Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace

Categories / Architecture/Architectural Monuments/Palaces
BELOSELSKY-BELOZERSKY PALACE (41 Nevsky Prospect), an architectural monument of the Eclectic style. Reconstructed from an 18th century Neoclassical residence in 1799-1800 for Princess A.G. Beloselskaya-Belozerskaya (architect F.I. Demertsov). After the death of the owner's son, his widow Elizaveta Pavlovna (nee Bibikova) married Prince V.V. Kochubey and reconstructed the palace again (1847-48, architect A.I. Stakenschneider, sculptor D.I. Jensen). The facades are decorated in the style of Elizabethan Baroque of the 18th century (prototype, Stroganovsky Palace). Porticoes of three-quarter columns and Corinthian order pilasters, segmental frontons with cartouches, Baroque architraves and atlantes' figures give the building splendour and magnificence. Richly decorated interiors (stairs, front enfilade, foyer, concert hall, church) present Baroque and Rococo styles. In 1884, Prince K.E. Beloselsky-Belozersky sold the palace to Grand Prince Sergey Alexandrovich. Following that, a number of architects were involved in the renovation of interiors (among them R.F. Meltzer). In 1905, Grand Princess Elizaveta Fedorovna, having becoming a nun, willed the palace to her nephew, Grand Prince Dmitry Pavlovich, who sold it in 1917. Soon afterwards, the building was nationalized. From 1920, it housed the District Committee of the Communist Party. During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45, the palace was badly damaged. In 1949, it was reconstructed, and in 1954, its interiors were restored. As of 1991, the Municipal Cultural Centre has been located in the building.

Reference: Цельядт М. П. Дворец Белосельских-Белозерских. СПб., 1996.

S. V. Boglachev. Beloselskaya-Belozerskaya Anna Grigorievna, Duchess
Beloselsky-Belozersky Konstantin Esperovich, Duke
Bibikova Elizaveta Pavlovna
Demertsov Fedor Ivanovich
Dmitry Pavlovich, Grand Prince
Elizaveta Fedorovna, Grand Princess
Jensen David Ivanovich
Kochubey Viktor Pavlovich, Duke
Meltzer Roman (Robert-Friedrich) Fedorovich
Sergey Alexandrovich, Grand Prince
Stakensсhneider Andrey Ivanovich
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city, house 41
Цельядт М. П. Дворец Белосельских-Белозерских. СПб., 1996 Stroganov Palace
1848