Moscow · Museums · Observations · Heritage

Fersman Mineralogical Museum in Moscow awaits visitors after ceiling collapse

The museum needs help. One of my favourite museums in Moscow, the Fersman Mineralogical Museum of the Academy of Sciences, has had a hard time of it since part of its ceiling collapsed last year, in a building that is, if you please, a cultural heritage site of federal significance.

NB! · Architecture · Cinema · Heritage

The hunting galleries of the French château of Raray, built in the early seventeenth century, were immortalised in world culture by Jean Cocteau, who chose them as the setting for his 1946 film "Beauty and the Beast", with Josette Day and Jean Marais, who

NB! · Architecture · Moscow · Observations · Heritage

Restoration of the Single-Storey Wooden Terskoy-Lopatin House in Sechenovsky Lane

Restoration of the single-storey wooden Terskoy-Lopatin House in Sechenovsky Lane. The house dates from the 1820s and has fine stucco decoration characteristic of the period, together with a wrought-iron fence. The building stood empty for many years but, thank God, has survived. I hope the restoration work

In the Press · Books · Moscow · Museums · Heritage

New director Vladimir Tolstoy plans to complete restoration of the Khamovniki estate

In a recent interview with Kommersant, Vladimir Tolstoy, who a month ago took up the post of Director General of the Leo Tolstoy State Museum, spoke of the main tasks awaiting him in his new office. The first item on the new director's list of priorities is to

Faith · Heritage · Society

Unknown persons destroy early 17th-century stone cross in Le Tréport

On the night of 14 to 15 August, unknown persons destroyed a historic monument in the northern French town of Le Tréport: a stone cross of the early 17th century. That the act of vandalism took place on the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God,

Architecture · Faith · Art · Heritage

Hurricane Beryl damaged the Rothko Chapel in Texas and three of its paintings

Hurricane Beryl, which struck Texas last month, has badly damaged the chapel decorated by Mark Rothko. The ceiling and walls of the chapel were flooded, and three of the artist's paintings were damaged. Commissioned by Dominique and John de Menil, philanthropists and art collectors from France, Rothko painted

NB! · Architecture · Monarchies · Heritage

Alexander the Great Spared Mount Athos from the Plan of His Architect Dinocrates, Who Wished to Turn It into a Colossal Statue of Alexander Holding a City and a Bowl Pouring Water into the Sea

Alexander the Great spared Mount Athos from the plan of his architect Dinocrates, who wished to turn it into a colossal statue of Alexander holding a city and a bowl pouring water into the sea. By Alexander's will, Dinocrates left Athos untouched and designed Alexandria instead

Architecture · Faith · Heritage · Society

Silver items stolen from an English abbey, damage estimated at one hundred thousand pounds

A few days ago in the English county of Dorset, the 1,300-year-old doors of Sherborne Abbey were broken open and church silver stolen. The damage done to one of the most significant and beautiful churches in England is estimated at a hundred thousand pounds. Among the stolen

Painted ceiling of dense foliage with a coat of arms at the centre and four blue inscribed tablets on the sides.

Art · Observations · Heritage

Preserving masterpieces and the risk posed by any intervention

Milan city council reported to have approved restoration of the Sala delle Asse in the Sforza Castle, with its ceiling frescoes by Leonardo da Vinci, for early 2025. News of this sort always induces a certain unease. It is understood that masterpieces require upkeep, but any intervention may prove fatal

Faith · Heritage · Society

Greek police prepare to evict 118 monks from Esphigmenou Monastery on Mount Athos

Greek police are preparing to storm the Orthodox pilgrim monastery of Esphigmenou on Mount Athos. In the news reports the monastery is called nothing but schismatic, because for many years Esphigmenou has stood in opposition to the rest of the Holy Mountain, to the Patriarchate of Constantinople and to the

Architecture · Moscow · Observations · Heritage · Education

Walls of an 1884 student residence in Filippovsky Lane exposed, revealing a wooden building

In Filippovsky Lane the walls of the former Lepyoshkin Student Hostel of the Imperial Moscow University (1884), which now houses the Theatre House "Old Arbat", have been stripped of their plaster. The most interesting thing here, besides the vivid demonstration of the lost technologies of the past, is

NB! · Architecture · Observations · Heritage · Paris