Empress Catherine the Great, a woman of grand visions, desired a retreat from the bustling court life. She found it here, at the Ruins of the English Palace in Peterhof. The English Palace, also known as the New Peterhof Palace, was Catherine’s vision brought to life by the architect Giacomo Quarenghi. Construction began in 1781. It took 15 years to complete the English Palace. The palace’s neoclassical design, a breath of fresh air amidst the baroque splendor of Peterhof, reflected Catherine’s progressive tastes. Its location in the English Park, designed by James Meader, further enhanced its secluded charm. Can you imagine the palace in its heyday? A grand rectangular edifice with a Corinthian portico, a Palladian masterpiece. The western facade boasted a six-column loggia, while granite lined the ground floor. The main entrance, with its wide granite staircase leading to the mezzanine and the eight-column portico, exuded a sense of imperial grandeur. The English Palace wasn’t just a place of aesthetic beauty. It housed an art gallery, showcasing portraits of European monarchs. It also hosted diplomatic guests and witnessed grand events like concerts and charity balls. Sadly, the English Palace’s glory was short-lived. Catherine’s son, Paul I, converted the palace into barracks. Though later restored by Alexander I, its ultimate fate was sealed during World War II. The German army, in their retreat, blew up the palace in 1942. The Soviets, rather than restoring the damaged English Palace, later demolished it with dynamite. Today, only the cellars and basement remain, a poignant reminder of what once was. A monument stands on the ruins, a silent tribute to Quarenghi’s first major Russian commission, Catherine’s dream, and a lost architectural gem.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to