The Dickinson press., 1889-07-27
RUsslA's BIG BARN..
The Winter Palace Considered from a
Artistic Point of View.

The Winter Palace Considered from an
Artistic Point of View.
The initiative Of the Russians in art and in
civilization is limited. Hitherto they have
displayed greater aptitude for copying than
for original conception, and even for their
copies they have had recourse to western art
lists, particularly to western architects like
Quarenshi, Rossi and Count Rastrelli. The
last is responsible both for tho outside and
the inside of the Winter palace.
This enormous structure was beeuni In 1852.
finished in l7G2, partly burned in 1887, but
rebuilt in 1889 from the original drawings.
1t is Il broad, rectangular block, four stories
or about 50 feet high, with a frontage AS
feet i'll length and a breadth of So feet, one
facade parallel with the Neva, another look.
ing toward the Admiralty, the third facing
the vast Alexander place, and the fourth
blindl facade backing up to the adjoining
Hermitage palace, with which it communi.
Gates by means of a covered bridge.
The proportions of this palace are not com.
mendablc; the style of architecture is very
bonibastic rocco; the decoration is over.
charged with statues, caryatidcs, flower pots,
grenades, and trumpcry accessories; the CHEAP
stucco surface of its facades-mercilcssly
broken up by pilasters, water spouts, and
windows, so that the ego nowhere finds re-
posc-is washed with a brownish red terra
Gotta color picked out with a lighter tone of
yellow, The iron roof is painted red. The
outside of this palace is absolutely without
charm or merit of any kind; its only claim to
notice is its immensely, which, by tho way,
according to Russian notions, is a very CON
siderable claim.
The interior is a saddcning example of the
bad taste which seems to characterize crowned
heads OF all nations, whether the Russian
car, the Turkish sultan, the German emperor
or the British sovereign. The characterization
is for the most part in rampageous ~rocaille
style, bright FURNISHED gold on whitcwash or
white imitation marble. Our pen absolutely
refuses to describe the sham splendor of the
imperial apartments, with their modern
French polished furniture and vile wood
carving, their massive screens glazed with
purple glass, their wall %hangings of yellow
and white or rose and green satin.
The malachito room, the Pompeiian room,
the Maurcsque bath room, likewise failed to
transport us with admiration. Tho corner
that pleased us best was Peter the Greats
throne room, whose walls were hung with soft
red velvet embroidered with golden eagles.
The st. Georges Hall, a parallelogram, l4O
feet by 60 feet, adorned with Corinthian col
umns of real white marble with gilt bases
and capitals, is also a fine room, perhaps tho
finest in the whole palace. Tho White Hall,
the Golden Hall, and tho Nicholas Hall are
chillinsly white show rooms, which require
tho animation of the court ceremonies and
balls and the glitter of lights and diamonds
in order to give them u picturesque interest.
Finally We may notice the state entrance to
the palace from tho Ncva Quay, called the
Ambassadors Stairs, of white Carrara mar
BILE, and the vestibule, richly decorated and
gildcd with Renaissance ornaments and stat
uary This staircase and tho st. Georges
Hall are the only two parts of the Winter
Palace that present an aspect of real gran
deur INT majesty. Child in Har.
pcr's Magazine.