Mariinsky Palace
Mariniisky Palace | |
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Мариинский дворец | |
Andrei Stackensneider |
Mariinsky Palace (Russian: Мариинский дворец,
Location
The palace stands on the south side of Saint Isaac's Square, just across the Blue Bridge from Saint Isaac's Cathedral. The site had been previously owned by Zakhar Chernyshev, and contained his home designed by Jean-Baptiste Vallin, which was built between 1762 and 1768. Chernyshev occasionally lent his home to foreign dignitaries visiting the capital, such as Louis Henri, Prince of Condé.
From 1825 to 1839, the Chernyshev Palace, as it was then known, was the site of the Nicholas Cavalry College , where Mikhail Lermontov was known to have studied for two years. The palace was demolished in 1839, and materials were reused in the construction of the Mariinsky Palace.
Conception and style
The palace was conceived by
Although the reddish-brown facade is elaborately
State Council
The Mariinsky Palace returned to Imperial ownership in 1884, where it remained until 1917. During that period, the palace housed the State Council, Imperial Chancellery, and Committee of Ministers, which after 1905 became the Council of Ministers. The grand hall for the sessions of the State Council was designed by Leon Benois.
On April 15, 1902, Socialist Revolutionary Party member Stepan Balmashov assassinated the Minister of Internal Affairs, Dmitry Sipyagin, while the minister was between meetings at the palace.
In 1904, painter
Government use
The Russian Provisional Government took full possession of the palace in March 1917, and gave it over to the Provisional Council soon after. Following the October Revolution, the palace housed various Soviet ministries and academies. During the war with Germany, the palace was converted to a hospital, and was subject to intense bombing.
After the war, the palace became the residence of the
The palace has been the site of the Legislative Assembly of Saint Petersburg since 1994.
References
- Belyakova Z.I. Mariinsky dvorets. SPb, 1996.
- Petrov G.F. Dvorets u Sinego mosta: Mariinsky dvorets v Sankt-Petersburge. SPb, 2001.