Catherine Palace Restoration

[Vassili_Vorontsoff]

GMichael,

On the official page of the hermitage, could you find a vitual representation of the palace through the ages:

http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/html_En/05/hm5_7_10_0_0.html



It is not the place to develop on that subject however, I think it would be wise to restore the original yellowcolor at the occasion of the 250 years of the Winter palace in 2014.

Indeed, since the large Hermitage project provides for the return of colors of the Admiralty, it would interesting that the place gets its colors, in order to recreate the architectural spirit of the palace in the 19th when the place with the columna of Alexander I were adjusted ...

[Nick_Nicholson]

Here is an image of the Winter Palace in 1832-33 during construction of the Alexander Column.  (Hermitage collection)



And here is a watercolor of Palace Square and the Winter Palace in 1804 from the Nevsky Prospect.  (Also Hermitage)



You can see the yellow and white WP in both.

Best,

Nick

[Nick_Nicholson]

The wall is painted lower portion darker than upper. I am wondering if it is possibly basement room of a palace as it has more a raw feel compared to the family's wall-papered rooms. As this photo is during war years, the elaborate table and divan was probably moved for comfort of their quarters.

Joanna

Compare the table with this one.  Perhaps from the same suite?

[Joanna]

Off topic, but this engraving has the yellowish tint of the Winter Palace:

http://apa.confessmedia.com/cm/shv7ebYnaejG7RfU2oJQ4eRUHytaoVyI/2/zoom=400x400,quality=80/EYEKS_00078360.jpg

Joanna

[Nick_Nicholson]

Joanna,  Wonderful image, I have the same one, but only in black and white.  Is yours tinted?

Oh dear. Do we need a "Russian Palaces Original COlors" thread?

[Joanna]

Nick, I had found the image on a German site. It is a print of the actual engraving that may have been a lithograph c1750s-60s. I have worked with the process of lithography using various colors roll pressed on the stones.

I have several large format books that I had bought during trips to StP that have many pictures of the various palaces through the centuries. One of the Winter Palace c1754 is of the private garden side (rooms of N&A) that is the yellow color with two dark red bands - one below the windows of the first floor and the other along the lower part of the railing on the roof. It is quite dramatic as the bands completely circle the palace. I do not have a scanner but when Laura comes to my place next, she will be able to photo digitalize for you.

Joanna

[G.Michael]

For what it's worth, here's another depiction of the Catherine Palace painted white.


Scroll about halfway down the page: www.free-time.ru/razdels/!anzikl/e_9.html

[ArchitectCS]

I can't get the link to work.  Could you post the pic?

[G.Michael]

The link, posted above, should work if it's copied and pasted. I thought someone who reads Russian might be able to discern some context for the image -- when was it painted, for example? Clearly, it depicts the palace as painted white. Now, whether this was the ORIGINAL color, I don't know . . . but surely the palace has not always been blue.

[Vassili_Vorontsoff]

http://74.125.43.100/translate_c?hl=fr&sl=ru&tl=fr&u=http://saint-petersburg.ru/m/221973/zimniy_dworets__w_peterburge_stanet_nebesnogo_tsweta.html&usg=ALkJrhhA0GdxKOjevffwwE36taoqIxcIBQ


The original color of the winter palace will changed!

[ArchitectCS]

Fascinating!  I think it's interesting that they are painting the Winter Palace blue, since according to the Hermitage's own website, it has never been so.  Personally, I've always liked the green.  It helps tell the Winter Palace apart from the Catherine Palace for those people who aren't as observant as they should be.  The new blue will contrast nicely with the yellow of the General Staff building, though.  Honestly, if the WP was painted its original yellow, I think that would be too much for Palace Square.

Back to the Catherine Palace, I think somewhere I've seen a painting of the palace dating from Elizabeth's time and it showed it blue.  I'll have to track it down.

[Joanna]

Photo of the restored Catherine Palace basement that contains a conference hall, staff cafe, office and some living space:
http://www.d-c.spb.ru/archiv/34/33/index.html

Joanna

[Douglas]

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.d-c.spb.ru%2Farchiv%2F34%2F33%2Findex.html&sl=ru&tl=en&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

Here is the link that translates the article about the restored basement that Joanna posted above.  Just click on the link  and the article is in English.

[ArchitectCS]

My boss, Jerry, went to Russia about two weeks ago and took a ton of photos for me.  Here are a few of the exterior of the Catherine palace showing how the gilding is coming along.  I was surprised to see that the domes of the church are covered in scaffolding, as I thought they were in good repair and had been gilded fairly recently.  Honestly, I kind of like the encolsure-it's very Christo.  I've got some more pictures of the interior that I'll post soon.  Jerry got me some good pics of the second and third anterooms; I've had difficulty finding pics of these on the net.  Enjoy!

[Vecchiolarry]

Hi,

The chapel was covered last August too when I was there, but there was no scaffolding of the main building then.
I will look forward to the interior photos - thank you for posting them...

Larry