The library has rich collections of 17th-19th century books and journals on construction, architecture and art. It treasures its collection of authentic drawings of such outstanding architects as Alexander Briullov, Auguste de Montferrand, Karl Rossi, Vasiliy Stasov, Jean Thoma de Thomon, Giacomo Quarenghi, Andrey Schtakenschneider along with a whole set of rarities of great cultural value.
Among its unique items, the Library owns contest designs by Konstantin Thon for the iconostasis of Kazan Cathedral (the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan) in St. Petersburg. The cathedral was erected to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Russia’s victory in the war against Napoleon, and the iconostasis was to be implemented of the silver won from the French.
People at the iconostasis in Kazan Cathedral
The Library also owns the design of the opera theatre to be built on the Field of Mars in St. Petersburg created by Viktor Shreuter. The grandiose theater was meant to face the Neva River and accommodate over two thousand people. Regretfully, the project had never been implemented.
True treasures in the library collection are sketches and drawings for the Naval Cathedral in Kronstadt by brothers Vasily and Georgy Kosyakov. In 1897, the Navy declared an architectural contest for the design of the cathedral in Kronstadt. The building was to be visible from a large distance. Despite several attempts, the contest failed. Then Admiral Makarov took control of the project and invited 34-year-old Vasily Kosyakov, a renowned master of Neo-Byzantine style, to design the cathedral. Vasily's younger brother and partner Georgy was a talented graphic artist; he worked on the interiors and finishes.
Western (main) facade of Kronstadt Naval Cathedral by Vasily Kosyakov
The library also has 16 albums of unique engravings by Italian draftsman, printmaker, architect, and art historian Giovanni Battista Piranesi. Though he had actually implemented very few design projects, his prints depicting the buildings of classical and postclassical Rome and its vicinity contributed considerably to Rome’s fame and to the growth of classical archaeology.
The library is proud of its 157 engravings from the Description of Egypt in three volumes, published in France upon the order of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, who brought more than 160 scholars and scientists with him when he invaded Egypt in 1798. The experts undertook an extensive survey of the country’s archaeology and natural history. Their findings, first published in 1809, soon became true “black swans.” One of the rare reprints (1818) was presented to the library by Professor P. Dmitriev in 1915.
The Library owns full sets of Russian journals of late 19th - early 20th centuries on civil engineering, architecture, and art (Zodchiy, Nedelya Stroitelya, Stroitel’, Appolon, Zolotoye Runo, Stariye Gody, etc.)