Yusupov Palace (94 Moika River Embankment)

Categories / Architecture/Architectural Monuments/Palaces
YUSUPOV PALACE (94 Moika River Embankment), a monument of Neoclassical architecture. In the mid-18th century, the lot belonged to P.I. Shuvalov, and a small two-storied stone house standing on it, was extended and expanded by architect J.V. Vallin de la Mothe, who placed a six-column portico in the centre of the main facade, and the third storey was designed as an attic. The original planning was changed in the 19th century. In the 1830s, architect A.A. Mikhailov built a wing on the side of the Moika River, which had a hall with white columns on the second floor. Ceremonial halls occupied the whole second floor. Red and Blue drawing-rooms, a Dance hall and others had been beautifully decorated. In the second half of the 19th century, the decorative ornamentation of home theatre, front staircase and other rooms were changed. In the early 20th century, the rooms of the first floor were decorated in Neoclassical style (artist N.A. Tyrsa, V.M. Konashevich, S.V. Chekhonin). In the early 1830s, the palace was bought by Prince N.B. Yusupov and until 1917, it was the family property. On the night on 17 December 1916, G.E. Rasputin was killed in Yusupov Palace (Prince F.F. Yusupov-Sumarokov-Elston, Grand Prince Dmitry Pavlovich, V. M. Purishkevich, A.S. Sukhotin and S.S. Lazavert participated in the plot against the so-called “monk”). In 1919-25, the palace became a museum, then the House of Education Workers (Teacher's House), today Cultural Centre of Education Workers. During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45, there was a hospital located in the palace. The building suffered damage from bombardment and air raids. In 1945-55, recovery and restoration work was carried out. In 1958, Yusupov Palace was damaged by a fire, subsequently reconstructed in 1959-78. In 1987, a Chamber Music Theatre was opened in the palace theatre and a museum exhibit dedicated to the history of the palace was created. See illustration on p. 986.

Reference: Юсуповский дворец: История рода, усадьбы и коллекции: [Сб.]. СПб., 2002.

O. A. Chekanova. Chekhonin Sergey Vasilievich
Dmitry Pavlovich, Grand Prince
Konashevich Vladimir Mikhailovich
Lazavert S.S.
Mikhaylov Alexander Alexeevich
Purishkevich Vladimir Mitrofanovich
Rasputin Grigory Efimovich
Shuvalov Peter Ivanovich, Count
Sukhotin A.S.
Tyrsa Nikolay Andreevich
Vallin de la Mothe Jean Baptiste Michel
Yusupov Felix Felixovich, Duke
Yusupov Nikolay Borisovich, Duke
Moika River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 94
Юсуповский дворец: История рода, усадьбы и коллекции: [Сб.]. СПб., 1999 1916