Mariinsky Palace

Categories / Architecture/Architectural Monuments/Palaces
MARIINSKY PALACE (6 St. Isaac's Square), an architectural monument of late Neoclassicism. It was constructed in 1839-1844 (architect A.I. Stakensсhneider) on the left bank of the Moika River, close to the Siny Bridge, for the daughter of Emperor Nicholas I - Grand Princess Maria Nikolaevna (1819-1876; married name Duchess von Leuchtenberg). The first floor of the main facade is finished with a dummy joint, the second and the third floors are united with Corinthian columns and pilasters. The central corbel is adorned with a high attic; the sides are with three-angled pediments. The doorway is decorated with an open arcade supporting the balcony. Halls enfilade is located along the central axis and opens with the reception hall, leading to two-tired rotunda with 32 columns, covered with a light cupola; the next are the Square hall and the Winter garden (in 1906-1907 it was rebuilt as an assembly-room of the State Council, architect L.N. Benois, M.M. Peretyatkovich). The interiors of the Mariinsky Palace were created by sculptor D. Jensen, artists A. Vigi, I. Drollinger and others, the home church was decorated to Count G.G. Gagarin's design. In the 18th century on this very place the Palace of Count I.G. Chernyshev (1762-1768, architect J. B. Vallin de la Mothe) stood; then the building was owned by Prince Conde and others. In 1825-1839, it accommodated the School of Guards Ensigns and Cavalry Cadets, where in 1832-1834 M. Y. Lermontov studied. In 1884, the Mariinsky Palace was bought by the government and accommodated the State Council, State chancellery, the Cabinet (later Council of Ministers). On 7 May 1901, the meeting in honour of centenary of State Council was held in the rotunda of the Mariinsky Palace, this occasion was depicted on I. E. Repin's picture (now in the State Russian Museum). On 2 April 1902, in the entrance hall of the Mariinsky Palace the socialist-revolutionary S.V. Balmashev shot the Minister of International Affairs D.S. Sipyagin. In March - July of 1917, the Mariinsky Palace served as a residence for the Provisional Government, from October 1917, the Supreme National Economic Development Council functioned there. From the summer of 1918 in the Mariinsky Palace different Soviet establishments were quartered, in the 1930s the Leningrad Industrial Academy was located here. During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45, a hospital worked in the palace; the building suffered damage from artillery fire and air raids. In 1945, after restoration the Mariinsky Palace housed the Leningrad Soviet. In the 1960s-70s a comprehensive reconstruction of the interiors was carried out. The Mariinsky Palace is now the seat of the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly.

References: Белякова З. И. Мариинский дворец. СПб., 1996; Петров Г. Ф. Дворец у Синего моста: Мариинский дворец в С.-Петербурге. СПб., 2001.

S. V. Boglachev. Balmashev Stepan Valerianovich
Benois Leonty Nikolaevich
Chernyshev Ivan Grigorievich, Count
Conde Lois Joseph de Bourbon, Prince
Drollinger Johann
Gagarin Grigory Grigorievich
Jensen David Ivanovich
Lermontov Mikhail Yurievich
Maria Nikolaevna, Grand Princess
Nicholas I, Emperor
Peretyatkovich Marian Marianovich
Repin Ilya Efimovich
Sipyagin Dmitry Sergeevich
Stakensсhneider Andrey Ivanovich
Vallin de la Mothe Jean Baptiste Michel
Vigi Antoniо
St.Isaac's Square/Saint Petersburg, city, house 6
Белякова З. И. Мариинский дворец. СПб., 1996
Петров Г. Ф. Дворец у Синего моста: Мариинский дворец в С.-Петербурге. СПб., 2001 State Assembly
State Chancellery
Provisional Government of 1917
Legislative Assembly
1844
1902