The whole world is famous for magnificent St. Petersburg with its historical, cultural and architectural monuments. Moreover, not all of them are located within the city. The stunning surroundings of the Northern capital are of no less interest among tourists. One of these suburbs is located 40 km from the city. This is Lomonosov. Before it was called Oranienbaum. Here is an interesting museum-reserve, which stores architectural masterpieces of the XVIII century. An excursion to Oranienbaum with a visit to the Chinese Palace will impress you.
History
Companion of Peter I and his closest assistant Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, who decided to build his suburban residence here, were the first to pay attention to these picturesque lands on the Gulf of Finland.
So the famous Grand Palace appeared, which, with its luxury and splendor, overshadowed the palace of Peter I himself, who was at the same time being erected in Peterhof. Nearby was a picturesque Lower Garden.
In 1727, Prince Menshikov fell out of favor and was sent into exile. All of his property, including the palace in Oranienbaum, was transferred to the state treasury. In 1743, the great Russian empress Elizabeth gave the estate to her son, who later became the Russian emperor Peter III.
The new owner built the ensemble Peterstadt, which included a powerful fortress and palace. When Catherine II came to power, a new phase of construction began in Oranienbaum. The Empress created her summer residence here and built the beautiful palace "Own Cottage".
Menshikov Palace
As we already mentioned, the Grand Palace in Oranienbaum was built by the first owner - Prince Menshikov (1710-1727). In size and luxurious decor, he had no equal in St. Petersburg and the suburbs. The palace is not in vain called the Big. The monumentality of this building gives its location on a hill. This gives the impression that the palace seems to soar above the shore. Terraces descend from the facade. One-story wings adjoin the main building from two sides, ending with two pavilions - East and Church. Adjacent to them are the Kitchen and the Freylinsky outbuildings. Peter III changed the palace interiors. The eastern pavilion, due to the fact that more than two hundred items of Chinese and Japanese porcelain appeared in its interior, was called Japanese.
Chinese Palace (Oranienbaum)
This magnificent building was erected in the years 1762-1768. The author of the project and the construction manager was the then-famous architect Antonio Rinaldi. The most important period in the creation of the architectural ensemble in Oranienbaum is associated with this name. An Italian by birth, he came to Russia at the invitation of K. G. Razumovsky. Here he lived for many years, gaining a second homeland on Russian soil.
It is no exaggeration to say that the Chinese Palace, along with other priceless monuments of those times, belongs to the recognized masterpieces of Russian architecture. This is a unique building that deserves detailed study. The name that received the Chinese
Palace (St. Petersburg), conditionally. The exterior of the building has nothing to do with Chinese architecture. Only in some rooms were decorative Chinese motifs used, rather freely interpreted. A huge collection of Chinese art and Japanese porcelain was assembled in the palace. In part, this collection has survived to this day.
Architectural features
The Chinese Palace (Oranienbaum) is a relatively small, slightly elongated building that looks a bit like a summer park pavilion. It is surrounded by a low panel of stone slabs and a decorative cast-iron grating. Two small ground gardens are located in front of the facade. They are organically integrated into the general composition of the structure and, according to the architect's plan, have become an integral part of it.
The same role is played by huge centuries-old oaks, which were specially planted when laying the building: they seem to connect it with a large park. The middle part of the structure is slightly overpriced; it is its compositional center. The facades are decorated with pilasters. Glazed doors and windows are decorated with stucco frames.
Palace changes
The Chinese palace was initially one-story. Only in the overstated part of it (from the southern facade) was there one or two rooms upstairs that did not have a decorative finish.
The second floor above the ledges (risalits) of the southern facade was made by A. I. Shtakenschneider in the late 40s of the XIX century. Somewhat later, he added to the eastern part of the building an annex with one room - the Big Anticamera, which adjoined the Hall of Muses.
In 1853, L. Bonstedt made the same extension to the western wing of the building, and also reconstructed the center of the southern facade. Here he created a glazed gallery.
The internal structure of the palace
The Chinese Palace (Lomonosov) was created in such a way that its appearance, the combination of volumes, proportions and proportions of the individual parts determine the location of the interior. All of them had different purposes.
The palace plan is symmetrical and compositionally balanced. It is characterized by an enfilade system - interiors interconnected are on the same axis. The center of symmetry is the Great Hall. It has a height of 8.5 meters. Typically, such ceremonial halls, sometimes called Italian, play an important role as an organizing link in the layout of the palace.
On both sides of the hall are Lilac and Blue living rooms, as well as cabinets (Small Chinese and Bugle). Enfilade is completed by the Hall of Muses and the Great Chinese Cabinet.
Architectural style
The Chinese Palace (Lomonosov) was built when Russian architecture was in transition. Decorative techniques, actively used in the 50s of the 18th century, ceased to satisfy the artistic requirements, and the emerging classicism was not yet completely formed in architecture.
In the appearance of the facades of the palace, the features of this transition period are very bright. The decorativeness and excessive splendor inherent in the previous buildings gave way here to the simplicity and laconicism of the artistic decoration. This is more characteristic of developing classicism.
The Chinese palace was built and decorated by talented craftsmen of that time - sculptors, mosaicists, marble workers, SUVs, gilders, wood carvers and others.
Parquet
Photos of the Chinese Palace can often be seen in glossy magazines not only in Russia but also abroad. Its luxurious decoration is of interest to many generations of scholars of Russian art.
I would like to talk about the unique parquet floors of the museum. 772 square meters of parquet collected from many domestic and foreign wood species. Among them are pink, red, lemon and ebony, amaranth, rosewood and boxwood, oak and Persian walnut and many others. In some rooms there are up to fifteen species.
Wooden planks were glued in the form of different patterns on separate panels. Then small patterns were burned or cut out. Each room had its own special parquet pattern, which was tied to the rest of the interior. Parquet floors are very valuable. In their plan and manner of execution, they have no equal in our country.
Painting
The Chinese palace is organically decorated with the most valuable examples of decorative painting. Numerous panels, wall paintings, plafonds occupy an important place in its interiors. Their value is difficult to overestimate. The collection of plafonds stored here is notable for its high craftsmanship. There is no such collection in any of the surviving Russian palaces.
To design the halls and rooms, first-class works of applied and fine art were purchased. Most of the plafonds that were painted on canvas were made in Venice by a group of famous painters of the Academy of Fine Arts.
Palace after the revolution
After 1917, the Chinese Palace became a museum. Everyone was able to visit it. It became possible scientifically sound restoration, as well as competent storage of his artistic values. In the period from 1925 to 1933, serious work was carried out to restore decorative painting.
Glass Palace Cabinet of the Chinese Palace
This room is rightfully considered the most famous rest of the palace. The glass cabinet has retained the authentic decoration of the 60s of the XVIII century. Its walls are decorated with priceless panels. These are the canvases on which the exquisite embroidery of glass beads was made.
This material was produced at a mosaic factory in the vicinity of Oranienbaum, which was founded by the great scientist M.V. Lomonosov. Against the background of glass beads, fleecy silk (chenille) embroidered compositions depicting fantastic birds against a backdrop of a picturesque landscape. For a long time, researchers believed that the panels were made in France. However, evidence has now appeared that they were made by nine Russian women of gold embroidery. The panels are framed with gilded carvings. They imitate tree trunks twined with flowers, leaves and clusters of grapes.
Gilded frames have a length of 3 meters 63 centimeters and a width of about one and a half meters. Some frames complement dragon figures. The game of gilding is very expressive due to the depth of the relief, which reaches 18 centimeters.
Lower garden
This is an outstanding example of landscape art. It is part of the complex of the Grand Palace. In the center of the garden, parterres with numerous and rather rare flowers were broken. They are surrounded by rows of maples, lindens and firs. In addition, fruit trees were planted here - cherries, apple trees, etc. The garden is decorated with fountains and sculptures.
Upper park
This park is conditionally divided into two parts. In its eastern part is the Petershtadt complex, and in its western part is its own cottage complex. The current appearance of the Upper Park was created at the beginning of the XIX century. Particularly attractive to him are bridges that fit seamlessly into his landscape, as well as architectural structures.
When can I visit the palace?
This information is necessary for everyone who is going to visit the Chinese Palace. Opening hours: from 10.30 to 19.00. Museum employees relax on Monday.