Catherine Palace Restoration

[ArchitectCS]

I was hoping someone could tell me what the time line is for the restoration of the Catherine Palace?  I know that within the past few years the amber room and Rastrelli's anterooms have been restored, but does anyone know anything about other rooms?  Is the chapel going to be completed soon?  or any of Catherine the Great's private apartments?  Any information would be sincerely appreciated. 

Also, I have been trying to find photos of the anterooms I just mentioned.  I have several very nice shots of the anteroom closest to the great hall, but I don't have any of the other two.  What I would most like to know is if the porcelain stands from the second anteroom were restored.  I can't find any information either way.  I've added a link here http://www.alexanderpalace.org/2006tsarskoe/fourth_suite.html showing what I'm talking about.  (In almost every instance I've ever seen a photo of the room, it is called the first anteroom, though this is erroneous.  Thought I should clarify as it can get confusing)

Again, any information at all would be truly appreciated, and photos would be wonderful!

[ArchitectCS]

I thought I might get the ball rolling with a few pics of the first anteroom I found online. 

[Vladimir_V.]

The Second Antiroom


Look:
http://narod.yandex.ru/cgi-bin/yandmarkup?cluster=5&prog=0x2757571A&HndlQuery=2091755920&PageNum=0&g=2&d=0&q0=1933579872&p=

http://narod.yandex.ru/cgi-bin/yandmarkup?cluster=5&prog=0x2757571A&HndlQuery=2091755920&PageNum=0&g=0&d=0&q0=1933579872&p=

[Vladimir_V.]

The Second Antiroom
Look:
http://narod.yandex.ru/cgi-bin/yandmarkup?cluster=5&prog=0x2757571A&HndlQuery=2091755920&PageNum=0&g=2&d=0&q0=1933579872&p=

http://narod.yandex.ru/cgi-bin/yandmarkup?cluster=5&prog=0x2757571A&HndlQuery=2091755920&PageNum=0&g=0&d=0&q0=1933579872&p=

[lori_c]

The Anteroom view looks like the part of the palace where the movie Young Catherine with Julia Ormond and Vanessa Redgrave was filmed.  Does anybody know if this is true?  The floor looks very familiar.

[ArchitectCS]

Vladimir,

Thank you so much for the links.  I had no idea that there were porcelain stands in the first anteroom as well.  It's a pity they weren't restored.  They must have been a later addition and it is nice to have Rastrelli's rooms returned to his original intention.  I appreaciate your research!

Chad

[ArchitectCS]

Lori,

Young Catherine was filmed in the Catherine Palace.  It has been many years since I have seen it, but there were a few scenes filmed in the Great Hall, which is similar to the anterooms.  Hope this info helps.

Chad

[lori_c]

Chad,

Thanks so much!  The Great Hall resembles the anterooms in many scenes.  This is one of my favorite movies as it was filmed not long after communism broke down and I was able to see Real Russia for the first time. 

As a side note, do you know if the park scenes, there were some by an Urn were filmed there as well or in Peterhof?

Thanks!

Lori

[ArchitectCS]

Hi Lori,

Gosh, it's been so many years since I've seen it, I'm not sure.  I remember a scene in the garden with Catherine and one of her ladies.  They were sitting on white benches and talking about pregnancy.  I know that was at Tsarskoe Selo, but I don't remember an urn.  Peterhof was used as well in the movie.  I think it was for King Frederick's palace in Germany.  I know they used the exterior but I'm not sure about the interior.

Chad

[lori_c]

It was a scene where after the birth of Paul, Catherine consults Hansbury-Williams played by Christopher Plummer about not being able to see her son.  Andhe calls her Tsarina. BTW Julia Ormond looks every bit the part of a Tsarina.  It's got a rose garden in it and he is seen pruning them. 

Oh well, thanks anyway
 
I love the movie so much because I get to see Russia - especially the palaces at Peterhof, Catherine Palace and Alexander Palace - and I don't know that I'll ever get there in person.  I thought I had read that the Urn in the scene was of some significance.  Dedicated to somebody important.  But what do I know?

Thanks again!

Lori

[Joanna]

From an interview with Ivan Sautov, there are watercolors of the Chinese, Lyons, Arabesque Halls and restorations of the rooms along with the Antechamber:

http://d-c.spb.ru/archiv/27/25-28/25-28.htm

Joanna

[Venois]

I think the palace Chapel is in a final stage of restoration. Hopefully it will be opened next summer.

Venois.

[ChristineM]

Yes, and it was the inspiration and work of the wonderful, late Alexander Kedrinsky.   Sadly he has not lived to see the ripening of this particular fruit of his superb labours at Tsarskoe Selo.   

I'm sure Father Gennady will not fail to pay due respect to this remarkable man (whose grandfather was a priest at the Feodorovsky Sobor) at an appropriate moment during the reconsecration of the Cathedral.

tsaria

[ArchitectCS]

I had no idea Kedrinsky was dead.  When did he die?  It's a pity he couldn't have lived just a few more years and seen the palace finished.  He would have been one of the few to see it both before the war and restored from the war.

Any idea of a date for the completion of the chapel?  Any pictures?

[ChristineM]

He died about four years ago.   I was privileged to see him, for the last time, about a week before he died.

tsaria