This page contains updates on research into the Shanks family

This photo shows Pokroffka House.  This photo was taken around 1900-1910 (exact date not known) click image for full resolution photo.   The location of the 'Pokroffka House' was 37 Pokrovka road.  The address was found under 'Shanks' in the Vsya Moskva ('All Moscow' directory)  of 1911.  To see the current building at this address go here:  
http://www.mmsk.ru/objects/unit/?id=10969  
The postcard below shows the Pokrovka road around 1910.  The arrow indicates the location of number 37.    

The painting by Emily Shanks of the Tsarina's Golden chamber is reputed to have been undertaken as study for a scene of the Bolshoi Theatre premiere of Boris Gudenov in 1888.   According to family history the Emily was granted special permission by the Tsar to paint the picture.  The photo on the left shows the Tsarina's Golden Chamber as it appears today and on the right is Emily's painting of the same view.
Below that is a photo of the painting hanging on the wall in the Pokroffka in around 1905-10.  Interestingly the Tsarina's Golden chamber was also painted by Emily's tutor Vasily Polenov in 1877:  Tsarina's Chamber by Poleonov

Both Emily and her younger sister Mary were accomplished artists.   They painted in their studio in the Pokroffka.  The first of the three images below shows Emily working in the studio.  The second photo shows an unknown woman in the same studio - probably sitting for a portrait.  The third image is the 1894  painting  'I await your verdict’ by Mary Shanks; it is believed to show Vasily Polenov studying a competed Shanks work while his pupil Mary Shanks stands behind in trepidation.   The letters of Elena Polenova (Kristen Harkness, etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd.../HarknessETD2009.pdf)  show the the close friendship between Emily, Mary and the Polenov family - the Shanks sisters and Elena Polenova would often sit together while working on the same subject.    The sofa, high window and easel confirm that these images all show same room.  Click on images for full size pictures.

The Peredvizhniki (The Wanderers) were a group of Russian realist artists who, in protest at academic restrictions imposed by The Imperial Academy of Arts, formed an artists' cooperative.  In 1870 the  Peredvizhniki evolved into the Society for Travelling Art Exhibitions which had the aim of giving people from rural Russia a chance to see Russian art.   The Peredvizhniki's art was notable for portraying realistic rather than idealised aspects of social life and was often critical of inequities and injustices.  These themes were seen at the time as radical and can be considered to be pro-socialist.  Repin was probably the best known of the Peredvizhniki, his painting 'Barge Haulers on the Volga' 1870–1873 was very influential, showing humans reduced to the roll of beasts of burden, nevertheless retaining some humanity and hope - this is said to be Stalin's favourite painting. 

Emily Shanks first exhibited with the Peredvizhniki in 1891; she then continued to exhibit in most of the subsequent years until 1915.  In 1894 Emily was elected to membership of the Wanderers for her the painting "Ink Spot". (Kristen Harkness)  She was the first of two women painters to be awarded this honour.  Emily was elected to the  Peredvizhniki by 15 votes, this was more than the 14 votes received by the acclaimed artist Valentin Serov.  (Rosslyn, Tosi, Women in Nineteenth-Century Russian Culture pp 109)  Emily's tutor Vasily Polenov (and no doubt a supporter of Emily's membership bid) had been a member of the Peredvizhniki since at least 1885.
 

The photo below shows the 20 members of the Peredvizhniki in 1899.  Emily Shanks is sitting between Nesterov (left) and Levitan (right). I include the Russian versions of the names and Russian Wikipedia entries as more comprehensive listings are available: 
Artists standing are: A:  АН Шильдер  B:  АК Беггров C:  ВИ Суриков  E:   НН Дубовской  F:  МП Клодт  G:  СИ Светославский H:  ГМ Хруслов I: АМ Васнецов
Artists seated are: J: КА Савицкий K: ВЕ Маковский D: Богданов-Бельский L: ГГ Мясоедов  M: ПА Брюллов S: ЕЕ Волков T: АА Киселев N: МВ Нестеров O: ЭЯ Шанкс P: ВН Бакшеев Q:  ИИ Левитан R: ПА Нилус

English versions of the names and Wikipedia entries where available are:
Artists standing are:  A:  AN Schilder B: AK Beggrov C: VI Surikov E: NN Dubovskoy F: MP Klodt G: SI Svetoslavsky H: GM Khruslov I: AM Vasnetsov
Artists seated are:  J: KA Savitsky K: VE Makovsky D: NP Bogdanov-Belsky L: GG Myasoedov M: PA Briullov S: EE Volkov T: AA Kiselev N: MV Nesterov O: E Shanks P: VN Baksheev Q: I I Levitan R: PA Nilus 

Click on the photo for a larger image

This photo shows Mary Shanks working in her studio.  The date of this photo is unknown.  Note how the shape of the chair matches that in the photo's of Emily painting in the studio - this suggests that Emily and Mary shared the same studio - probably in the Pokroffka. 

The catalogues of the Peredvizhniki exhibitions have been published in 'Товарищество Передвижных Художественных выставок, 1896-1899', published Moskva: Iskusstvo, 1987.  The paintings exhibited by Emily Shanks up to 1900 are: 

1. The catalogue of the XIXth exhibition of the Peredvizhniki (St Petersburg, 7th March 1891) lists painting number 163 ‘Older Brother’ (Старший брат) by Emily Shanks
   
2. The catalogue of the XXth exhibition of the Peredvizhniki (St Petersburg, 16 February 1892) lists painting number 144 ‘The new girl in school’ (Новенькая also known as Новенька в школе) by Emily Shanks and in brackets after: property of P.M. Tretyakov.  
   
3. The catalogue of the XXIth exhibition of the Peredvizhniki (St Petersburg, February 1893), lists painting number 143 ‘The Challenge’ (Трудная задача) by Emily Shanks.  
   
4. The catalogue of the XXII exhibition of the Peredvizhniki (St Petersburg, 7th March 1894) lists painting  number 165 “Ink spot” (Чернильное пятно) by Emily Shanks.  This painting gains Emily membership of the Peredvizhniki.
   No paintings were exhibited in 1895 or 1896
5. The catalogue of the XXVth Peredvizhniki exhibition  (Moscow, 8 March 1897) lists picture 198 ‘My Toys’ (мои игрушки) by Emily Shanks. 
   
6. The catalogue of the XXVth Peredvizhniki exhibition  (Moscow, 8 March 1897) lists picture 199 ‘Bubbles’ (мыльные пузыри) by Emily Shanks. 
   

This punch bowl was sold at the Sotheby's London sale of November 2011 (Russian works of Art, Faberge and Icons). The catalogue lists lot 516 as 'A silver punch service, Shanks & Co 1890 and 1893'.  The bowl was sold for £25,000.  The quality of this piece and the price realized highlight the importance of Shanks & Co as a producer of the highest quality silver items. 

The crispness of the condition and the freshness of the hall mark are noteworthy.  There are 2 assayer's marks.  The 1890 assayer's mark A.P refers to Alexander Romanov.  The second assayer's mark of 189? is unclear and is obscured by the 84 Zolotnick mark .  There is no silversmith mark., 

MOSCOW CHRONICLE April 1910
Today a very daring theft took place at the British Shop Shanks at the Kuznetsk bridge. Thieves dug a hole through the wall of the bakery Alberta, which is located next door to the Shanks store, then dismantled another wall that separates the pastry shop from the Shanks store, making a hole 1 ½ square yards in size.  With the help of a brace and a crowbar, the thieves hacked open the cash register at the store and stole 25,000 roubles in Russian and foreign interest-bearing securities.  In addition, the robbers took away a lot of gold and diamond items whose value has not been calculated.  To achieve this criminal deed, thieves took advantage of a holiday, during which all commercial establishments were closed.

In 2004 a book of letters relating to the business of Shanks & Co were sold at Stride & Son auctioneers book sale.  These were described as: Lot 326, SHANKS & CO, Coach & Carriage Makers of New Bond Street Letter book 46pp folio, 1890-1900 Containing copies of letters from customers, mostly complimentary, one explaining why the Viceroy of India had not paid for his coach (‘ no account of any kind has been received') Binding worn, contents in sound condition.

Enquires with the auctioneer established that these letters were sold to a dealer who then sold these on.  The letters are now in an unknown a private collection.  The Viceroy of India at the time was either Lord Landsdowne (1888-94) or Lord Elgin-II (1894-1899).  

This web site is brought to you by Guy Roberts, the great grandson of James and Isabella Shanks.  You can contact me at: mail-at-shanks-family.org (replace -at- with @)