You’d think I could finish up with the Tsar’s summer palace, but I’m not even close. For example, how do you heat a palace? The ballroom was unheated–too many windows, too much floorspace. But most of the smaller rooms had tile stoves.
They’re tall, and they’re all over the place.
Some rooms have one stove,
and some rooms have two stoves.
Sometimes you can’t see if it’s a different room until you check the parquet pattern.
This dining room had one stove, but really could have used two. If I was eating with the Tsar, I would definitely opt for a seat near the stove.
Here you could sit near the stove and contemplate Buchholz’s 1768 portrait of Empress Elizabeth I
and here you can sit by the stove and contemplate a whole lot of paintings. The oils may be original, but the stoves are not. The floors are new as well: only one parquet floor survived, and it was in another section of the palace.
These photos are amazing! Thanks for sharing them with us. What a fantastic trip you had - the sights that you got to see! WOW!
I doubt I will ever get to Russia, so I have to tell you how much I am enjoying your photos and commentary. I can’t wait to see more! Thanks for sharing!