Anichkov Palace

Categories / Architecture/Architectural Monuments/Palaces
ANICHKOV PALACE (39 Nevsky Prospect), monument of Baroque architecture. Built in 1741-54 (architect M.G. Zemtsov, G.D. Dmitriev, F. Rastrelli) near Anichkov Bridge (hence the name). The front facade faces Fontanka River, from which a canal with a harbour led to the palace. The first owner of the Anichkov Palace was Count A.G. Razumovsky (see Razumovsky Family); in 1776 the palace was given to Prince G.A. Potemkin. In 1778-79, architect I.E. Starov reissued it and reconstructed the facades in Neoclassical style (the northern facade is emphasized by pilasters of composite order). The interior has preserved its Neoclassical decoration. A regular garden (gardener V. Guld) with pavilions, summer houses and statues adjoined the house. From 1751, Anichkov Palace had the Cathedral of the Renewal of the Jerusalem Holy Resurrection Temple (from 1817, St. Alexander Nevsky Church). In 1793, Anichkov Palace was bought by the treasury; architect E.T. Sokolov renovated it as a study of His Imperial Highness. In 1803-06, architect G. Quarenghi had built along Nevsky Prospect so-called Cabinet corps, decorated with Ionic colonnade. In 1809, Emperor Nicholas II presented the Anichkov Palace to his sister Grand Princess Catherine Pavlovna, at the same time architect L.I. Rusca designed the facade apartments, built outbuildings and stables anew. In 1817, Anichkov Palace passed into possession of Grand Prince Nikolay Pavlovich (the future Emperor Nicholas I), and C.I. Rossi, redecorated the building, built garden pavilions (statues - sculptor S.S. Pimenov) and the cast iron fence. Until 1860, the palace belonged to Nicholas I and his spouse; from 1865, it was in possession of Grand Prince Alexander Alexandrovich (future Emperor Alexander III), during whose reign architects E.I. Gibert, I.A. Monighetti and M.E. Messmacher redecorated the interiors in the style of Eclecticism. In 1894-1917, the dowager Empress Maria Fedorovna lived in the palace. In 1918-34, the palace housed the City Museum, and after its reconstruction (1936-37, architect A.I. Gegello and D.L. Krichevsky) it became the Palace of Pioneers (today, Palace of Youth Creativity).

Reference: Аксельрод В. И., Буланкова Л. П. Аничков дворец- легенды и были. СПб., 1996.

S. V. Boglachev. Abaza Alexander Aggeevich
Alexander I, Emperor
Alexander III, Emperor
Alexander Nevsky, Duke
Axelrod Vladimir Ilyich
Dmitriev Grigory Dmitrievich
Ekaterina Pavlovna, Grand Princess
Gegello Alexander Ivanovich
Gibert Ernest Ivanovich
Guld William
Krichevsky David (Daniil) Lvovich
Maria Fedorovna, Empress
Messmacher Maximilian Egorovich
Monighetti Ippolito Antonovich
Nicholas I, Emperor
Pimenov Stepan Stepanovich
Potemkin Grigory Alexandrovich, Gracious Prince of Tauride
Quarenghi Giacomo
Rastrelli Francesco de
Razumovsky Alexey Grigorievich, Count
Rossi Carl Ivanovich (Carlo Giovanni)
Rusca Luigi (Aloisy Ivanovich)
Sokolov Egor Timofeevich
Starov Ivan Egorovich
the Razumovskys
Zemtsov Mikhail Grigorievich
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city, house 39
Аксельрод В. И., Буланкова Л. П. Аничков дворец - легенды и были. СПб., 1996 Palace for Young Creativity
1741
1754
1937