Winter Palace: wiki: Facts about Russia. The Winter Palace What is the Winter Palace famous for?
Initially, Peter I settled in a hastily built in 1703 not far from Peter and Paul Fortress one-story house. Subsequently, five winter palaces were erected on this site by different emperors in the period 1711-1764. And only in 1762 the existing building of the palace appeared. While Winter Palace became the tallest residential building in St. Petersburg. Elizaveta Petrovna did not live to see the completion of construction, Peter III took the job on April 6, 1762. By this time, the decoration of the facades was completed, but many of the interior spaces were not yet ready. In the summer of 1762, Peter III was overthrown from the throne, the construction of the Winter Palace was completed under Catherine II. To have an idea of the size of the erected palace, it is enough to give at least some data. The building has 1057 rooms, 117 stairs, 1945 windows. The total length of the main cornice that borders the building is almost 2 km. And on the parapet of the roof there are 176 sculptural figures, alternating with vases. The palace was built simultaneously by more than 4,000 masons and plasterers, marblers and sculptors, baggers and painters. Receiving an insignificant payment for their work, they huddled in miserable shacks, many lived here, on the square, in huts.
In December 1837, a fire broke out in Zimny. For 30 hours, the flames raged, destroying to the ground the entire decoration of the building. But before the walls of the palace had cooled down, restoration work began by order of the emperor. They were led by architects Stasov and Bryullov.
For the revival of the royal winter residence, a huge number of builders were mobilized, who worked in difficult, inhuman conditions. During cold weather at 25 - 30 degrees below zero, 6,000 unknown workers were imprisoned in halls heated to 30 degrees Celsius to dry the walls as soon as possible. Thus, these people experienced a temperature difference of 50 to 60 degrees as they entered and exited the building. People suffocated from the heat and steam, fell from the forests and broke, fell in the streets and died. But new ones took the place of those who left, and the work did not stop for one hour. The builders met the deadline set by the emperor: in 15 months the palace was completely restored. Its appearance was recreated almost exactly in accordance with Rastrelli's designs, while the inner chambers were planned and refurbished.
From the moment construction was completed in 1762 to 1904, it was used as the official winter residence of Russian emperors. In 1904, Nicholas II moved his permanent residence to the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoe Selo. From October 1915 to November 1917, the Tsarevich Alexei Nikolayevich Hospital worked in the palace. From July to November 1917, the palace housed the Provisional Government. In January 1920, the State Museum of the Revolution was opened in the palace, which shared the building with the State Hermitage until 1941. Now all the premises of the palace have been transferred to the Hermitage to house its numerous collections of paintings, sculpture, applied art, coins, and precious items. In order to get acquainted with the exposition of all halls, you will need to travel 22 km. And if you linger at each exhibit for only one minute, then to inspect the museum (if you spend 8 hours in it every day) you need to spend 11 years.
The Winter Palace on Palace Square in St. Petersburg is the main attraction of the northern capital, which served as the official winter residence of Russian emperors from 1762 to 1904. In terms of richness and variety of architectural and sculptural decoration, the palace has no equal in St. Petersburg.
To get around all the exhibits of the Hermitage, you will need to spend 11 years of your life and walk 22 kilometers. All Petersburgers know well: in the main museum of the city on the first floor there is the Egyptian Hall, on the third floor there are the Impressionists. Guests of the city are also aware.
How will we surprise? You can try facts:
№1. The Hermitage is huge... Like the territory of a huge country ruled by the tsar, the autocrat of all Rus', straight from the walls of this luxurious palace. 1057 rooms, 117 stairs, 1945 windows. The total length of the main cornice that borders the building is almost 2 km.
№2. The total number of sculptures installed on the parapet of the Winter Palace is 176 pieces. You can count the number of vases yourself.
№3. The main palace of the Russian Empire was built by more than 4,000 masons and plasterers, marblers and stuccoists, parquet workers and painters. Receiving an insignificant payment for their work, they huddled in miserable shacks, many lived here, on the square, in huts.
№4. From 1754 to 1762, the construction of the palace building was going on, which at that time became the tallest residential building in St. Petersburg. For a long time ... Empress Elizaveta Petrovna died without settling in new mansions. Peter III took over 60,000 square meters of new housing.
№5. After the construction of the Winter Palace was completed, the entire square in front of it was littered with construction debris. Emperor Peter III decided to get rid of him in an original way - he ordered to announce to the people that everyone can take anything from the square, and for free. A few hours later, all debris was cleared away.
№6. Removed garbage - a new problem. In 1837 the palace burned down. The whole imperial family was left homeless. However, 6,000 unknown workers saved the day by working day and night, and in 15 months the palace was completely restored. True, the price of a labor feat is several hundred ordinary workers ...
№7. The Winter Palace was repainted in different colors all the time. It was both red and pink. It acquired its original, pale green color in 1946.
№8. The Winter Palace is an absolutely monumental building. It was intended to reflect the power and greatness of the Russian Empire. It is estimated that there are 1786 doors, 1945 windows and 117 stairs. The main facade is 150 meters long and 30 meters high.
Winter Palace in St. Petersburg: history and modernity. Who created the projects and built, why did not all the owners like to lodge in the palace?
The main and largest residence of the Russian tsars, the Winter Palace, is the creation of the architect Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli (1700 - 1771). An Italian Parisian who gave St. Petersburg such a recognizable ceremonial appearance.
The imposing building of the palace, with one of its facades reflected in the smooth surface of the Neva, and with the other overlooking the vast Palace Square, inspires awe with a gigantic scope. The Russians, when looking at him, feel legitimate pride in their homeland! A square stretched out along the embankment for 210 meters - its width is equal to 175 meters!
Short description
The surviving complex of the Winter Palace was built in the middle of the 18th century in the Baroque architectural style. Differing in splendor and richness of details. Initially, the interiors were designed in exactly the same style. Today looking excessively pretentious.
In the 70s of the century, under Catherine II, more modestly decorated rooms appeared inside. But, however, more elegant and stylish - they were created by architects Ivan Yegorovich Starov and Giacomo Quarenghi.
The exact number of indoor halls is not reported anywhere: there are approximately 1,100 of them. And the total area of \u200b\u200bthe premises is approximately 60,000 m2!
You should not think that this is unsuitable for, say, the Royal Palace of Madrid. Just the area and height (on 2 floors) of the ceremonial halls of the royal residence has no precedents in Europe ... and the world. Go through them - you will learn a lot of interesting things!
Note that the palace was not always painted in turquoise and white colors. After the fire of 1837, for example, it was repainted in sand-buff. White columns and architectural decor initially stood out against the background of the walls, but later everything was painted over “sandstone-like”.
During the construction of the General Staff building, the architect Karl Ivanovich Rossi proposed to paint everything in a strict gray color with white decoration and columns. It should have turned out very solemnly ... but the project did not receive approval.
Today, the Winter Palace has regained its historical color: turquoise walls with white columns and yellow architectural decor.
- Interestingly, until the second half of the 19th century, buildings were not built in St. Petersburg that were higher than the Winter Palace, that is, 23.5 meters!
What can be seen
Collections are located in the Winter Palace, as well as the Small, Old and New Hermitages attached to it later. And one of the largest in the world, of course. The collection has more than 3 million items!
In addition to a gigantic collection of paintings and sculptures, tapestries and vases, jewelry, the Egyptian collection, visitors can see the original decoration of the ceremonial and residential enfilades. As well as halls for receptions and balls, chamber rooms for work and everyday life of royalty, their relatives and guests.
- The Gold and Diamond Storerooms are visited with separate tickets and only with a guided tour!
History and architecture
Initially, on the site where the Winter Palace is located, the mansion of Admiral Fyodor Matveyevich Apraksin was located. Which is quite logical, because the Admiralty, which built the Russian fleet, is also located nearby.
According to the memoirs of contemporaries, the admiral's estate was the largest and most beautiful in all of St. Petersburg. After the death of the naval commander, the buildings and lands were transferred to the young emperor Peter II, since the Apraksins were relatives of the Romanovs.
First Winter Palace
Erected in the depths of the site between the Neva and Millionnaya streets. In 1712, the wooden two-storey building was rebuilt in stone. As a wedding gift, it was presented to the Tsar by Alexander Danilovich Menshikov.
The residence was rebuilt and expanded according to the design of the architect Georg Mattarnovi in 1716-1720. The construction was carried out, among other things, on the bulk territory reclaimed from the Neva.
The Second Winter Palace was located where the Hermitage Theater stands today. Interestingly, during the restructuring of 1783-1787, the private quarters of Peter I and Ekaterina Alekseevna on the first floor were carefully preserved.
Peter moved to the winter residence from his in 1720. And here in 1725 the first emperor of Russia died (28.01-8.02 according to the new style).
In 1732-1735, a third palace was built for Empress Anna Ioannovna. Designed by Francesco Rastrelli's father, Carlo Bartolomeo. It was much more sweeping than the Peter's residence. And it was located mainly on the other side of the Winter Canal, closer to the Admiralty.
The era of Elizabeth Petrovna
At the time of Peter's daughter, who adored luxury, outbuildings and service buildings were attached to the palazzo with might and main. The complex grew beyond any master plan. And more and more like some Istanbul Topkapi, rather than a European residence. As a result, they decided that this was unworthy of a great empire and set about building a new palace.
The complex that has survived to this day was built according to the project of the architect Rastrelli son. It was laid down under the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna (1754) and basically completed (1762) only under Catherine II.
The surviving building is considered the fifth Winter Palace. Since at the time of its construction for the residence of Elizabeth Petrovna, a fourth was built - a wooden one.
It was located a little further away: on Nevsky Prospekt, between Moika and Malaya Morskaya Street. The construction of the temporary residence was carried out in the spring and summer of 1755 and was completed by November.
The queen's private quarters were located along the Moika. The windows overlooked, and to this day standing on the other side of the river.
The wing in which the heir to the throne lived, the future Peter III, with his wife Ekaterina Alekseevna (future Catherine II), stretched out along Malaya Morskaya Street.
Under Catherine II
In 1764, Empress Catherine II bought the collection that laid the foundation for the Hermitage's world-famous collection. Initially, the canvases were placed in the private chambers of the palace and were not available for inspection. And the name came from the French l’Ermitage, that is, “secluded”.
- Completion, alteration (Catherine did not favor the "golden" splendor of her predecessor) and the expansion of the palace continued throughout the reign of Catherine the Great (1762-1796)
Little has survived from the time of this empress - under Nicholas I, the interiors were thoroughly rebuilt. The only evidence of the preferences and tastes of the brilliant Catherine's era is
- the magnificent Loggias of Raphael, created according to the most accurate copies that arrived from the Papal Palace in the Vatican;
- and the magnificent Great Palace Church, exactly recreated by Stasov after the fire of 1837.
A special building for the Loggias along the Winter Canal was created by Giacomo Quarenghi.
Elizabeth moved into her new winter residence long before finishing. But the building was "commissioned" by its heir, Emperor Peter II. Settled in new apartments in April 1762.
The enfilade of ceremonial halls occupied the entire length of the northern, Neva facade of the palace. And in the north-eastern risalit there is the Embassy or Jordan stairs. Opposite it, on the Neva, on Epiphany, according to tradition, a hole was cut through, in which water was consecrated.
Empress Catherine II did not really like the Winter Palace, like her predecessor. Rastrelli was immediately dismissed from business, and the work was entrusted to the architect Jean-Baptiste Vallin-Delamote. In 1764-1775, in collaboration with Yuri Matveyevich Felten, he created the Small Hermitage.
In which Catherine arranged private evenings and kept art collections. For walks, the empress arranged the Hanging Garden.
The luxurious Pavilion Hall at the end of the building overlooking the Neva was created later, in the middle of the 19th century, according to the project of Andrei Ivanovich Stackenschneider. Today it houses the famous clock in the form of a peacock and a unique ancient Roman mosaic.
From Paul to Nicholas II
Paul I was forced to live in the Winter Palace while his own residence, the Mikhailovsky Castle, was being built. But the two subsequent emperors: Alexander I and Nicholas I, lodged mainly here.
The first loved to travel and therefore did not see much difference where he lived. The second literally personified himself with the power of Russia. And he could not think of living in any other, smaller palace. Most of the surviving front and residential interiors date back to the reign of Nicholas I.
In the first third of the 19th century, according to the project of the architect Karl Ivanovich Rossi, the Military Gallery was created in memory of the heroes of the Patriotic War, and a number of other premises.
1837 fire and rebuilding
By the way, it was under Nicholas I, in 1837, that a grand fire occurred in the Winter Palace. After which the residence was restored literally from scratch. The tragic incident happened shortly before Christmas, on the evening of December 17 (29 New Style). The cause is believed to have been a fire in the chimney.
During the restoration, innovative construction solutions were used for that time. In particular, iron beams in the ceilings, and new chimney systems. And, perhaps, that is why the palace after the repair was preserved in its unchanged appearance - the ceremonial interiors turned out to be too luxurious ...
The restoration work was led by: Vasily Petrovich Stasov and Alexander Pavlovich Bryullov. By the way, the brother of the famous painter who wrote the epic "The Last Day of Pompeii." More than 8,000 people worked daily at the construction site.
Most of the halls received a different decoration in the style of a mature Russian Empire. Interiors have become much more luxurious than before.
Under Alexander II, the residential halls of the Winter Palace were thoroughly altered, arranging them in the fashion of that time.
The next two kings preferred not to live here. Alexander III and his family left the city for security reasons. And when he left the Grand Gatchina Palace, he stopped at Anichkov Palace on Nevsky Prospekt.
His eldest son, Nicholas II, mainly used the Winter Palace for sumptuous balls. Although the personal apartments of the last emperor have been preserved on the second floor of the western suite.
Foreign sovereigns who visited St. Petersburg usually lived here as in a hotel. Entire suites of halls were assigned to the needs of the next guest. The grand dukes also lodged in the imperial residence - there was enough space for everyone.
Winter Palace: halls
The interiors were often rebuilt in accordance with the wishes of the new kings, but the main halls, the main purpose of which was to throw dust in the eyes of foreign sovereigns and envoys, as well as their own subjects, remained unchanged.
The Jordanian staircase, recreated on the site of the Rastrelli Embassy, received a luxurious design: a marble balustrade, giant double columns of Serdobol granite on the second floor, a picturesque plafond "Olympus" with an area of 200 m2 on the ceiling by the Italian painter Gasparo Diziani...
Neva front suite
It begins with the Nikolaevsky anteroom, followed by the stately and austere Great Nikolaevsky Hall. This is the largest room in the palace, its area is 1103 m2! Today, the premises are used mainly for exhibitions.
Behind the Nikolaevsky are the Concert Hall and (with windows to the Neva) the famous Malachite Drawing Room. The interior, which was decorated with 125 pounds of Ural malachite, was created by the architect Alexander Bryullov, who once opened the personal suite of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, wife of Nicholas I.
Here they dressed for the wedding and Alexandra Feodorovna, the bride of Nicholas II. Festive family breakfasts were also held here before the family moved to the Alexander Palace.
The following rooms were subsequently used as residential by Nicholas II - the apartments of the last emperor were located on the second floor opposite the Admiralty building.
Eastern enfilade
The front rooms (from the Jordan Stairs perpendicular to the Neva) are opened by the Field Marshal's Hall, created even before the fire of 1837 according to the project of Auguste Montferrand (author of St. Isaac's Cathedral). It is decorated with portraits of great Russian commanders: Suvorov, Rumyantsev, Kutuzov.
Next comes the Petrovsky or Small Throne, and behind it the majestic Armorial Hall, created by Stasov in 1837. On the left are: the Military Gallery of 1812 and the luxurious George or Great Throne Hall, all lined with Carrara marble.
Practical Information
Address: Russia, St. Petersburg, Dvortsovaya emb. 32
Opening hours: 10:30 - 18:00: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday; 10.30-21.00: Wednesday, Friday. Monday is a day off
Ticket prices: 600 rubles - an adult (400 - for citizens of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus), children under 18 years old, students and pensioners of the Russian Federation are free!
Official website: www.hermitagemuseum.org
You can get to the Winter Palace on foot from the Admiralteyskaya or Nevsky Prospekt metro stations: 5-10 minutes: look.
I believe that the Winter Palace can rightfully be considered the main attraction of St. Petersburg. It is interesting that once, by decree of Nicholas I, it was forbidden to erect buildings higher than the Winter Palace. Everyone looked up to the residence of Russian emperors - so the Palace became the face of the city, defining the architectural fashion of St. Petersburg.
This summer I rode a segway along Palace Square, around the Alexander Pillar. It was at that moment that a bizarre cosmogonic metaphor popped into my head. If the Alexander Pillar is the sun of St. Petersburg, then the winter palace is the closest and hottest planet on which life ordinary people hardly possible, only the luminaries of Russian history, the rulers of the empire, can live here. As I moved away from the palace, the entire panorama of the square fell into my field of view, but the palace still stood in the center of the picture. When approaching it, it forces you to focus on individual details of the building: clocks, pilasters, bas-reliefs... Such an extreme acquaintance with the Winter Palace cannot leave anyone indifferent. Grab your bikes, scooters, roller skates and go on this exciting journey. But such an acquaintance is good only on an emotional level. To understand the charm of this building, you need to delve into history. Therefore, I left my original vehicle outside the walls of the Palace and went to look at the interior decoration already in ordinary shoes, without wheels.
Mystery of the name
If you have never seen the Winter Palace or have been in it for a very long time, then I suggest you play the game! Let's check together what associations the image of the Winter Palace evokes. Does it look like the Snow Queen's castle from the Soviet cartoon? Or is it a very real building, but around the landscapes of Russian winter?
I think that all those associations that will arise in your mind will be true and one way or another will serve as the key to unlocking the mystery.
Despite the speaking name of the palace, you can visit this attraction at any time of the year, not only in winter. It is interesting to know why the Palace was named that way. Firstly, it was built in winter, and secondly, Russian emperors lived here at this time of the year. So the Winter Palace became a symbol of man's superiority over the elements, nature, over Russian frosts. In this place, you can not only hide from any storms and winds, but also look at the amazingly beautiful interiors. Inside the Palace there is a lot of gold, light, and thanks to a huge number of mirrors, the space is constantly expanding. Russian emperors did not like to lie idle, therefore, in the Winter Palace, even in the bitter cold, they received ambassadors from different countries. Today, the Winter Palace is not a separate object, it is part of the complex of buildings of the Hermitage Museum, which you can read more about. I will tell you about the Winter Palace.
Story
In fact, the Winter Palace was rebuilt five times. The very first version of the palace was made of wood and looked more like a hut. It did not have the chic that we see now. This wooden house was a gift to Peter from the governor of the city. The second architect was Georg Mattarnovi. Gradually the winter palace evolved. It is this architectural maturation that interests us, because through the history of a particular building one can trace how Russia itself improved: its buildings, streets, and the appearance of people changed. The third palace was built according to the project of Rastrelli in 1762. Construction took seven years. The architect himself believed that he was creating a palace for all-Russian glory.
As you know, the entire architecture of St. Petersburg is divided into two types. On the one hand, we can see the Petersburg of N.V. Gogol and F.M. Dostoevsky - a city with gloomy streets, humiliated and offended people. Such Petersburg is filled with mysticism and hopelessness of human existence. But there is another side of him that cannot be forgotten. And one of the main attractions of this "festive" and happy St. Petersburg is the Winter Palace. It exudes chic and carelessness. The breadth of the Russian soul and European orderliness, lightness and heaviness, thoughtfulness and gaiety - these contradictions give rise to harmony.
Zimny was rebuilt by various architects and rulers. Thus, a whole complex has grown up, which today everyone can visit. In 1837, a fire broke out in the building, which could not be extinguished for about a day, many priceless things were lost. After the fire, a reconstruction plan was created. Stasov and Bryullov took up this matter. After 15 months, most of the palace was restored.
What is in the Winter Palace
Leads to the ceremonial halls of the Palace Embassy staircase. Ambassadors from other states could immediately get acquainted with the Russian traditions of hospitality, ascending the red carpet.
In the 19th century, the stairs began to be called the Jordanian, because during the baptismal holidays, members of the imperial family descended along it to the hole in the Neva.
The front part was restored by the architect Stasov. He tried to preserve the baroque style with its rich decoration, stucco, mirrors in heavy gilded frames.
Petrovsky hall dedicated to the memory of the first Russian Emperor the Great. Red French velvet prevails in the interior design, it is embroidered with a monogram and a floral ornament. Pictures of wars remind of the strength of Russia. The portrait of the emperor is also interesting: it depicts Peter next to the goddess of wisdom.
IN Armorial hall you can see the coats of arms of all Russian provinces. In addition, there are sculptures of Russian soldiers. Official receptions used to be held in the same hall.
Next, visitors are presented with military gallery- This is a long corridor, on the walls of which there are portraits of 322 generals. In general, the whole color of the Russian army of the XIX century: Kutuzov, Bagration, Platov, Raevsky ...
Malachite living room was created for the wife of Nicholas I. There is a lot of malachite in this room from the mines of the Demidov brothers. The sculptor faced a task of almost national importance: he had to demonstrate the power and wealth of the Russian lands, to find the natural material (mineral or stone) that would personify Russia. The green color of malachite best emphasized the status of the Russian Empire. Malachite is a symbol of life and growth.
Tickets
In order to get to the Winter Palace, you need to buy a ticket at the box office or in electronic form. The second option is the most convenient as you won't have to stand in long lines.
Prices vary from 300 to 1000 rubles. Since the Winter Palace is part of the complex architectural structures, then the ticket price includes a combined list of places that you can visit: the Hermitage, the Menshikov Palace, the Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory ... Choose your fare wisely, as you can see several attractions in one day. It will be cheaper and more fruitful than separately.
There is one more good news: The first Thursday of each month is the day of free admission. And for students, schoolchildren and other beneficiaries, admission is free on ordinary days. More information about prices can be found on the Hermitage website.
How to get there
How to get there: from the metro station "Admiralteyskaya" or "Nevsky Prospekt". You need to move along Nevsky Prospekt, towards Vasilyevsky Island. After Nevsky Prospekt ends, you will exit to the Palace Square. You need to focus on a huge arch, inside which rises the Alexander Pillar. The Winter Palace is located directly opposite the Hermitage.
Address of the Winter Palace: Palace Square, 2 / Palace embankment, d. 38.
Working hours: from 10:30 to 18:00 (ticket office is open until 17:00), Monday is a day off.
Winter Palace in St. Petersburg (Palace Square, 2 / Palace Embankment, 38)
The Winter Palace is a former imperial palace, currently part of the Main Museum Complex of the State Hermitage.
The monumental and elegant Winter Palace, commissioned by Empress Elizabeth Petrovna by the architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli in 1754-1762, is a striking monument of the Baroque style. The building is a brilliant example of the synthesis of architecture and decorative plastics. All of its facades are decorated with a two-tiered colonnade. Forming a complex rhythm of verticals, the columns rush upwards, and this movement is picked up by numerous statues and vases on the roof.
The abundance of stucco decorations - bizarre cornices and window trims, mascarons, cartouches and rocailles, torn gables - creates a rich play of light and shadow, gives the building a special magnificence. It is an object of cultural heritage of federal significance and a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of historical center Petersburg
From the moment construction was completed in 1762 to 1904, it was used as the official winter residence of Russian emperors. In 1904, Nicholas II moved his permanent residence to the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoe Selo. From October 1915 to November 1917, the Tsarevich Alexei Nikolayevich Hospital worked in the palace. From July to November 1917, the palace housed the Provisional Government. In January 1920, the State Museum of the Revolution was opened in the palace, which shared the building with the State Hermitage until 1941.
The Winter Palace and Palace Square form the most beautiful architectural ensemble of the modern city and are one of the main objects of domestic and international tourism.
Story
In total, five winter palaces were built in the city during the period 1711-1764. Initially, Peter I settled in a one-story house built in 1703 not far from the Peter and Paul Fortress.
First Palace - Wedding Chambers
Peter the Great owned the site between the Neva and Millionnaya Street (on the site of the present Hermitage Theatre). In 1708, here, in the depths of the site, a wooden "Winter House" was built - a small two-story house with a high porch and a tiled roof. In 1712, the stone Wedding Chambers of Peter I were built. This palace was a gift from the governor of St. Petersburg, Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, for the wedding of Peter I and Ekaterina Alekseevna.
The Second Winter Palace - the palace of Peter I at the Winter Canal
In 1716, the architect Georg Mattarnovi, on the orders of the tsar, began the construction of a new Winter Palace, on the corner of the Neva and the Winter Canal (which was then called the "Winter Canal"). In 1720, Peter I and his entire family moved from their summer residence to their winter residence. In 1725, Peter died in this palace.
The third palace - the palace of Anna Ioannovna
Later, Empress Anna Ioannovna considered the Winter Palace too small and in 1731 entrusted its reconstruction to F. B. Rastrelli, who offered her his project for the reconstruction of the Winter Palace. According to his project, it was necessary to purchase the houses that stood at that time on the site occupied by the current palace and belonged to Count Apraksin, the Naval Academy, Raguzinsky and Chernyshev. Anna Ioannovna approved the project, the houses were bought up, demolished and construction began in the spring of 1732.
The facades of this palace were facing the Neva, the Admiralty and the "meadow side", that is, the palace square. In 1735, the construction of the palace was completed, and Anna Ioannovna moved into it to live. The four-story building included about 70 ceremonial halls, more than 100 bedrooms, a gallery, a theater, a large chapel, many stairs, service and guard rooms, as well as rooms for the palace office. Almost immediately, the palace began to be rebuilt, an extension to it began on the meadow side of technical buildings, sheds and stables[
Anna and Anton-Ulrich
Here, on July 2, 1739, Princess Anna Leopoldovna was betrothed to Prince Anton-Ulrich. After the death of Anna Ioannovna, the young emperor John Antonovich was brought here, who stayed here until November 25, 1741, when Elizaveta Petrovna took power into her own hands.
Fourth (temporary) Winter Palace
It was built in 1755. It was built by Rastrelli at the corner of Nevsky Prospekt and the embankment of the river. Washers. Was taken apart in 1762
Fifth Winter Palace
From 1754 to 1762, the construction of the existing and currently existing palace building, which at that time became the tallest residential building in St. Petersburg, was underway. The building included about 1500 rooms. The total area of the palace is about 60,000 sq.m. Elizaveta Petrovna did not live to see the completion of construction, Peter III took the job on April 6, 1762. By this time, the decoration of the facades was completed, but many of the interior spaces were not yet ready. In the summer of 1762, Peter III was overthrown from the throne, the construction of the Winter Palace was completed under Catherine II.
Initially, the color of the palace had yellow shades, like those of Versailles and Schönbrunn
In the middle of the 19th century, red shades appeared in the color of the palace.
First of all, the Empress removed Rastrelli from work. The interior decoration of the palace was carried out by the architects Yu. M. Felten, J. B. Vallin-Delamot and A. Rinaldi under the guidance of Betsky.
On January 1, 1752, the Empress decided to expand the Winter Palace, after which the neighboring plots of Raguzinsky and Yaguzhinsky were bought out. At the new location, Rastrelli built new buildings. According to the project he drew up, these buildings were to be attached to the existing ones and be decorated with them in the same style.
In December 1752, the Empress wished to increase the height of the Winter Palace from 14 to 22 meters. Rastrelli was forced to redo the design of the building, after which he decided to build it in a new location. But Elizaveta Petrovna refused to move the new Winter Palace. As a result, the architect decides to rebuild the entire building, the new project was signed by Elizaveta Petrovna on June 16 (June 27), 1754
According to the original layout of the palace, made by Rastrelli, the largest front rooms were on the 2nd floor and overlooked the Neva. As conceived by the architect, the path to the huge “Throne” Hall (which occupied the entire space of the northwestern wing) began from the east - from the “Jordanian” or, as it was formerly called, the “Ambassadorial” stairs and ran through a suite of five anterooms ( of these, three middle halls subsequently made up the current Nicholas Hall).
Rastrelli placed the palace theater "Opera House" in the southwestern wing. Kitchens and other services occupied the northeastern wing, and in the southeastern part, between the living quarters and the “Great Church” arranged in the eastern courtyard, a gallery was thrown.
In 1763, the empress moved her chambers to the southwestern part of the palace, under her rooms she ordered the chambers of her favorite G. G. Orlov to be placed (in 1764-1766, the Southern Pavilion of the Small Hermitage will be erected for Orlov, connected to Catherine’s chambers by a gallery on the arch ).
In the northwestern risalit, the “Throne Hall” was equipped; a waiting room appeared in front of it - the “White Hall”. A dining room was placed behind the White Hall. Adjacent to it was the "Light Cabinet". The dining room was followed by the “Front Bedchamber”, which became the “Diamond Peace” a year later.
In addition, the Empress ordered to equip a library, an office, a boudoir, two bedrooms and a lavatory for herself. In the dressing room, the empress built a toilet seat from the throne of one of her lovers, the Polish king Poniatowski. In 1764, in Berlin, through agents, Catherine purchased a collection of 225 works by Dutch and Flemish artists from the merchant I. Gotskovsky. The paintings were placed in secluded apartments of the palace, which received the French name "Hermitage" (a place of solitude); from 1767 to 1775 a special building was built for them to the east of the palace.
In the 1780s-1790s, I.E. Starov and G. Quarenghi continued to decorate the palace interiors.
In 1783, by decree of Catherine, the palace theater was demolished.
In the 1790s, by decree of Catherine II, who considered it inappropriate for the public to enter the Hermitage through her own chambers, a lintel gallery was created with the Winter Palace - "Apollo Hall", with the help of which visitors could bypass the royal apartments. At the same time, Quarenghi also erected a new “Throne (Georgievsky)” hall, opened in 1795. The old throne room was converted into a series of rooms provided for the quarters of the newly married Grand Duke Alexander. The "Marble Gallery" (of three halls) was also created.
In 1826, according to the project of K. I. Rossi, a Military Gallery was built in front of St. George's Hall, which housed 330 portraits of generals who participated in the war of 1812, painted over almost 10 years by D. Dow. In the early 1830s, in the eastern building of the palace, O. Montferrand designed the "Field Marshal", "Petrovsky" and "Armorial" halls.
After the fire of 1837, when all the interiors were destroyed, the restoration work in the Winter Palace was led by architects V.P. Stasov, A.P. Bryullov and A.E. Shtaubert.
Historical events
On April 7 (according to another version - April 11), 1762, on Easter, the ceremony of consecrating the palace took place, the next day the imperial court entered it.
C. J. Vernet. Fire in the Winter Palace
On December 29, 1837, a fire broke out in the Winter Palace. They could not extinguish it for three days, all this time the property taken out of the palace was piled around the Alexander Column. Restoration work required enormous efforts, but the palace was revived in two years. The work was supervised by V.P. Stasov, who used new structures for floors and roofs.
Women's shock battalion defending the Winter Palace from the Bolshevik rebellion.
On February 5, 1880, Narodnaya Volya member S. N. Khalturin exploded in the Winter Palace in order to kill Alexander II, while eleven soldiers from the guard were killed and fifty-six were wounded, but neither the emperor nor his family members were injured.
On January 9, 1905, during the procession of columns of workers to the Winter Palace, a peaceful workers' demonstration was shot, which was the beginning of the Revolution of 1905-1907. In August 1914, after the outbreak of World War II (World War I), part of the cultural property from the palace, including the Jewel Gallery, was taken to Moscow, but the Art Gallery remained in place.
In mid-October 1915, a military hospital named after Tsarevich Alexei Nikolayevich was located in the palace. The halls of the Nevsky and the Grand Enfilade, as well as the Picket and Alexander Halls were assigned to the hospital wards.
Since July 1917, the palace became the seat of the Provisional Government, which announced the nationalization of the royal palaces and formed an art-historical commission to accept the values of the Winter Palace. In September, part of the art collection was evacuated to Moscow.
On the night of October 25-26 (November 7-8), 1917, during the days of the October Revolution, the Red Guard, revolutionary soldiers and sailors surrounded the palace, which was guarded by a garrison of junkers and a women's battalion, totaling 2.7 thousand people. The palace was fired upon by the cannons of the Peter and Paul Fortress. By 2 o'clock 10 min. On the night of October 26 (November 8), they stormed the palace and arrested the Provisional Government. In cinematography, the storming of the Winter Palace was portrayed as a battle. In fact, it passed almost without bloodshed - the defenders of the palace offered almost no resistance.
On October 30 (November 12), 1917, People's Commissar of Education A. V. Lunacharsky declared the Winter Palace and the Hermitage to be state museums. For several months, Narkompros was located in the rooms on the first floor of the palace. Cinematic sessions, concerts, lectures, and meetings began to be held in the front halls. In 1919, the first after the revolution exhibitions of paintings from the paintings left in Petrograd, as well as the exposition "The Funeral Cult of Ancient Egypt" were opened in the palace.
Workers of the Kirov factory and young sailors on the bridge. Defenders of Leningrad during the blockade. Siege of Leningrad Russia, Leningrad Oblast
On June 22, 1941, after the start of the Great Patriotic War, twelve bomb shelters were equipped in the basements of the palace, in which about two thousand people permanently lived until 1942. Part of the non-evacuated museum collection of the Hermitage, cultural treasures from suburban palaces and various institutions of Leningrad were hidden in the palace.
During the war years, the buildings of the palace were damaged by Wehrmacht artillery shelling and Luftwaffe bombing, a total of seventeen artillery shells and two aerial bombs hit them. The Small Throne (Petrovsky) Hall was damaged, part of the Armorial Hall and the ceiling of the Rastrelli Gallery were destroyed, and the Jordan Staircase was damaged. On November 7, 1944, the palace was partially opened to the public. The restoration of the halls and facades of the palace continued for many years after the war.
Architecture
Facade facing the Neva
The modern three-story building has the shape of a square of 4 outbuildings with a courtyard and facades facing the Neva, the Admiralty and Palace Square. The splendor of the building is given by the magnificent decoration of the facades and rooms. The main façade, facing Palace Square, is cut through by the front passage arch, which was created by Rastrelli after his renovation of the Strelna Palace, probably under the influence of the magnificent architectural design of Michetti (forerunner of which was Leblon). Differently arranged facades, strong ledges of risalits, accentuation of stepped corners, changeable rhythm of the columns (changing the intervals between the columns, Rastrelli either collects them in bunches, or exposes the plane of the wall) create an impression of restlessness, unforgettable solemnity and splendor.
The clockwork of the Zimny clock tower
The palace building has 1084 rooms, 1945 windows, 117 stairs (including secret ones). The length of the facade from the side of the Neva is 137 meters, from the side of the Admiralty - 106 meters, the height is 23.5 meters. In 1844, Nicholas I issued a decree prohibiting the construction of civil buildings in St. Petersburg higher than the height of the Winter Palace. They had to be built at least one fathom less.
Despite the restructuring and many innovations, the main planning scheme of the palace retained the ideas of F.-B. Rastrelli. Palace buildings are formed around the inner Great Courtyard. Light courtyards were created in the northwestern and southwestern wings on the site of the Throne Hall and the Opera House, around which enfilades of living quarters were formed.
From the east, the Small Hermitage, built along the Black Passage, adjoins the Winter Palace. The buildings of the St. George's Hall, the Great Church, the southeast and northeast wings of the palace go into this passage; the space is divided into a system of yards and pits: “Small” and “Large Church” yards (from the Big Church located here, founded back in 1763), “Church” and “Garage” (from the garage located here) pits, “Kitchen Yard” .
Design features
The three-story building of the palace has a basement floor and numerous mezzanine floors, some of the ceremonial halls of the second floor are double-sided. The brickwork of the walls on lime mortar is very massive, the interfloor ceilings are made both in the form of brick vaults and on beams. The massive cornice of the palace is built on a stone foundation, which is supported by iron braces passing through the brickwork of the outer walls, which have been preserved since the time of Rastrelli.
The entire rafter system and all ceilings above the halls in the 18th century were made of wood (the ceilings were insulated with felt and canvas, the rafters were pitched). There were no firewalls in the attics before the fire. During the restoration of the palace leading role iron structures have already begun to play. Such a massive use of iron in construction was unusual in world practice. Engineer M. E. Clark developed triangular truss trusses - "roofing trusses" to support the roof of the Winter Palace, and "inflated elliptical beams" for the ceilings of the palace halls.
The ceiling of the St. George Hall was one of the first examples of the use of rolled metal in domestic construction. In 1887, under the guidance of the architect Gornostaev, some deformed structures were renovated and old structures were strengthened. Most of them still regularly carry out their service in the Winter.
During the construction of ceilings between the nearest beams, micro-arches were made from hollow pottery pots on lime mortar. From below in the halls, a metal ceiling was fixed or plastered.
In the 1840s, a unique heating system was installed in the building with Ammos furnaces, which were located in the basements, and heated clean air entered the premises through the fire channels (later, a water-air system would be created on this basis). At the end of the 19th century, much attention was paid to the ventilation system. Sewage was accumulated in a sewer built by Rastrelli, which diverts sewage to the Neva. After the reconstruction of the embankment, this sewer was closed up and the Winter Palace "went under itself" for some time. In 1886 the Winter Palace was electrified.
Rafters above the Great Throne Room.
A brace carrying a cornice
I-beam elliptical
Pottery pots in the vaults of the palace
The facades and roof of the palace changed their color scheme several times. The initial color had a very light warm ocher color, with the order system and plastic decor highlighted with white lime paint.
In the second half of the 1850s - 1860s, under Emperor Alexander II, the color of the facades of the palace changed. The ocher becomes more dense. The order system and plastic decor are not stained with an additional color, but acquire a very slight tonal highlight. In fact, facades are perceived as monochrome.
Historical paint clearing
In the 1880s, under Emperor Alexander III, the coloring of the facades was carried out in two tones: a dense ocher expression with the addition of red pigment and a weaker terracotta tone. With the accession of Nicholas II in 1897, the emperor approved the project of painting the facades of the Winter Palace in the color of the “new fence of the Own Garden” - red sandstone without any tonal highlighting of the columns and decor.
Winter Palace. Coloring of the second half of the 18th century. B.F. Rastrelli
Winter Palace. Painting at the turn of the 18th - 19th centuries.
All the buildings on Palace Square were painted in the same color - the headquarters of the Guards Corps and the General Staff, which, according to the architects of that period, contributed to the unity of perception of the ensemble. In 2011, during the restoration of the Hermitage garage for painting it
Winter Palace. Painting of the first quarter of the 20th century.
The terracotta-brick color of the palace was preserved until the end of the 1920s, after which experiments and the search for a new color scheme began. In 1927, an attempt was made to paint it gray, in 1928-1930. - in brown-gray tones, and the copper sculpture on the roof - in black.
Winter Palace. Painted in the 1880s - 1890s.
In 1934, for the first time, an attempt was made to paint the palace with orange oil paint, highlighting the order system with white paint, but oil paint had a negative effect on stone, plaster and stucco decoration. In 1940, a decision was made to remove the oil paint from the façade.
Winter Palace. Coloring present
With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, in order to camouflage the palace, they painted it with reversible adhesive gray paint.
Since the 1960s, when painting the facade, instead of lime paints, synthetic dyes have been used, which negatively affect stucco decoration, plaster and natural stone. In 1976, on the recommendation of the All-Union Central Research Laboratory, a decision was made to clear the surface of the sculptures from the paint coating to form a natural layer of patina, which at that time was considered a natural protection against aggressive environmental influences. Currently, the surface of copper is protected with a special paint composition containing a copper corrosion inhibitor.
For sixty-five years, the public and the authorities of the city have developed a certain stereotype in the perception of the color scheme of the palace, however, according to the Hermitage researchers, the currently existing color scheme of the facades does not correspond to the artistic image of the palace, and therefore it is proposed to recreate the color scheme of the facades, as close as possible to the three-dimensional composition of the palace, created by Bartolomeo Rastrelli.
Elegance and magnificence of the silhouette of the building are given by sculptures and vases installed above the cornice along the entire perimeter of the building. They were originally carved from stone and replaced with metal ones in 1892-1902 (sculptors M.P. Popov, D.I. Jensen). The “opened” composition of the Winter Palace is a kind of Russian adaptation of the type of a closed palace building with a courtyard, common in the architecture of Western Europe.
To be continued