Catherine Palace Restoration

Here are some good pics of the restored first anteroom.  I'll post some of the second and third anterooms later (still formatting the pics).  It's great to see the room restored to what is (presumably) Rastrelli's original intent.  I love the stoves, but I have to admit I had a fondness for the 19th century etageres as well.  I wonder how accurate the stoves are to the original design?

An overall view of the room (not sure why there is carpet in there...):



A wall elevation-you can see into the second anteroom beyond:



Here are two views of the corners with stoves:





Close up of the ceiling:



Hope everyone enjoys these. 

Forum admin-I hope the pics aren't too large.  If so, let me know.

These are wonderful pix.  Hoping your boss has lots more to share! 
Aren't digital cameras amazing!
thanks for posting them.
BobG

I'm mesmerized, great pics really,  -Architect I hope you received my mail with the russian links-

Vassia

Here are a few pics of the First Anteroom that I forgot.

Here is an elevation of one of the side walls.



Here is one looking through the room.  I thought this was particularly interesting because, if you look above the last window, you can see that they left the cherubs unrestored.  It's nice to be able to appreciate how it used to be.



I will post pics of the other two anterooms soon.  Sorry it's taking me longer than I thought.

Vassia-thank you for the wonderful email!  I hope you got my response.

Sorry it has taken me so long to post more pics, but here is what I have for the Second Anteroom.

Some prewar pics.  I know that the titles on the photos say they are the First Anteroom, but the cannot be-just look at the pilaster capitals and the pictures I already posted of the First Anteroom.  As you can see, the room used to have some small fireplaces with heavy rococo mirrors above them and on the opposite wall were those wonderful porcelain etageres.  Both the fireplaces and the etageres were 19th century additions and have not been restored.









Here is what it looks like today.  On one wall there are Rastrelli's stoves and on the other Quarenghi's fireplaces.  I think it is interesting how they tried to create a transition from Baroque to Neoclassical.  I am a little confused as to some of the changes of decor.  The two main wall elevations are very different from one another, but also look quite a bit different restored.  See how one central door now has a window over it?  Then again, a lot of the carved decoration above the fireplaces looks pretty heavy in the old pics, which leads me to believe it was 19th century.





I'm sorry I don't have any more pics of this room.  My boss took a video of it that sweeps from one wall to the other, but I'm having issues putting it on photobucket (not sure why, it took the others).  Can we post video's here anyway? 

I'm sorry I don't have any more pics of this room.  My boss took a video of it that sweeps from one wall to the other, but I'm having issues putting it on photobucket (not sure why, it took the others).  Can we post video's here anyway? 

You can put your video on some site like youtube for example and then post the link to it here.

Good idea Svetabel.  I'll post it soon.  Sorry I haven't had a chance to yet.

Here, at last, is the Third Anteroom.  My apologies that I dragged this out so much.

Corner of the room with fireplace.



Elevation of the long wall.



Detail of central doorway.



Detail of roundel above a fireplace.



The fantastic ceiling.



Originally instead of Catherine the Great's apartments, there were two more anterooms and an immense staircase at the far end of the palace, which was under a dome and was the main entrance.  The staircase was based on the Ambassador's staircase at Versailles.  I've only ever seen plans of it, but I'm sure it was spectacular.  I'm constantly amazed at the sheer variety Rastrelli existed.  The whole palace was variations on the same theme but with unlimited creativity.  If anyone has any more info on these long-lost rooms, I'd love to hear it.  Do Rastrelli's drawings survive?

Some images from the restauration works in july 2009, views of the courtyard

Now that the main enfilade has been almost totally restored, does anyone know what will be done with the 'minor' enfilade that adjoins it?  I know there was a baroque bedroom that was used by both Catherine the Great and Alexander I, as well as some beautiful Neoclassical rooms made for Maria Feodorovna (Paul I's wife).  I'll post some pics of these later, but if anyone has any information, it would be most welcome.

Also, any news on how Catherine the Great's apartments are coming?  Has the Arabesque Hall been completed?

Also, any news on how Catherine the Great's apartments are coming?

A journalist asked this question one year ago. The director said that there is only a project but really they don`t know who can repeat today the glass work for the decoration of the walls.

Has the Arabesque Hall been completed?

Deadline is June 2010!

Probably the next will be the Lion Hall, than the Chinese Hall and the Cupola Room. I think it will be logical in logistic point of view. There is a staircase after the Cupola Room which goes to the first floor (to the wardrobe).

Thanks Vladimir!  It's so exciting to think we will get to see some of Cameron's interiors restored soon.  I'm especially curious to see what they do for the Lyon Room and the Chinese Hall.  I'm curious to see what time period they restore them to.  The Lyon Room was altered somewhat in the 19th century by Monighetti, who added all that wonderful lapiz lazuli furniture.  I'm sure they'd still include that, but Monighetti altered the ceiling to insert his chandelier, so maybe that will be Cameron's?  As for the Chinese Hall, I've only seen some bad photos and some 19th century watercolors, which show the room looking very Victorian.  Cameron's original design called for a sort of shelf with a recess, but I don't know if that was even built in the first place.

I hope they can figure out something for the glass.  I know that at least one piece of milk glass from Catherine's bedroom survives.  The drew a portrait of one of her lovers on it and it was preserved.  At least her bedroom and the Tabetiere are very small, so that should make things a little easier.

I will post those photos of the minor enfilade soon, probably by this weekend.

Thanks again for the info!

Here is some info on the minor enfilade.  Of course it originally was all designed by Rastrelli, but was partially redecorated in 1820 after a fire.  Alexander I had a suite of rooms made for his mother, Maria Feodorovna, though she never used them.  The suite consisted of a Reception Room, Karelian Drawing Room, Blue Drawing Room and a Bedchamber.  I only have pictures of the Karelian or Red Drawing room and the Blue Drawing room.  The whole suite was designed by Vasili Stasov.  If anyone else has photos of the Reception Room or Bedchamber, I would love to see them.  Does anyone know when they will be restored?  I believe they are currently being used for exhibition halls?  If anyone could let me know, I'd appreciate it.

The Karelian, or Red Drawing Room





The Blue Drawing Room.  I have to admit I find this room particularly fine.





Here is some of Stasov's furniture for the Blue Drawing Room:



There is also the bedroom of Alexander I that was originally used by Catherine the Great and was designed by Rastrelli, but I'll save that for another post.

Incidentally, these photos came from the book 'Tsarskoye Selo: The Imperial Summer Residence' (which you can find in the Alexander Palace Book Finder) and 'Tsarskoe Selo: Furniture and Interiors' by Loukomskii.