INSIGHT INTO THE PAST
"... The room is up to 105 feet (32 metres) long and about 50 feet high and wide. It is perfectly lit by two rows of windows, eight on each side. ... At the back of the room stands a full-length portrait of the founder of our book depository Catherine II, brilliantly painted by the famous Russian artist of her time, Levitsky..."
Imperial Public Library Guidebook. 1860
HISTORICAL REFERENCE
The room was designed by the architect Apollon Shchedrin. There used to be the History Department here. Albums and books on art were also held the room. Huge desks were placed in the center to view large items. The spaces between the windows were decorated with casts of antique statues. The back wall featured a portrait of Catherine the Great by Dmitry Levitsky. In 1835, the room was dedicated to the merchant Larin who left a hefty sum of money to the Library in his will. It made possible the building of the new wing of the Library. A portrait of Pyotr Larin, presented by his granddaughter, was hung above the doorway to the room.
From the middle of the 20th century through 2006, it housed the Humanities and Art Room. After reconstruction of historical interiors, the Prints Department's collections were transferred to the Larin Room. They were made available as of January 2013, on the anniversary of the Library.
Photo Gallery
SEE OUR POPULAR RESOURCES
The film shows unique visual materials of the NLR holdings. Among them are the fist engravings of St.Petersburg and the city founder Peter the Great. You'll be shown: valuable collections of West European portraits of kings and other famous figures, popular Russian prints. You can see 19th century ethnographic photographs and advertising posters. Here you'll find avant-guard graphics, first movie billboards, early postcards and wrappers, bookplates etc.