Architect of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg

The architecture of the northern capital of Russia is replete with world-famous names. Here, for the sake of the emperors and nobles, pillars such as Rossi, Quarenghi, Rastrelli, Montferrand, Felten, Trezzini and many others were created. Let's talk about the heritage of the great architect of St. Petersburg, the creator of the main facade of this remarkable city, the dominant of the Palace Square and the entire creative era of the so-called mature baroque in Russia. Speech, of course, about the Winter. Let us disclose the name of its creator. This is the architect Rastrelli. The Winter Palace is not only the crown of the career of the famous architect, but also an architectural monument of the eighteenth century.

Carier start

The architect of the Winter Palace was born in Paris in 1700, and his father, an Italian sculptor, did much to develop the talent immediately noticed by his son. Having been educated in Paris, Rastrelli in 1716, along with the pope moved to Russia. Initially, the future architect of the Winter Palace worked as an assistant to his father, but in 1722 he began his own career in a new and often unfriendly country. Up to the year 30 he traveled a lot to Europe, mainly to Italy, Germany, France. The main purpose of these trips can be called training. During this time, he took a lot from European masters, having formed his own vision of the Baroque style, which did not slow to express itself in the first works that appeared in the 30s of the eighteenth century.

Early period

The future architect of the Winter Palace created several wooden buildings in Moscow in 1730, commissioned by Anna Ioannovna, who held the throne at that time. Soon after the empress moved from the capital to the northern capital, in 1732, Rastrelli took up the project of the Winter Palace, the third in a row, but not the last. In addition, during this period, two palaces for Biron were created. And his craving for baroque is more and more clearly formed in intricate and simultaneously large-scale projects of that time.

Palace in Peterhof

The heyday of Rastrelli's talent comes at the time of the rise of power of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. He receives official orders for major projects of national importance. The works of the master form the face of Russian and world architecture. Luxurious finish symbolizes the power and wealth of the empire. On the site of the current Engineering Castle, a new summer palace for the first lady of the state is growing. In the period from 1746 to 1755, thanks to the efforts of the architect, the Grand Peterhof Palace, now famous all over the world, rises . From 1752 to 1756 - no less famous Tsarskoe Selo Palace. World fame and mercy of the highest state elite come to him.

Tsarskoe Selo Palace

Big, or Catherine Palace, located in the Tsarskoe Selo, is generally a separate conversation. The world fame for the building was due to the incredible talent of the architect, who took up his erection. This is one of the most famous of his creations, leading the master to the crown of his entire heritage, after all, it was behind him that a masterpiece was created in which one of the world's richest museums is now located - the Winter Palace in Petersburg. The architect invested in him all his huge accumulated experience and maximum talent by that time, resulting in a building that millions of tourists visit to this day.

Winter Palace

So, the architect of the Winter Palace took up his construction in 1754. At this point, the master, already in the years and not only praised by the elite of world culture and politics, but also had time to get fed up with it, is building one of the most famous monuments of architecture of the so-called mature Baroque, which, by the way, is already outliving its time. The building was almost completely completed by 1762. This complex is really majestic. In terms of it it is a grand closed box with a courtyard. The facade overlooking the Palace Square is a work of art in its highest manifestation.

The splendor and true, the ceremonial designation of the structure is best emphasized. Obviously, this was the accent of the architect of the Winter Palace. Under Peter 1, for example, this pretentiousness was not paid any attention to the decoration, but Elizabeth, his daughter, loved luxury, and constantly surrounded herself with herself, including in architecture.

And Winter is all in it. Both facades (and the one that goes to the embankment and the one on Palace Square) are magnificent in the harmony and richness of decoration, luxury, obsessively telling that Russian emperors are used to the very best. That is why so many people are still flocking to Petersburg to personally see these magnificent exteriors and interiors created more than two centuries ago.

Last years

It should be mentioned that around the same time an equally important monument of the architecture of the era was created. The famous Smolny Cathedral was built in 1748-1764. As you know, Catherine, who ascended the throne in 1762, did not like the pretentiousness of mature baroque architecture. This did not delay to affect the position of the power-treated maestro. At first he simply resigned, and then went to Switzerland at all, and did not wait until the end of the construction of his last brainchild - the Smolny Cathedral. Rastrelli died in 1771, according to one testimony - in Switzerland, on the other - in Russia. This uncertainty only adds a secret to the already legendary career of the famous creator of the imperial facades and interiors of St. Petersburg.

Nevertheless, so, ingloriously enough, the famous architect of the Winter Palace finished his days, when Peter began his great creative path, and when Catherine completed it. But his creations are still surprising. And, despite everything, the name of the architect of the Winter Palace remains in the centuries one of the greatest.