5. Ансамбль Воронцовского Дворца (Суворовское Военное Училище)/The Vorontsov Palace (The Suvorov Military School) Ensemble, 1749-1800

Authors: architects - F.-B. Rastrelli (1749- 1757), Q. Quarenghi (1798 – 1800) Address: Sadovaya ulitsa, 26 In 1744 Mikhail Illarionovich Vorontsov was appointed vice Chancellor of the Russian Empire. Elizabeth I thanked her subject for the help in enthronement, and presented M. Voronisov the plot for building a palace (the territory between Sadovaya ulitsa and the Fonianka River). The construction started by F.-B. Rastrelli in 174У was completed only in 1757. The work lasted for 8 years because of financial difficulties of the owner. K,-B. Rastrelli erected not only the Palace but also a regular garden at the back of the building, a one-storey section with a terrace facing the Fontanka River, and cast-iron railings - one of the early examples o( a decorative cast-iron molding in Russia. The main facade had a wide central and two side risalitos decorated with double columns, pilasters and ornamental window-frames. The upper tiers of the Palace were crowned with a high pediment. In decorating the main facade's central part F.-B. Rastrelli used his favourite motif of twin columns and pilasters lopped with a broken entablature that created an intricate play of light and shade on the walls with wide windows enframed with moulded platbands. On 23 November 1758 the Palace Church was consecrated. The Empress dined at Vorontsov's new house and appointed him Chancellor of the Russian Empire, presenting a sum of 40 000 roubles to him. The Palace got its second name - the Chancellor's House. When Catherine II ascended the throne. M. Vurontsm being on ihe point of a financial ruin sold the Palace lo the Treasury for 217 600 roubles. In 1763 ihe Count left ihe country. The Vorontsov Palace hosted ihe crowned heads and high-ranking men; alias the Palace was opened for every' one ready to pay one rouble for visiting masquerades held in the Palace every Sunday and Thursday the whole year round up lo the Lent. In 1798 Paul I became ihe Great Master of the Maltese Monastic Order having transformed ihe Palace into the main residence of the Order. The Palace got the name of the Cast la of Maltese Knights. The Order's coat of arms was fixed above the iron railings of the Palace's gates - a white Maltese Cross on a red background with four equal V-shaped pans, symbolizing Christian virtues: prudence, moderation, courage and justice. In 1798 - 1800 G. Quarenghi built the Maltese Chapel where ihe Order's treasures and ihe armchair of the Great Masier were kept. The Orthodox Church of Johann of Jerusalem was built in the left wing of the Palace. In the reign of Paul I the Order's meetings were regularly held in the Palace. In the reign of Alexander 1 the Maltese Order ceased its activities, and the Palace was taken back to ihe Treasury. The wings of the Vorontsov Palace were given lo Ihe merchants planning to open small shops there, wiih ihe term of lease equal to 25 years. One of such shops belonged to 1. Lisenkov - the shop was very popular among the fancy of books, and was often visited by Alexander Pushkin. In 1832 - 1833 the wing was occupied by architect A. Kavos. In 1810 the Palace accommodated the Corps of Pages. In 1827 architect A. Siauberi rebuilt the edifice, and the lavish interior decoration was destroyed. The bedrooms of ihe pupils were located on the second floor. A lot of outstanding people studied at ihe Corps, among them Ег. Baralyuskiy and P. Pestel'. Pushkin's sons Alexander and Grigoriy finished the Corps in I850s. In 1817 Alexander I ordered to rebuilt the Voronisov Palace for his younger brother Prince Mikhail Pavlovich. C. Rossi was commissioned with the reconstruction. According to Rossi's design the Palace was to be rebuilt in Classicism, the garden was lo be shortened in order to lay out two squares joined by a straight street. The project was not realized, and laler С Rossi erected a new Palace for Prince Mikhail - ihe Michael Palace. After the October Revolution the Corps of Pages was closed, and the Palace was used by the bol'sheviks. In automn 1918 the Palace was given to the Red Army lhat located ihe military schools there. At the time of the Civil War the courses for the Red Army officers were organized in ihe fonner Palace. In 1920 -1930s the Infantry School named after S. Kirov was opened in the building. Since 1955 ihe former Voronisov Palace has been accommodating the Suvorov Military School. In 1998 the Maltese Chapel was restored.