Natasha's Dance (100 page)
Yet underneath the surface of this European dream world the old Russia still showed throu
Yet underneath the surface of this European dream world the old Russia still showed throu
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The Sheremetev palace on the Fontanka river is a legendary symbol of the Petersburg tra
The Sheremetev palace on the Fontanka river is a legendary symbol of the Petersburg tra
The Sheremetev palace on the Fontanka river is a legendary symbol of the Petersburg tra
I don’t have special claims
I don’t have special claims
I don’t have special claims
On this illustrious house,
On this illustrious house,
On this illustrious house,
But it happens that almost my whole life
But it happens that almost my whole life
But it happens that almost my whole life
I have lived under the celebrated roof
I have lived under the celebrated roof
I have lived under the celebrated roof
Of the Fountain Palace… As a pauper
Of the Fountain Palace… As a pauper
Of the Fountain Palace… As a pauper
I arrived and as a pauper I will leave…25
I arrived and as a pauper I will leave…25
I arrived and as a pauper I will leave…25
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The history of the palace is a microcosm of the Petrine plan to set down Western culture o
The history of the palace is a microcosm of the Petrine plan to set down Western culture o
The history of the palace is a microcosm of the Petrine plan to set down Western culture o
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By the beginning of the eighteenth century the Sheremetev family was already well estab
By the beginning of the eighteenth century the Sheremetev family was already well estab
By the beginning of the eighteenth century the Sheremetev family was already well estab
veteran of the wars against the Swedes, in 1705 he became Russia’s first appointed count (g
veteran of the wars against the Swedes, in 1705 he became Russia’s first appointed count (g
veteran of the wars against the Swedes, in 1705 he became Russia’s first appointed count (g
(graf)
boyars,
(dvoriane)
(dvor).
Before the eighteenth century Russia had no grand noble palaces. Most of the Tsar’s servito
Before the eighteenth century Russia had no grand noble palaces. Most of the Tsar’s servito
Before the eighteenth century Russia had no grand noble palaces. Most of the Tsar’s servito
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*Even as late as the nineteenth century noblemen of every rank, including counts and baro
*Even as late as the nineteenth century noblemen of every rank, including counts and baro
*Even as late as the nineteenth century noblemen of every rank, including counts and baro
2. Seventeenth-century Muscovite costumes. Engraving, 1669
2. Seventeenth-century Muscovite costumes. Engraving, 1669
2. Seventeenth-century Muscovite costumes. Engraving, 1669
Seventeenth-century Muscovite costumes. Engraving, 1669
years of legal wrangling to settle all the questions of its ownership, it was bought by the
years of legal wrangling to settle all the questions of its ownership, it was bought by the
years of legal wrangling to settle all the questions of its ownership, it was bought by the
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The cultural advancement of the Muscovite boyars was well behind that of the European no
The cultural advancement of the Muscovite boyars was well behind that of the European no
The cultural advancement of the Muscovite boyars was well behind that of the European no
boyars
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boyar
and habits. For over three hundred years, the period of the Renaissance in the West, Russi
and habits. For over three hundred years, the period of the Renaissance in the West, Russi
and habits. For over three hundred years, the period of the Renaissance in the West, Russi
(c.
kaftan
Domostroi
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* Peter the Great introduced the Western (Julian) calendar in 1700. But by 1752 the rest of
* Peter the Great introduced the Western (Julian) calendar in 1700. But by 1752 the rest of
* Peter the Great introduced the Western (Julian) calendar in 1700. But by 1752 the rest of
ways. His palace was much more than a noble residence, and his estate was far more than a
ways. His palace was much more than a noble residence, and his estate was far more than a
ways. His palace was much more than a noble residence, and his estate was far more than a
Peter laid the basis of the modern absolutist (European) state when he turned all the nob
Peter laid the basis of the modern absolutist (European) state when he turned all the nob
Peter laid the basis of the modern absolutist (European) state when he turned all the nob
boyar
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Korsakov (a distant forebear of the composer) was kicked out of the Guards in 1810 because
Korsakov (a distant forebear of the composer) was kicked out of the Guards in 1810 because
Korsakov (a distant forebear of the composer) was kicked out of the Guards in 1810 because
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The Sheremetevs rose very quickly to the top of this new social hierarchy. When Boris Sher
The Sheremetevs rose very quickly to the top of this new social hierarchy. When Boris Sher
The Sheremetevs rose very quickly to the top of this new social hierarchy. When Boris Sher
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The fantastic wealth of the Sheremetev clan had a lot to do with this new confidence. With
The fantastic wealth of the Sheremetev clan had a lot to do with this new confidence. With
The fantastic wealth of the Sheremetev clan had a lot to do with this new confidence. With
of whom had annual incomes of approximately Ј50,000.37 Like most noble fortunes, the She
of whom had annual incomes of approximately Ј50,000.37 Like most noble fortunes, the She
of whom had annual incomes of approximately Ј50,000.37 Like most noble fortunes, the She
37
The Sheremetevs spent vast sums of money on their palaces - often much more than they earn
The Sheremetevs spent vast sums of money on their palaces - often much more than they earn
The Sheremetevs spent vast sums of money on their palaces - often much more than they earn
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To succeed in this court-centred culture the nobleman required a fabulous lifestyle.
To succeed in this court-centred culture the nobleman required a fabulous lifestyle.
To succeed in this court-centred culture the nobleman required a fabulous lifestyle.
A large part of the Sheremetevs’ budget went on their enormous household staffs. The fami
A large part of the Sheremetevs’ budget went on their enormous household staffs. The fami
A large part of the Sheremetevs’ budget went on their enormous household staffs. The fami
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In the Sheremetev household clothes were another source of huge extravagance. Nikol
In the Sheremetev household clothes were another source of huge extravagance. Nikol
In the Sheremetev household clothes were another source of huge extravagance. Nikol
inventory of his wardrobe in 1806 reveals that he possessed no less than thirty-seven diffe
inventory of his wardrobe in 1806 reveals that he possessed no less than thirty-seven diffe
inventory of his wardrobe in 1806 reveals that he possessed no less than thirty-seven diffe
kaftans
kaftans
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Entertaining was a costly business, too. The Sheremetev household was itself a minor court
Entertaining was a costly business, too. The Sheremetev household was itself a minor court
Entertaining was a costly business, too. The Sheremetev household was itself a minor court
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Nearly everything in the Sheremetev household was imported from Europe. Even basic items f
Nearly everything in the Sheremetev household was imported from Europe. Even basic items f
Nearly everything in the Sheremetev household was imported from Europe. Even basic items f
kaftan of downy material
kaftan of downy material
kaftan of downy material
kaftan
camisole sewn with gold and pearls
camisole sewn with gold and pearls
camisole sewn with gold and pearls
kaftan and trousers made of silk in puce plus yellow camisole
kaftan and trousers made of silk in puce plus yellow camisole
kaftan and trousers made of silk in puce plus yellow camisole
kaftan
kaftan made of red cotton with blue on both sides
kaftan made of red cotton with blue on both sides
kaftan made of red cotton with blue on both sides
kaftan
blue silk camisole sewn with gold
blue silk camisole sewn with gold
blue silk camisole sewn with gold
kaftan and trousers in fabric with camisole in raspberry silk sewn
kaftan and trousers in fabric with camisole in raspberry silk sewn
kaftan and trousers in fabric with camisole in raspberry silk sewn
kaftan
with gold and silver kaftan and trousers in chocolate colour with green velour camisol
with gold and silver kaftan and trousers in chocolate colour with green velour camisol
with gold and silver kaftan and trousers in chocolate colour with green velour camisol
kaftan
arshins*
12 arshins of black material for trousers and 3 arsbins of black velvet various ribbons
12 arshins of black material for trousers and 3 arsbins of black velvet various ribbons
12 arshins of black material for trousers and 3 arsbins of black velvet various ribbons
arshins
arsbins
150 pounds of superior tobacco 60 pounds of ordinary tobacco 36 tins of pomade 6 dozen
150 pounds of superior tobacco 60 pounds of ordinary tobacco 36 tins of pomade 6 dozen
150 pounds of superior tobacco 60 pounds of ordinary tobacco 36 tins of pomade 6 dozen
* One arshin is 71 centimetres.
* One arshin is 71 centimetres.
* One arshin is 71 centimetres.
arshin
moulds for blancmange
moulds for blancmange
moulds for blancmange
600 bottles of white burgundy
600 bottles of white burgundy
600 bottles of white burgundy
600 bottles of red burgundy
600 bottles of red burgundy
600 bottles of red burgundy
200 bottles of sparkling champagne
200 bottles of sparkling champagne
200 bottles of sparkling champagne
100 bottles of non-sparkling champagne
100 bottles of non-sparkling champagne
100 bottles of non-sparkling champagne
100 bottles of pink champagne.46
100 bottles of pink champagne.46
100 bottles of pink champagne.46
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If Boris Sheremetev was the last of the old boyars, his son Pyotr was perhaps the first, and c
If Boris Sheremetev was the last of the old boyars, his son Pyotr was perhaps the first, and c
If Boris Sheremetev was the last of the old boyars, his son Pyotr was perhaps the first, and c
boyars,
boyar
Fountain House, like Russia, was originally made of wood, a single-storey dacha hurried
Fountain House, like Russia, was originally made of wood, a single-storey dacha hurried
Fountain House, like Russia, was originally made of wood, a single-storey dacha hurried
dacha
Tsarskoe Selo, Savva Chevakinsky, a minor nobleman from Tver who had graduated from the Na
Tsarskoe Selo, Savva Chevakinsky, a minor nobleman from Tver who had graduated from the Na
Tsarskoe Selo, Savva Chevakinsky, a minor nobleman from Tver who had graduated from the Na
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Inside, the house was a typical collection of European sculpture, bas-relief, furnitur
Inside, the house was a typical collection of European sculpture, bas-relief, furnitur
Inside, the house was a typical collection of European sculpture, bas-relief, furnitur
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Not content with one palace, the Sheremetevs built two more, even more expensive ones, a
Not content with one palace, the Sheremetevs built two more, even more expensive ones, a
Not content with one palace, the Sheremetevs built two more, even more expensive ones, a
3. The Sheremetev theatre at Ostankino. View from the stage. The parterre is covered b
3. The Sheremetev theatre at Ostankino. View from the stage. The parterre is covered b
3. The Sheremetev theatre at Ostankino. View from the stage. The parterre is covered b
The Sheremetev theatre at Ostankino. View from the stage. The parterre is covered by t
changes of French grand opera.50 Nikolai Petrovich, who took the Sheremetev opera to its h
changes of French grand opera.50 Nikolai Petrovich, who took the Sheremetev opera to its h
changes of French grand opera.50 Nikolai Petrovich, who took the Sheremetev opera to its h
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