall that their correspondence fills five volumes of Tolstoy's collected

Portrait of a dark-haired man with a moustache, wearing a dark coat, a burgundy waistcoat and a white cravat.

Aristocracy · Art · Science · People

Portrait of a man by the painter Philip de László

Portrait of the French Aristocrat, Industrialist and Scientist Armand de Gramont, Duc de Guiche (1879-1962) Artist: Philip de László

Monarchies · Paris · People

Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte:

at the time of his victory in the election of France's first president on 10 December 1848 // at the time of the coup d'état of 2 December 1851

Aristocracy · In the Press · London · Monarchies

Rumours that the title of Duke of Edinburgh may not pass to Edward

The English press debates whether Prince Charles will defy the wishes of his late father: who is to inherit the title of Duke of Edinburgh, Edward, Earl of Wessex, as Prince Philip bequeathed it, or Charles after all, to whom it belongs by seniority? It was said as long ago

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