41. Мариинский Дворец – история создания и особенности интерьера/The Mariinskiy Palace – the history of creation and peculiarities of the interior décor, 1839-1844

Authors: architects - A. I. Stafkenshneider (1839-1844), L.N. Benois (1906 - 1907)Address: Isaakiyevskaya ploshchad’, 6

The Palace was built by order of Nicholas I to the wedding of his daughter Mariya Nikolayevna and Duke Maximilian Lichtcnburg (the son of Napoleon's stepson) that took place on 5 December 1838. The Emperor ordered to construct л comfortable, co/y and modem palace in front of the Si Isaac's Cathedral. Originally that was С Rossi who was to be commissioned to erect a palace, but a famous architect was old, and the work was entrusted to A. Stakenshncider.

The constructed Palace looked asymmetrically: its left wing was 52 m long, while the right one only 22 m long and at obtuse angle to the facade. The Palace was built of sandstone, so in winter it was quite warm inside. The dwelling apartments were located deep inside the Palace, while office premises faced the carriage-way - it is the only example in 19^lh cent. Russian architecture of a palace suite being so laid out. The interior decor was accomplished in 1844 and got the name the Mariinskiy Palace after its first owner. The Palace was opened to all on the very first day.

The Palace was lavishly decorated inside. The Hall was ornamented with colonnades and pilasters of pink Finnish marble, with painted arabesques, and the fireplace of a green Siberian marble. The State Staircase was decorated with the statues of classical warriors ant! heroes of the War of Troy. The frie/e was ornamented with an intricate moulding that depicted the letters interlacing of Mariya Nikolayevna's full name. The Waiting-Rootn opened ihe enfilade of state halls designed in late Classicism and was ornamented with bas-relieves depicting the scenes from Comer's Iliad. The Church of St Nicholas was located in the attic and decorated in Byzantine Style. The Palace was rich in the masterpieces b> the artist of German. Dutch. Italian and French schools.

The charily markets, masquerade balls and Christmas parties for children were regularly held in the Palace. Amateur performances were staged in the

Rotunda and the Square Hall. Professional and amateur singers often performed in the Concert Hall.On 20 October 1S52 Mariya Nikolaycvna's husband died, and two years later Uk' Emperor's daughter secret!) married Count Straganov. On 9 February lS7(i Mariya Nikolaycvna died. Her secret husband died soon after her. and the Palace became property of their children Rugcne and George who also received their mother's debt of 3 mln roubles. Young aristocrats lived in a grand style and soon had to sell the family nest. On 14 July 1X84 the Palace was officially sold. In February 1885 the State Council, the Stale Chancellery, the Committee of Ministers and the Emperor's Chancellery housed the Palace. Every Monday the Slate Council used to seat in the Rotunda, the Study of Duke of Lichtcnburg was used by the Chairman of the Council. The Concert Hull was used as a conference-hall of ihe Cabinet. The Lower House of the Parliament - ihe Sate Duma, was established in 1905. the State Council became ihe Upper House and ihe number of its members was increased to 215 people that needed a reconstruction. The project was carried mil by L. Bcnois who took into consideration the design of the Capitol in Washington and Reichstag in Berlin. On 15 October 1908 the first session took place. The Hall was conditioned with special filters that filled the premise with cither warm or cold air. A huge hall was covered by a glazed lantern of 182 square metres thai let in day light. The last session took place in February 1917.

After the October Revolution (the Palace was occupied by units of the Military Revolutionary Committee on 7 November 1917) the Palace's interiors were seriously damaged: the walls were either painted, or lagged with boards or papered. At the time of the Second World War ihe military hospital was located in the former Palace that was seriously impaired during the siege. In 1944 the Executive Committee of the Leningrad Union of Workers inhabited the former Palace. The exterior and the interior decor were severely damaged. The facade was decorated with the models of ihe Leningrad orders and medals, with an electronic watch and different soviet slogans. The restoration work began only in 1975 when the Waiting-Room and the Dance-Hall were reconstructed. The Church was consecrated in 1990.