The northern capital is famous for its abundance of architectural attractions: Yusupov Palace , Winter Palace, Anichkov Palace and many others. One of them is the Mikhailovsky Palace, located in the center of St. Petersburg, at: Engineering Street, 2-4 (Gostiny Dvor / Nevsky Prospekt metro station). Now it houses the State Russian Museum.
History of creation
The Mikhailovsky Palace dates back to the end of the 18th century. January 28, 1798 in the family of the reigning Emperor Paul I and his wife Maria Feodorovna was born the fourth son - the Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich. Immediately after the birth, Paul I ordered the annual collection of funds for the construction of the residence of his youngest son Michael.
His idea was never put into practice by the emperor. In 1801, Paul I died as a result of the palace coup. However, the order was executed by Brother Paul I, Emperor Alexander I, who ordered the construction of the palace. As the architect of the Mikhailovsky Palace, the illustrious Charles Ivanovich Rossi was invited. Subsequently, for his work, he received the Order of St. Vladimir of the third degree and a plot of land for the construction of the house at the expense of the state treasury. In the team with Rossi worked sculptors V. Demut-Malinovsky, S. Pimenov, artists A. Vigi, P. Scotti, F. Briullov, B. Medici, carvers F. Stepanov, V. Zakharov, marble designer J. Schennikov, furniture makers I. Bowman, A. Tour, V. Bokov.
The project of the ensemble of the Mikhailovsky Palace consisted not just in the reorganization of the existing building - Chernyshev's house, but in the creation of a single urban architectural space. The project also touched upon the palace (the main building and side wings act as a whole), and the square in front of it (Mikhaylovskaya Square), and two streets - Engineering and Mikhailovskaya (new streets connected Mikhailovsky Palace with Nevsky Prospekt). According to the architectural style, the Mikhailovsky Palace belongs to the heritage of high classicism - the Empire style.
The architect began work in 1817, the laying was carried out on July 14, 1819, construction began on July 26. Construction work was completed in 1823, and finishing - in 1825. After lighting the palace on August 30, 1825, Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich moved here with his family.
Interiors of the Mikhailovsky Palace
In the interior of the palace were included personal quarters (six rooms) of the Grand Duke, guest rooms, court apartments, kitchens, utility rooms, library, front, reception, living room, study, main staircase.
White Hall - the pride of the emperor
From the garden on the second floor of the Mikhailovsky Palace was built the White Hall. The model of the hall was presented to the English King Henry IV due to its impressive design. In the times of Mikhail Pavlovich, the palace was the center of social life of the Russian nobility.
Further history of the palace
After the death of the Grand Duke the palace passed to his widow, Elena Pavlovna. The Grand Duchess spent at the residence meetings of public figures, writers, scientists, politicians. Here, the pressing issues of the reforms and reforms of the 1860s were discussed. For Ekaterina Mikhailovna, who inherited the palace after her mother's death, the eight-room apartment and the Front door were erected in the Manege wing. New owners, the children of Ekaterina Mikhailovna, began to rent out the halls, an office was opened to recover the costs of maintaining the palace. Since the members of the family of Ekaterina Mikhailovna were foreign subjects, it was decided to redeem their Mikhailovsky Palace from them. After this transaction in 1895, the palace was abandoned by its former owners.
March 7, 1898 in the Mikhailovsky Palace was opened the Russian Museum. In 1910-1914, architect Leonty Nikolaevich Benois designed a new building for the exhibition of the museum collection. The Mikhailovsky Palace, named in honor of the creator "Benois's Corps", faced the Griboedov Canal with its facade. The construction of the building was completed after the First World War.
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