Liphart, Ernst | Nicholas II

Studio-apartment of former Court artist to Nicholas II sells for 80 million rubles

PHOTO: Ernst Karlovich Liphart in his St. Petersburg studio. Artist unknown.

On 20th March 2026, I reported that Ernst Liphart’s former apartment-studio in St. Petersburg would be sold at auction. The multi-level studio-apartment was listed at 110 million rubles [$1.3 million USD]. The auction was held at the Litfond Auction House in St. Petersburg, on 18th April 2026, and sold for 80 million rubles [$1,058,400 US dollars].

What made the sale of this property so interesting, was the history behind it. The studio-apartment was built and designed in 1906 by the the Russian architect Vasily Vasilyevich Schaub (1861-1934), for Ernst Karlovich Liphart (1847-1932) – the famous court artist of Emperor Nicholas II and the chief curator of the Hermitage.

Situated on the 6th floor of No. 16 Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt, the artists’ apartment-studio consisted of four levels with a total area of 150 sq. meters[1,614 sq. ft.].

PHOTOS: views of the Studio Hall of Liphart’s former
apartment-stidio, as it looked during the Soviet years

PHOTO: view of the Studio Hall of Liphart’s
former apartment-stidio, as it looks today

The original layout has been preserved in the studio, but the space looks completely different than under Liphart. Only a small number of elements remain from it’s original neoclassical style of the early 20th century, and many interior details are reminiscent of the modernism of the 1960s.

Despite the changes made during the Soviet years, the studio hall has retained the mezzanine and columns (seen in the photos above), but also the multi-meter windows, which offer a commanding view of the historic area. The windows of the apartment overlook Avstriyskaya Ploshchad (Austrian Square) and Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt, as well as the neighboring Gorbov apartment building, and the architectural dominants of the historic Petrograd district.

Other details of the apartment-studio which have been preserved include a belvedere, an oval study, a spiral staircase leads to the mezzanine and then to a small secluded tower where you can enjoy the silence while admiring the city from round windows.

PHOTO: view of one of the rooms in Liphart’s apartment-studio

PHOTO: view of the studio of Vladimir Sokolov during the Soviet years

The first owner of the studio-apartment, Ernest von Liphart, became famous not only for his portraits of the Tsar and members of the Imperial Family, but also for his scientific work. It was he who determined that the famous painting “Madonna with a Flower” belongs to the brush of Leonardo da Vinci, and helped the Hermitage Museum to buy it. After the 1917 Revolution, Liphart remained in Russia and continued to work in the museum.

In the second half of the 20th century, the Soviet artist Vladimir Sokolov (1923-1997) lived and worked in the same studio. He is known as the artist of “blockade” posters and postcards, as well as portraits of world leaders such as Che Guevara and Pablo Neruda. Today, the works of both famous owners of the apartment-studio on Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt are stored in the collections of Russian museums and libraries.

PHOTO: Liphart’s apartment-studio is located at No. 16 Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt

PHOTO: view of Avstriyskaya Ploshchad from the studio of Ernst Liphart

Ernst Liphart’s former studio in St. Petersburg to be auctioned

Posted on March 20 by Paul Gilbert

On 18th April 2026, the former apartment-studio of Ernst Karlovich Liphart (1847-1932) – the famous court artist of Emperor Nicholas II, will go under the hammer at the Litfond Auction House in St. Petersburg. Its price starts at 110 million rubles [$1.3 million USD].

Liphart’s heirs managed to preserve the historical layout of the apartment-studio, conceived more than 120 years ago by the painter and portraitist. Recall that during his years in the Russian capital, Liphart painted more than half a dozen portraits of Nicholas II (see below).

Located at 16 Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt, this great workshop is a real monument of architecture and art of the early 20th century. The area of the four-level apartment-studio is 150 square meters [1,614 sq. ft.].

PHOTO: Ernst Karlovich Liphart in hist St. Petersburg studio. 1914

PHOTO: a unique four-level studio-apartment that belonged to Ernst Liphart

The Art Nouveau building was built in 1906 by architect Vasily Schaub. A huge multi-meter window overlooking Austrian Square and Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt, a hall with columns, an oval office and a secluded tower with round windows – perspective buyers will not find such an apartment anywhere in St. Petersburg.

The history of the workshop on the upper floors of the apartment did not end with Liphart’s departure. Another artist, Vladimir Maksimovich Sokolov (1909-1991), lived and worked here. His works, dedicated to the theme of the struggle for peace and humanity, are now stored in the funds of the largest museums in Russia.

PHOTO: the former apartment-studio of Ernst Liphart is located
at 16 Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg

***

PHOTO: Baron Ernst Karlovich von Liphart. 1910

Baron Ernest Karlovich von Liphart (1847-1932) was a Russian painter and graphic artist who is known for his numerous portraits of E,peror Nicholas II, members of the Russian Imperial Family, and other famous Russian public figures.

He was born into a Livonian noble family on 2nd September (O.S. 21st August) 1847. His father, Baron Carl Eduard von Liphart (1808-1891), was an art connoisseur.

Initially Ernst studied painting at the Florence Academy of Fine Arts and then in Paris. From his father, he inherited a deep knowledge in the field of art history. He studied the history of painting in museums in Germany, Spain, England and Italy. From 1877 he exhibited his paintings at the Paris Salon.

Having received an order from the Russian Emperor Alexander III for two paintings on the subject of reasonable and unreasonable wives, in 1886 he brought them to St. Petersburg and remained there until his death in 1932. In 1886-1896, Liphart taught decorative painting at the Drawing School of the Imperial Society for the Encouragement of the Arts.

PHOTOS: Ernst Liphart painted more than half a dozen portraits of Nicholas II.
Source: ‘Nicholas II. Portraits‘ – published in 2021

He was very popular as a decorator and portraitist. His paintings have been preserved in many St. Petersburg mansions and palaces: Marble Palace of Grand Duke Konstaintin Konstantinovich, three decorative panels for the palace of Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich at 122 Moika, in the Derviz Mansion, in the theater of the Yusupov Palace and others.

He was a member of the Society of Watercolorists from its very foundation. From 1886 to 1896 he served as a teacher of decorative painting at the drawing school of the Imperial Society for the Encouragement of the Arts.

In 1895, during the renovation of the Hermitage Theater in the Winter Palace, Ernst Liphart developed a sketch according to which the curtain for this theater were made. n 1912 he compiled a catalogue of the collection of paintings, and from 1906 to 1929 he served as chief curator of the Hermitage Picture Gallery.

Baron Ernest Karlovich von 14th April 1932. Liphart died in Leningrad [St. Petersburg] on He was buried at the Smolensk Lutheran cemetery, the oldenst non-Orthodox cemetery in the city; the grave is not marked