Types of rooms of the Winter Palace. The Cabinet of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna by Edward Hau

Edward Hau is a Russian artist of the mid-19th century, a native of Revel, famous for his beautiful watercolor portraits of contemporaries of the mid-19th century. Gau’s brushes also own numerous watercolor images of the interiors of the Hermitage and the Winter Palace, which are of great value for the history of Russian culture.

The work “Types of rooms of the Winter Palace, the Cabinet of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna” amazes with the ease and clarity of the transfer of all the details of a rich interior. With photographic precision, the blue ceiling murals with female figures, red silk walls with hanging copies of Raphael’s paintings, an intricate pattern of colorful carpet and furniture upholstery are depicted.

“Cabinet of the Empress” is an example of a private residential interior of the middle of the XIX century, fully reflecting the taste of the crowned hostess and fashion trends of the time. The work of the artist serves as a visual aid for decorating the space in the style of “Biedermeier”. Widespread in the second half of the XIX century, photography gradually replaced such watercolor works.