The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg houses a relatively small but choice collection of 16th- to 19th-century British paintings, among them Thomas Gainsborough's vibrant Portrait of a Lady in Blue (c. 1770) and his rival Sir Joshua Reynolds' vast Infant Hercules Strangling the Serpents (c. 1786), commissioned by the Russian Empress Catherine II and symbolizing a young Russia's growing strength. 135 paintings-works by artists from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales-are presented in this comprehensive catalogue. Also included are portraits from the famed War Gallery created by English painter George Dawe, who was awarded a prestigious commission to produce more than 300 images of Russian generals for the Gallery of 1812 in the historic Winter Palace, now part of the museum complex. Published for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art by Yale University Press and the State Hermitage Museum

This luxurious presentation takes the reader on a breathtaking tour through the most magnificent mansions in St. Petersburg, Russia, built by the prerevolutionary aristocracy. Palaces of St. Petersburg reflects the unparalleled access and meticulous research of the authors, showcasing private residences that are unsurpassed in their historical importance and artistic grandeur. From the world-renowned Yusupov Palace, where Count Yusupov, famous for killing Rasputin, carried out his courtly duties, to the Polovtsov Palace, its unassuming facade concealing one of the most spectacular interiors of St. Petersburg, these residences have been an integral part of Russian history. This volume gives readers a glimpse into the interiors of these family homes with their sweeping marble staircases and grand rooms with elaborate parquet floors, intricate moldings, and mosaic details, enriched with sculptures and tapestries. All-new photography as well as archival images showing the rooms and art collections as they existed in the day celebrate the enduring beauty and exquisite restorations of these masterpieces, which reflect a lost way of life.