The Tsars’ Cabinet: Two Hundred Years of Russian Decorative Arts under the Romanovs

The decorative arts produced for the tsars and their imperial court between the early 18^th century—when Peter the Great sought closer relations with Europe—and the demise of the Romanov dynasty two centuries later in the wake of the Russian Revolution, are unrivaled in their sumptuousness and beauty. The astonishing variety of styles reflects the rich history of Imperial Russia itself, from the Enlightenment of the eighteenth century under Catherine the Great to Nicolas I’s militarism to the nostalgic grandeur of the Romanov Tercentennial under the last emperor, Nicolas II. They embody the tension between the desire to be part of Europe and the longing for a more nativist era; at the same time, the brilliance of their design and execution marks them as timeless works of art. As we approach the Quadricentennial of the founding of the Romanov dynasty under Mikhail Romanov in 1613, this one-of-a-kind exhibition of decorative arts culled from the collection of Kathleen Durdin reminds us of the complexity and opulence of Russia under the Romanovs and how it continues to fascinate us today.

The Tsars’ Cabinet: Two Hundred Years of Russian Decorative Arts under the Romanovs was organized by the Muscarelle Museum of Art at the College of William & Mary, and toured by International Arts & Artists.