Catherine Palace: Russia’s Homage to Great Queens

Seen from the garden, Catherine Palace’s façade strictly conforms to classicist standards in its basic design, from its symmetry and proportions to the shapes of its columns, windows, and doors. Even at a distance, it stands out as a highly decorative interpretation of classicism. Mistervlad/Sutterstock

In 1710, Tsar Peter the Great gave land now occupied by the town of Pushkin, south of St. Petersburg, as a gift to his wife, Catherine. The development of the property was initially slow. Thirteen years passed before the first home on the estate—a modest 16-room country house—was even built. But by the end of the 1700s, it had grown to more than 10 times its original size and had become one of Russia’s most magnificent architectural works.

The development of the Catherine Palace took place in three stages. The first two occurred during the reign of Tsarina Elizabeth I and the third during that of Catherine the Great.

During the first of these periods (1744–1748), the palace more than doubled in size. Additions included two wings, four galleries, a chapel, and a conservatory hall. Largely designed by Mikhail Zemtsov, Russia’s first professionally trained native architect, its aesthetic was probably the subdued Dutch and Scandinavian baroque.

The second period (1751–1756) saw the most important developments. Over the course of five years, architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli transformed the palace into a model of Italian baroque and rococo splendor. Extensive additions, combined with the new styles of several nearby buildings, brought it almost to its current size. Much of its decoration also dates from this period, including gold gilding, panels of amber, Coromandel lacquer, white columns, and the palace’s many paintings and sculptures.

Catherine the Great’s reign saw the last significant changes. Aside from moderate expansion, these mainly involved a stylistic shift towards classicism. Interior renovations created several new rooms: the Arabesque Room, the Blue Room, and the Chinese Room. The south façade was renovated, and the exterior walls were changed from gold to blue.

The result was exemplary of Russian high architecture, combining an ornate interior and an exterior of sober classicist design and bright Russian color.

Blue walls trimmed with white and gold create a vibrantly colorful appearance typical of Russian architecture. Two marble statues in the dramatic Italian Baroque style seem perfectly at home against that background. The intermittent gold decorations seen farther down the first story wall are statues of Apollo. Mistervlad/Sutterstock

In front of the second of the three stories at the center of the palace is a balcony covering the porch, which leads to the main entrance. At the very top of the building is a massive carved crown above a shield with a coat-of-arms and four carved flags. Popova Valeriya/Shutterstock

Among the intricate carvings and gold gilding, statues can be seen above the columns and in front of the windows above the door. Behind the door and window is another room in the palace. Mirrors on either side of the door reflect windows on two of the room’s other walls. Mitzo/Shutterstock

An authentic reconstruction of the Amber Room is sometimes known as “the Eighth Wonder of the World.” The walls are of intricately carved amber and gold. Golden statues can be seen not just on the upper parts of the wall but also at the top of the slim mirrors. Gilmanshin/Shutterstock

The Green Dining Room was used for the royal family’s private meals. Walls in a medium shade of green combined with white and pink for the fireplace, sculptures, other decorative features, and trim create a soft and domestic atmosphere. KVN1777/Shutterstock

The ballroom is among the most ornate in the Catherine Palace. With its many windows and extensive gold gilding to reflect light, it's easily illuminated by sunlight during Russia’s long summer days. On the ceiling is a large allegorical fresco “The Triumph of Russia" by Giuseppe Valeriani. Kirk Fisher/Shutterstock

Just outside Catherine Palace in the estate’s impressive gardens is the Cameron Gallery. Its basic design is modeled on ancient Roman bathhouses. Unlike the palace, it reflects a Palladian interpretation of classicism with its austere, largely unadorned exterior and simple coloring. Mistervlad/Sutterstock

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