Talented artists who are willing to take on any job
In the mid-19th to early 20th centuries, the most talented artists of the Russian Empire did not turn their noses up at any kind of work. Great masters of the brush (Viktor Vasnetsov, Alexander Benois) could easily design business cards, letterheads, invitations, menus for formal dinners, announcements, candy wrappers, programs for musical receptions or concerts…
N.N. Karazin. The menu for the “Senior Officers’ Dinner” held during the coronation of Emperor Alexander III on May 21, 1883.
Our very own Nikolai Nikolaevich Karazin was no exception. However, for the sake of contrast, we’ve included not only his menu but also those of other artists…
N. Mezentsev. The breakfast menu in Tiflis served in the presence of Emperor Alexander III during his trip to the Caucasus on September 29, 1888.
A. Charlemagne. The menu for Emperor Alexander II’s state dinner at the Livadia Palace on January 11, 1874.
V. Vasnetsov. Menu for the ceremonial dinner held on the occasion of the coronation of Emperor Alexander III on May 27, 1883.
E. Bem. Wedding menu template for the Sheremetevs. Moscow, 1900.
E. Lipgart. Menu for the formal dinner held in honor of French President F. Faure on August 11–23, 1897
E. Lipgart. Program of music performed during a reception in the ballroom of the Grand Tsarskoye Selo Palace in honor of French President E. Louba on May 7–20, 1902
A. Benois. Menu for the ceremonial dinner held during the coronation of Emperor Nicholas II for the clergy and members of the first and second classes in the Faceted Hall on May 15, 1896.
M. Zichi. Lunch menu for the wedding of V.K. Sergei Alexandrovich and the princess
A. Charlemagne. Menu template. 1872
E. Bem. Program for the charity concert on March 1, 1910.
A. Benois. Menu for a formal dinner for representatives of the various social classes in the Alexander Hall of the Kremlin Palace on May 19, 1896.
V. Vasnetsov. Menu for the ceremonial dinner in honor of the Knights of the Order of St. George, held in the halls of the Winter Palace on November 26, 1912
E. Bem. Menu template for Kuskovo. 1896.
N. N. Karazin. Lunch menu for the regimental celebration of the Izmailovsky Life Guard Regiment on October 12, 1886.
N. Samokish. Lunch menu in Krasnoye Selo on the occasion of the reception for French President F. For on August 13/25, 1897.
S. Yaguzhinsky. Menu for a Russian-French Dinner. Moscow. January 31, 1912.
P. Shipov. The menu for the sovereign’s table at a luncheon held at the Preobrazhensky Regiment on January 9, 1898.
E. Lipgart. Menu for the State Dinner in the St. George Hall of the Kremlin Palace on May 25, 1896
B. Zvorykin. Menu for the festive dinner of the Moscow Society for the Promotion of Trotting Horse Breeding on May 10, 1909
