BILIBIN Ivan Yakovlevich (1876-1942), graphic artist, stage designer, Ph.D. (Arts History) 1939. He studied in the Drawing School of the Society for Encouragement of the Arts in 1895-98, Princess M. K. Tenisheva’s Studio School in 1898-1900, and the Academy of Arts in 1900-04. He graduated from Petersburg University with a major in law in 1900. He was a member of the World of Art Association from 1900. Involved in satirical graphics in 1905-06, he published his cartoons in Adskaya Pochta and Zhupel magazines. A professional illustrator of fairy tales and epics, he did illustrations in an ornamental style based on the pastiche of the Russian folk art. He was also renowned as a stage designer who sketched the scenery and costumes for N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov’s Tale of Tsar Saltan for the Kirov Opera and Ballet Theatre in 1937. He was a teacher in the Drawing School of the Society for Encouragement of Arts in 1907-17. He lived abroad in 1920-36 and returned in 1936 to become the chief of the graphic art studio of the Academy of Arts. He died during the siege and was buried in the common grave of professors of the Academy of Arts near Smolenskoe Cemetery. He lived at 70 Zagorodny Avenue till 1900, 11 Mytninskaya Embankment in 1900-13, 43 Tenth Line of Vasilievsky Island in 1913-15, 12 Grechesky Avenue in 1915-17, 20 Plutalova Street in 1936-37 (the house has not been preserved), and 25 Gulyarnaya Street (today, Lizy Chaykinoy Street) in 1937-42 (memorial plaque).

Reference: Иван Яковлевич Билибин: Ст., письма, воспоминания о художнике / Сост. С. В. Голынец. Л., 1970; Иван Яковлевич Билибин, 1876-1942: [Альбом] / Авт.-сост. Т. Ф. Верижникова. СПб., 2002.

V. I. Dedyulin.

2 January. The train collision took place at the railway line linked Peterburg and Tsarskoye Selo. Anna Vyrubova, a maid of honour and close friend of the Empress, was seriosly injured at this disaster. A. Vyrubova was often visited by Grigory Rasputin and members of the Imperial Family at her house in Tserkovnaya Street during her illness.

January. Prince Vladimir Palei, a son of Grand Duck Pavel Aleksandrovich, was conferred the cornet of the Life-Guard Hussar Regiment, and in February, he was sent to the front where he was permanently with the exception of the short leaves. His first collection of poems was published in 1916.

March. The Society for the Revival of Art Russia was organized at the Fiodorovsky Cathedral. D.N. Loman, colonel of the Life-Guard Pavlovsky Regiment, churchwarden of the cathedral, was the organizer of this society ( he was shot by the Bolsheviks in 1918 ). Prince A.A. Shirinsky-Shikhmatov, an expert on the Old Russian Art, began the chairman of this society. Many representatives of old nobility families, priests, successful merchants became founders of the society. Artists A.M. Vasnetsov, V.M. Vasnetsov, M.V. Nesterov, N.K. Roerich, I.Y. Bilibin, architects A.V.Shchusev, V.V. Suslov, A.N. Pomerantsev and other art persons took part in the work of this society.

5 May. Holder of the Order of St. George N.S. Gumilev was referred to the Catherine Palace hospital for the treatment of the serious cold got at the front.

8 July. Near the Fiodorovsky Cathedral, the public prayer was performed on the gift of victory in the presence of the Imperial Family and participants of the religious processions of Tsarskoye Selo.

3 August. Nicholas II and with his daughters visited the new barracks of the Excort Unit and the building of Officer assemble (architect V.N. Maksimov).
14 August. In the report of S.N. Vilchkovsky, the chief authorized person of the Tsarskoye Selo branch of the Red Cross, to Empress Alexandra Fiodorovna was written: "161 hospitals having 383 beds for officers and 7,858 beds for lower ranks were opened in the district of the Tsarskoye Selo special evacuation point".

18 August. The laying of the wooden church "The Healer of Sorrows" took place at the Communal cemetery to the design of S.Y.Sidorchuk, in 48 days the ready-made church was consecrated in the presence of the Imperial Family. .
This church burnt down during WWII . The military cemetery was destroyed under Soviet rule and there were vegetable gardens of citizens at its place until 2000 .

22 August. Nicholas II decided to take the post of Supreme Commander-in-Chief and he moved to Mogilev Town from Tsarskoye Selo. The Emperor announced his decision at the Corner Drawing Room in the Alexander Palace during the meeting of Coincil of Ministers on 20 August 1915 .

25 October. In Tsarskoye Selo, Nicholas II received the written petition of the St. George Duma of South-West front about awarding the Cross of St.George of 4th degree to him.

The Tsarskoye Selo international radio station began to work.

25 December. In the Manege, the Imperial Family gave presents at the festival with the Christmas tree on the occasion of the Nativity of Christ. 1,200 soldiers of the Tsarskoye Selo garrison took part in the festival.

25 December. Poets S. Esenin and N. Klyuyev visited Gumilev and Akhmatova at the house in Malaya Street. Akhmatova Anna Andreevna
Alexandra Fedorovna, Empress
Bilibin Ivan Yakovlevich
Esenin Sergey Alexandrovich
Gumilev Nikolay Stepanovich
Klyuev Nikolay Alexeevich
Loman D.N.
Maksimov, Vladimir Nikolayevich
Nesterov Mikhail Vasilievich
Nicholas II, Emperor
Paley, Vladimir Pavlovich
Pavel Alexandrovich, Grand Prince
Pomerantsev Alexander Nikanorovich
Rasputin Grigory Efimovich
Roerich, Nicholas Konstantinovich
Shchusev Alexey Viktorovich
Shirinsky-Shikhmatov Alexey Alexandrovich
Sidorchuk S.Y.
Suslov Vladimir Vasilievich
Vasnetsov Apollinary Mikhailovich
Vasnetsov Viktor Mikhailovich
Vyrubova Anna Alexandrovna
Malaya Street/Pushkin, town
Tserkovnaya Street/Pushkin, town