43. Дворец Белосельских-Белозерских – последний дворец на Невском/The Belosel’skikiy-Belozerskiy Palace – the last Palace in Nevskiy, 1846-1848

Authors: architect -A.I. Stakenshneider (1846 – 1848)

Addess:Nevskiy prospect, 41

At the end of 18* cent, on the site located on the corner of the Fontanka River and Nevskiy prospekt there was a house belonged to the Naryshkins. Later on il was purchased by Duchess A. Bcloscl'skaya and reconstructed by Th. de Thomon and F. Demcrtsov. In the mid. of 19¹'¹ cent. Prince Belosel'skiy-Belozerskiy commissioned A. Stakenshneider with the reconstruction of ihe mansion. The architect radically changed the facade of the edifice, having built up two new wings and embellished the facade with baroque decorative elements such as atlanles and caryatides (to the design by D. Jensen), columns, pilasters and embossed window decorations. A gorgeous state staircase decorated with caryatides and statues holding gilded chandeliers, with lacy railings ornamented with the monograms of the owner's name, and marble fireplaces inside the Palace were also made by the architect. The library was lavishly decorated with a fireplace ornamented with an embossed pattern, a huge mirror in a gilded frame, the walls upholstered with carved wooden panels and covered with silk.

The Beloscl'skiy-Bclozerskiy Palace became the last private palace built in Nevskiy prospekt in 19^lh cent. The family of the first owners of the Palace was of a

noble origin being descendants of Vladimir Monomakhus. The representatives of the family were diplomats and high-ranking courtiers. Being fond of music, thcairc and literature the representatives of the Beloscl'skiv-Helo/crskiy family used to organize magnificent parties at the Palace competitive with the receptions held in the Winter Palace. The parties were often visited by Alexander III with his wife Mariya Fyodorovna. After all, the Palace was redeemed by the Emperor who presented it to his younger brother Grand Duke Sergey Alexandrouch as a wedding present. In 1911 Duchess Hli/abeth Fyodorovna. wife of the Palace' owner presented the Palace to her nephew - Grand Duke Dmitriy Paviovich (one of the conspirators - participants of the assassination of Grigoriy Rasputin).

Most of the lavishly decorated apartments of the Palace have survived up to nowadays (only the collection of pictures was given to the Hermitage and the Beloscl'skiy-Belozerskiy mansion on Krcstovskiy Ostrov). The stale apartments located on the second floor took special attention: the Oak Hall {i\\q former library) used as a small concert hall, the Picture gallery, the Stale Dining-Rnam. the Beige Sitting-Room, the Mirror (Ball) Hall with very good acoustics intended for the music concerts (are still held nowadays) and the Golden Crimson Sitting-Roam demonstrate marvelous objects of art such as fireplaces, chandeliers, mouldings, pictures, mirrors, etc.

During the First World War the Palace accommodated the Russo-British military hospital, After the October Revolution it was nationalized and accommodated different public organizations (the original name of the Palace was given back to the mansion). Nowadays the Saint-Petersburg Culture Centre organizing exhibitions, concerts and literary soirees is located in the former Palace.