State Museum Complex "Peterhof"

Expositions

Peterhof founded in the very beginning of the XVIII century by the emperor Peter I near the new capital - St. Petersburg, became one of the most magnificent summer imperial residences and a peculiar triumphal monument of a successful conclusion of fight of Russia for an exit to the Baltic Sea. Regular Upper garden and Lower park were laid out, the Grand palace and some "small" palaces and pavilions were built, the world's largest system of fountains and water cascades was created, the most part of sculptural furniture was created to the middle of the 20th years of the XVIII century.

Visit the only museum in Russia, devoted to history of playing cards in Peterhof. It is located in the building of the former Palace board constructed in the end of the XVIII century. More than 8 thousand exhibits are presented in six halls of the museum. There are items of visual art and of arts and crafts representing the game and its attributes or related to it directly, and also unique in its content library except playing cards.

The center of the Peterhof ensemble composition is the Grand Palace - the “crown” summer residence of Russian emperors

A magnificent three-storey building with galleries and shining giled domes of the Church and the building under the Coat of Arms - stretches along the terrace for almost three hundred meters. The general idea of the location and initial appearance of the "Upper (Hilltop) Сhambers" belonged to Peter I.

During the XVIII and XIX centuries, such prominent Russian and Western European masters as I.-F. Braunstein, J.-B. Leblon, N. Miketti, M. Zemtsov, F.-B. Rastrelli, A.I. Shtakenschneider worked on the creation of the architectural appearance of the palace and on the design of its many chambers. As in past centuries, and now, guests of Peterhof never cease to admire the magnificence of the interiors of the Grand Palace.

In the Petrovsky part of the palace, the Oak Study of the first Russian emperor was preserved. The main element of the decoration of this small but cozy privy chamber are oak carved panels created during the life of Peter I by the talented French sculptor Nicolas Pinault. Here are the personal belongings of Peter I, among which his carriage clock are the work of the German master Johann Benner.

In the middle of the 18th century, during the reign of the daughter of Peter I, Elizabeth Petrovna, the famous architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the excellent master of the Baroque style, created in Peterhof. The interiors created by the genius of Rastrelli are characterized by an abundance of gilded wooden carvings, typeset parquet from different breeds of valuable wood, the variety of mirrors and picturesque plafonds on the ceilings. The entire western wing of the palace is occupied by the Dance Hall or as it was called in the XVIII century, the Merchant Hall. There is a legend that Elizaveta Petrovna specifically demanded that Rastrelli make the room richer: "as much as possible to gild ...". The fact is that this hall was intended for the court of eminent merchants, according to the Empress, who loved gold.

In the second half of the 18th century, redesigning of the interiors of the Grand Palace took place in the fashionable classicism style. Architects J.M. Felten, J.B. Wallen-Delamot draw up in the 1760-1770-ies such interiors as the Chesme, Throne and Dining Halls and Chinese cabinets.

The result of 200 years of the construction is a palace in which, next to the chambers of the Petrine era, the baroque halls of the middle of the 18th century shine with its gilt, and solemn and austere apartments of the period of classicism adjacent to them, replace by the chambers of the middle of the 19th century, reviving the basic arts principles of Rococo. The Grand Peterhof Palace was the summer center of the official life of the Russian Empire. Many important events for the country took place here such as holidays, balls and masquerades.

Today the Grand Palace is a unique historical and art museum, the collection of which totals about three and a half thousand exhibits. These are pieces of furniture, painting, fabrics, lighting, porcelain that cater for the tastes of the royal owners of the Palace

State Museum Complex "Peterhof"

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Expositions