Our research staff took part in a publication project on the evacuation of artworks from Tsarskoe Selo during the Second World War.

Celebrating the 75th Victory Anniversary, the project gathers details of the evacuations from Leningrad museums in a book titled Sarapul: Special Cargo. The combined effort of researchers from St Petersburg and Russia’s Udmurt Region, where the city of Sarapul is located, contains a nine-chaptered collection of articles, studies, documents and photographs of evacuated artworks and museum artifacts. Many of the documents, photographs and details have been published for the first time.

In 1941 objects from the Catherine and Alexander Palaces were moved far from Russia’s border to Gorky (later to Novosibirsk) and Sarapul. Lacking crates and wrapping materials, museum workers had to use coffers for imperial uniforms and clothes of the Romanov family.

There were five shipments in total. The fourth and fifth priority objects were shipped in August and included the Cameron Gallery sculptures, artistic bronze items, paintings from the Catherine Palace’s Picture Hall and the Alexander Palace, and archival documents. The forth shipment had 4,343 items in 95 crates and the fifth had 725 items in 66 crates and bales.

Sarapul and Novosibirsk museum workers took good care of the special cargo from Leningrad during 1941-45.

In 2016 the Middle Kama Region History and Culture Museum, which is a part of the Sarapul Museum and Heritage Site, became a Virtual Partner of Tsarskoe Selo by hosting our photo exhibition From the Catherine Palace to Sarapul with Gratitude. The pictures showcased the works of art saved in evacuation and the palace interiors where they returned.