Architect of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The architecture of the northern capital of Russia is replete with world famous names. Here, for the sake of the emperors and the nobility, such pillars as Rossi, Quarenghi, Rastrelli, Montferrand, Felten, Trezzini and many others worked. Let's talk about the legacy of the great architect of St. Petersburg, the creator of the main facade of this wonderful city, the dominant of Palace Square and the entire creative era of the so-called mature baroque in Russia. I'm talking, of course, about the Winter. Let's reveal the name of its creator. This is the architect Rastrelli. The Winter Palace is not only the crowning achievement of the famous architect, but also an architectural monument of the eighteenth century.

Career start

The architect of the Winter Palace was born in Paris in 1700, and his father, an Italian sculptor, put a lot of effort into developing the talent he immediately noticed in his son. Having been educated in Paris, Rastrelli moved to Russia in 1716 with his father. At first, the future architect of the Winter Palace worked as an assistant to his father, but in 1722 he began his own career in a new and often unfriendly country. Until the 1930s, he traveled a lot to Europe, mainlyto Italy, Germany, France. The main purpose of these trips can be called training. During this time, he adopted a lot from European masters, forming his own vision of the Baroque style, which was not slow to be expressed in the first works that appeared in the 30s of the eighteenth century.

Early period

The future architect of the Winter Palace created several wooden buildings in Moscow in 1730 by order of Anna Ioannovna, who held the throne at that time. Soon after the empress moved from the capital to the northern capital, in 1732, Rastrelli took on the project of the Winter Palace, the third in a row, but not the last. In addition, two palaces for Biron were created during this period. And his craving for baroque is becoming more and more distinct in the intricate and at the same time large-scale projects of that time.

Palace in Peterhof

The heyday of Rastrelli's talent falls on the time of the formation of the power of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. He receives official orders for major projects of national importance. In the creations of the master, the face of Russian and world architecture is formed. Luxurious decoration symbolizes the power and we alth of the empire. On the site of the current Engineer's Castle, a new summer palace for the first lady of the state is growing. In the period from 1746 to 1755, thanks to the efforts of the architect, the Great Peterhof Palace, now famous all over the world, rises. From 1752 to 1756 - no less famous Tsarskoye Selo Palace. World fame and mercy of the highest state elite come to him.

Tsarskoye Selo Palace

The Great, or Catherine's Palace, located in Tsarskoe Selo, is a separate story altogether. The building gained world fame precisely thanks to the incredible talent of the architect who undertook its construction. This is one of his most famous creations, which led the master to the crown of his entire heritage, because it was after him that a masterpiece was created, which now houses one of the richest museums in the world - the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. The architect put all his vast experience accumulated by that time and maximum talent into it, resulting in a building that millions of tourists still come to see to this day.

Winter Palace

So, the architect of the Winter Palace started its construction in 1754. At this moment, the master, already in his years and not only favored by the elite of world culture and politics, but also having had enough of it, is building one of the most famous architectural monuments of the so-called mature baroque, which, by the way, is already becoming obsolete. The building was almost completely completed by 1762. This complex is really majestic. In plan, it is a grandiose closed square with an inner courtyard. The facade overlooking the Palace Square is a work of art in its highest manifestation.

The splendor and true, ceremonial purpose of the building are perfectly emphasized. Obviously, for thisemphasized the architect of the Winter Palace. Under Peter 1, for example, no attention was paid to this pretentiousness of decoration, but Elizabeth, his daughter, loved luxury, and constantly surrounded herself with it, including in architecture.

And Winter is all about it. Both facades (both the one overlooking the embankment and the one overlooking the Palace Square) are magnificent in their harmony and richness of decoration, luxury, obsessively reporting that Russian emperors are accustomed to the very best. That is why so many people still flock to St. Petersburg to personally see these magnificent exteriors and interiors, created more than two centuries ago.

Recent years

It should be mentioned that around the same time an equally important architectural monument of the era was created. The famous Smolny Cathedral was built in 1748-1764. As you know, Catherine, who ascended the throne in 1762, did not like the pretentiousness of the mature baroque in architecture. This was not long in affecting the position of the maestro, favored by the authorities. At first, he simply resigned, and then completely went to Switzerland, without waiting for the completion of the construction of his last brainchild - the Smolny Cathedral. Rastrelli died in 1771, according to one evidence - in Switzerland, according to others - in Russia. This uncertainty only adds to the mystery of the already legendary career of the famous creator of the imperial facades and interiors of St. Petersburg.

Nevertheless, this is how, rather ingloriously, the famous architect of the Winter Palace ended his days, under Peter he began his great creative path, and under Catherine he completed it. But himcreations are amazing. And, in spite of everything, the name of the architect of the Winter Palace remains one of the greatest for centuries.