Empress Alexandra’s Library on the 3rd Floor of the Winter Palace

In the 1840s-1850s, Empress Alexandra had two rooms on the 3^rd floor the Winter Palace that were part of the apartment of Nicholas I.

Alexandra’s library 387 was a corner room located between Nicholas’ valet and bathroom and was decorated in purple.

The only known photograph (below) of the Library on the 3^rd Floor taken at the time of the 1917 revolution.

Alexandra hung two paintings presented to her by Karl Briullov, the brother of Alexander Briullov, the Winter Palace architect: ‘Italian Morning’ and ‘Italian Midday’. Briullov completed both paintings in Italy in 1823.

‘Italian Morning’ received rave reviews in1823 from the Italian public, followed by members of the Society for the Encouragement of Artists in St. Petersburg. ‘Italian Midday’ was shown later in 1827 and received a lot of unflattering reviews. Critics felt that the model was not elegant and did not match the ‘classical ideals of’ beauty.

Karl Briullov’s ‘Italian Morning’ (below)

Karl Briullov’s ‘Italian Midday’ (below)

It is unknown why Nicholas decided to place Alexandra’s library in the pass-through room of his suite.