Architecture · Faith · Observations · Heritage
Another Baroque iconostasis, this time a Russian one, of the 1730s-1740s. Though in a very sorry state, even if the Dormition Cathedral of 1508 in Rostov the Great does belong to the Russian Orthodox Church. A church on this spot was already reckoned old in the 1100s, new cathedrals
Moscow · Observations · Mores · Society
On the way to the dacha I was told an interesting theory as to why the Rublevo-Uspenskoye Highway has not been resurfaced for the last 15 years and is still in perfect condition. Suslov, it seems, had a bad back and could travel only at 50 km/h, and
NB! · Books · Observations · Humour
Don't even think of inviting me if your book party doesn't look like the gathering in this cupboard. First shelf: the collected works of Charles Darwin. Third shelf: the Halych Gospels of 1144. Mind blown
Museums · Observations · Mores · Pop Culture
The most expensive dolls' house in history is held to be a 2.5-metre fairy-tale palace commissioned by the silent film star Colleen Moore from leading Hollywood designers and architects. The palace is adorned with semi-precious and precious stones, even diamonds, with gold, and with fantastical
Moscow · Observations · Mores · Humour
⚡️1 KILOGRAMME OF STURGEON CAVIAR!!! Have you ever seen the like? A menu fit to be served in the hereafter to Major General Pavel Afanasyevich Afrosimov. Sorry that this post is not quite on the channel's theme, it is just that I have not seen anything so astonishing
Art · Moscow · Museums · Observations · Heritage
Speaking of cultural heritage, an appeal to help save the museum of the sculptor Anna Golubkina keeps turning up in my Instagram feed. The most curious thing is that the appeal comes from the Tretyakov Gallery, hardly a destitute institution, which in theory ought to have the money for this
Books · Observations · Humour
Yesterday I received, for the first time in my life, a fee for a public appearance. In the form of a bottle of wine and a bottle of whisky, admittedly. I shall not hide that it was unexpected and very pleasant that the proprietor of the establishment, seated at the
NB! · Art · Monarchies · Observations
I adore this portrait of Catherine II: so charming, so unaffected and, above all, unflattering. It is a great pity that the artist's name has not come down to us
Faith · Museums · Observations · Nature
I understand that not everyone will care for regular gardens of the French type. Very well, then: I was taken with the metropolitan's garden of apple, pear, cherry and plum trees beneath the ancient walls of the Rostov Kremlin. Metropolitan Jonah Sysoyevich conceived it in the manner of
Observations · Humour
I love you, dear subscribers! And it is pleasant to know that there are such specialists among you. On the post about Lavinia And what a name, the virginal! Pure poetry!
Art · Museums · Observations · People · Rome
Statue of Pyrrhus (318-272 BC) in the Capitoline Museums, 1st century AD. Of course you remember the expression "Pyrrhic victory", but it is not the military past of this commander and ruler, so important to the history of Greece, that I wish to draw your attention to,
NB! · Architecture · Observations · Heritage · Humour
When next I wax rapturous over the gardens and parks of the Moscow-region country estates, please remind me what the garden and kitchen garden of the Château de Villandry look like, for instance. And do remind me, while you are at it, to light a candle so that Russia