| Revision as of 16:33, 10 November 2008 editPiledhigheranddeeper (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers40,183 editsm →References: italics for book titles, corrected author name← Previous edit | Revision as of 16:37, 10 November 2008 edit undoPiledhigheranddeeper (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers40,183 edits capitalization, syntaxNext edit → | ||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| The '''Arabian Hall''', sometimes known as the Blackamoor Hall or the Arabian Dining Room, is one of the semi-private rooms of the ], ]. In the ]ist era it was the room from which imperial processions through the state rooms began. Its double doors were designed to be on a straight axis through the principal state rooms and ultimately the Jordan staircase. Thus it was here the Romanoff family often assembled, in private, before state receptions and occasions. <ref>Maylunas</ref> | The '''Arabian Hall''', sometimes known as the Blackamoor Hall or the Arabian Dining Room, is one of the semi-private rooms of the ], in ], ]. In the ]ist era it was the room from which imperial processions through the state rooms began. Its double doors were designed to be on a straight axis through the principal state rooms and ultimately the Jordan staircase. Thus it was here the Romanoff family often assembled, in private, before state receptions and occasions. <ref>Maylunas.</ref> | ||
| Designed following the Winter Palace fire of 1837 by ], the room is decorated in ] style fashionable in the early 19th century, known as ]. A stuccoed vaulted ceiling is seemingly supported by a ] of ] columns. <ref>The State Hermitage Museum</ref> | Designed following the Winter Palace fire of 1837 by ], the room is decorated in ] style fashionable in the early 19th century, known as ]. A stuccoed vaulted ceiling is seemingly supported by a ] of ] columns. <ref>The State Hermitage Museum.</ref> | ||
| The various geographically confused names of the Arabian Hall derive, not from any peculiar contents, but from the four official pseudo-bodyguards of the Tsar who travelled from palace to palace with the Imperial family. They were |
The various geographically confused names of the Arabian Hall derive, not from any peculiar contents, but from the four official pseudo-bodyguards of the Tsar who travelled from palace to palace with the Imperial family. They were four "massive Negroes" fantastically dressed in scarlet trousers, gold jackets, white turbans and curved shoes. <ref>Massie, p. 129.</ref> Wherever the Tsar was, they guarded the the doors between the private and official world. They had no other function other than to open and close doors; their sudden, but silent appearance into a room was the signal that heralded the immediate appearance of the Tsar or Tsaritsa. | ||
| Although the guards were referred to as the ] or Blackamoors, from 1896, at least one was an American. Jim Hercules holidayed in the U.S.A. and always returned with jars of ] for the Imperial children. <ref>All information concerning the "Ethiopians" is from Massie, p. 129.</ref> | |||
| == Notes == | == Notes == | ||
Revision as of 16:37, 10 November 2008
The Arabian Hall, sometimes known as the Blackamoor Hall or the Arabian Dining Room, is one of the semi-private rooms of the Winter Palace, in St. Petersburg, Russia. In the Tsarist era it was the room from which imperial processions through the state rooms began. Its double doors were designed to be on a straight axis through the principal state rooms and ultimately the Jordan staircase. Thus it was here the Romanoff family often assembled, in private, before state receptions and occasions.
Designed following the Winter Palace fire of 1837 by Alexander Briullov, the room is decorated in neoclassical style fashionable in the early 19th century, known as Pompeian. A stuccoed vaulted ceiling is seemingly supported by a colonnade of Doric columns.
The various geographically confused names of the Arabian Hall derive, not from any peculiar contents, but from the four official pseudo-bodyguards of the Tsar who travelled from palace to palace with the Imperial family. They were four "massive Negroes" fantastically dressed in scarlet trousers, gold jackets, white turbans and curved shoes. Wherever the Tsar was, they guarded the the doors between the private and official world. They had no other function other than to open and close doors; their sudden, but silent appearance into a room was the signal that heralded the immediate appearance of the Tsar or Tsaritsa.
Although the guards were referred to as the Ethiopians or Blackamoors, from 1896, at least one was an American. Jim Hercules holidayed in the U.S.A. and always returned with jars of guava jelly for the Imperial children.
Notes
- Maylunas.
- The State Hermitage Museum.
- Massie, p. 129.
- All information concerning the "Ethiopians" is from Massie, p. 129.
References
- Cowles, Virginia (1971). The Romanovs. London: William Collins, Sons & Company Ltd. ISBN 0 00 211724 10.
- Massie, Robert K. Nicholas and Alexandra. Atheneum. New York. 1967.
- Maylunas, Andrei, Mironenko, Sergei (1996). A Lifelong Passion. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson. ISBN 0 297 81520 2.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- The State Hermitage Museum retrieved 23 September 2008. Published by The State Hermitage Museum.