Maria Fedorovna's secretaire from the Metropolitan museum in New York

Drop-front desk

Oak veneered with tulipwood, amaranth, holly, and sycamore, gilt bronze, marble, painted tin, soft-paste porcelain

Attributed to Martin Carlin (1730-1785), porcelain plaque by Sevres Manufactory (1740-present) with decoration by Edme-Francois Boullat pere (1758-1810)

French 1776

The desk first belonged to soprano Marie-Josephine Laguerre (1755-1783), whose belongings were sold at auction in April 1782. Grand Duchess Maria Fedorovna purchased the piece during her visit to Paris and later placed it in her boudoir at Pavlovsk.

1976.155.110

A set of vases purchased by Paul Petrovich and Maria Fedorovna during the Grand Tour sold at Christie's

Two beautiful Sevres vases from Paul Petrovich and Maria Fedorovna's collection were recently sold at Christie's. There  is a short essay on them on the following web page:

https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/furniture-lighting/paire-de-vases-imperiaux-formant-girandoles-depoque-6157235-details.aspx?from=salesummery&intObjectID=6157235&sid=8b68c7b6-1042-4e7a-b6e8-12407feefc11

My new article on botanical presents sent to Maria Fedorovna from Britain and Australia.

EKATERINA HEATH  Sowing the Seeds for Strong Relations: Seeds and Plants as Diplomatic Gifts for the Russian Empress Maria Fedorovna 

 ABSTRACT

The article examines the role of botany in diplomatic relationships between Britain and Russia around the turn of the nineteenth century by looking at three gifts of exotic seeds and plants sent by different British diplomats and officials to the Russian Empress Maria Fedorovna, wife of Tsar Paul I. Gifts of live plants were a new category of diplomatic presents fuelled by the rapidly growing popularity of botany across Europe. These gifts represented British imperial ambitions and desire to build a self-sufficient economy. They also indicated an element of Britain’s anxiety about its navy’s dependence on Russian natural resources and later on about Russia’s successes in the exploration of the Antarctic regions. Empress Maria Fedorovna displayed these plants in a prominent part of her garden at Pavlovsk, next to the plants from North America that she had procured independently. This was a deliberate strategy that worked to boost her prestige at court by showcasing her international relationships.

Full-text version available at:
 https://emajartjournal.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/heath_sowing-the-seeds-for-strong-relations.pdf

Portrait of Maria Fedorovna in 1805

Domenico Bossi, Portrait of empress Maria Fedorovna, around 1805, Pavlovsk museum, ivory, watercolour, guache

Portrait of Maria Fedorovna in 1821

Jean-Hemri Benner, Portrait of Maria Fedorovna, 1820s

Jean-Henri Benner, Portrait of Empress Maria Fedorovna, 1821, guache, watercolour, Pavlovsk museum collection

Designs for the hall of war by Brenna

V. Brenna, Project for the hall of war

V. Brenna, Project for the hall

View of Hothouses at Pavlovsk

G. Quarenghi, View of the Pavlovsk palace from the hothouses, Venice, Galleria degli Academia