The Home of the Last Tsar - Romanov and Russian History

This room was built in 1844-45 and replaced the former Working Office of Alexander I. Quarenghi intended this quiet and secluded part of the palace to be the original private Imperial apartments and it was here that Alexander I and his wife Elizabeth lived when they used the palace during the first years of its existance.

The Blue Boudoir was first used by Maria Alexandrovna, wife of Alexander II, who made the Alexander Palace her primary home. Late in her life she spent as much time as possible here in Tsarskoe Selo in seclusion from public life. For a number of years the Empress had endured her husband's scandalous affair with his young ward Catherine Dolgorukaya. Catherine's rooms were placed near her own in the Winter Palace, where she could hear her husband's bastard children playing one floor below her. This incredible lack of sensitivity on the part of her husband was one more reason she preferred being away from him in Tsarskoe Selo.

Later this room was Maria and Alexander's formal reception room. It the style of the day it was decorated with furniture from many periods. The last furniture added to the room was in the Louis XVI style. It was delivered by the furniture maker Vidov in 1882.

In 1845 iron picture rails were erected throughout the palace and canvases rehung from them. The paintings here are by the famous Russian seascape painter Aivazovskii and other 19th century artists.

NOTE: I apologize for the quality of this photograph. It's the best we have to show you. If anyone has any better pictures of the Blue Boudoir please let me know.