Aristocracy · Architecture · Moscow · Museums · Observations
Arkhangelskoye was one of the first museum-estates in the country, and this year the museum marks its centenary. It must be said that both the parks and the palace building are in excellent condition. On several occasions, however, I have heard the estate of the Princes Yusupov called the
Architecture · Books · Observations
The fairly authoritative Book of Architecture by James Gibbs, published in 1728, contains, for instance, this illustration of overmantel frames for pictures, which might in principle explain the appearance of such doorways in Salisbury. If, say, some enterprising builder decided to economise and used these elements, taken from a wealthy
Architecture · Museums · Observations · Heritage · Society
You will probably remember that I wrote about Khmelita and that I know its revival's architect, Viktor Kulakov. Hardly any time has passed since the death of the creator of the Griboyedov museum, and the Ministry of Culture has decided to dispose of the museum's fate
NB! · Architecture · Museums · Observations · Nature
The staircases of Monaco's Oceanographic Museum are adorned with the shells of giant molluscs. Remember the tridacna that serves as a holy water stoup in Saint-Sulpice?
Architecture · Monarchies · Museums · Science · Nature
The Oceanographic Museum, founded in the late nineteenth century by Prince Albert I, occupies an enormous building overhanging the sea. Inside are a colossal collection of stuffed marine animals, equipment for the study of the ocean, an aquarium, interactive exhibits and a collection of personal belongings and instruments of the
Architecture · Observations · Heritage
The Riviera Palace is not in the best of states at present, of course. The century of its grandeur has passed, when expensive motor cars crowded before the main entrance, celebrities lounged within and fountains of iced water bubbled. Now part of the building has been remodelled and the public
Architecture · Observations · Mores
I was lucky enough to stay in one of the most beautiful buildings in Monte Carlo. Formally, of course, this is France: the town of Beausoleil, founded in 1904, which was even proposed to be called Upper Monte Carlo. But in the end the name Monte-Carlo Supérieur went to
Architecture · London · Mores · Society
On 24 July 1851 Britain abolished the window tax, introduced in 1696. In the intervening years the tax was raised more than once, and it led to houses being built with no windows at all. The tax was levied not on each window but on the total number of windows
Architecture · Faith · Art · Museums · Humour
Saint Michael the Archangel of Brussels. The statue recalls the works of Tsereteli, but this is another creator: Martin Van Rode, who lived in the fifteenth century. The Archangel with the dragon crowned the 96-metre spire of the town hall. Michael is made of copper sheets, which have oxidised
NB! · Architecture · Faith · Heritage · Paris
The roof of Notre-Dame, July 2019. As you can see, most of the structures are now made of reinforcing steel
Architecture · Museums · Heritage · People
An empty desk in the director's study of the A.S. Griboyedov "Khmelita" State Historical, Cultural and Natural Museum-Reserve, at which Viktor Kulakov worked. Today Viktor Evgenyevich Kulakov passed away. He was a unique man who will remain in our memory and in the history
Architecture · Monarchies · Observations · Mores
Have you ever noticed these latticed niches just beneath the dome of old theatres? In the royal theatre at the Palace of Fontainebleau, for instance, behind such mesh-covered oculi there lay small chambers with additional seats: the theatrical hierarchy reserved these hidden boxes for people in mourning and, of