Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-07-14
usSSNNlLx~
z:xi1Y eagle
RUSSlA'S BIG BARN.
Ehe Winter Palace Considered from an
Artfst1c Point of Hie~.


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
isz, particularly TO western architects Ike
Quarenghi Rosi and Count Rastrelh- The
last Is responsible both fer the outside and
the inside Of the Winter palace
This enormous structure was begun in l1S2,
finished in 1762, partly burned in 1887, but
rebuilt in 1889 from the original drawings.
Il Is broad, rectangular block, four stores
or about 50 feet high, with frontage 40
feet in iergth and breadth Of $50 feet, one
facade parslisl with the Neva, another LOOK
ing toward the Admiralty, the third facing
the vast Alexander place, and the fourth
blind facade backing up TO the adjoining
Hermitage palace, with which 1t conmunl-
Gates by means Of covered bridge.
The proportions Of this palace are not COM
nendable; the style Of architecture Is very
bombastic 100000; the decoration Is over
charged with statues, caryatides, flower pots,
grenades, and truupery accessories; the cheap
st1coo surface OF its facades-mercilessly
broken up by pIasters, water spouts, and
windows, so that tie eye nowhere finds re-
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 Us immensely, which, by the way,
according to Russian notions, Is very con-
siderable claim
The interior Ia saddenfng 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 ornamentatlon
is for the most part in rampageous rocalue
style, bright FURNISHED gold on whitewash or
white imitation marble Our pen absolutely
refuses 70 describe the sham splendor CT 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 malachite room, the Pompeiian room,
the Na1iresque bath room, Likewise failed 70
transport Us with admiration The 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, paralelogram, 40
feet by % feet, adorned with Corinthian col
urnns Of real white marble with gilt bases
and capitals. is also a fine room, perhaps the
finest In the whole palace. The White Hall,
the Golden Hall, and the Nicholas Hall are
chilingiy white show rooms, which require
the animation Of the court ceremonies and
balls and the glitter Of lights and diamonds
In order 10 give them picturesque interest.
Finally we may notice the state entrance TO
the palace from the Neva Quay, called the
Anbassadors' Stairs, Of white Csrrara mar
bic, and the vestibule, richly decorated and
silded with Renaissance ornaments and stat
uary. This staircase and the st. Georges
Hall are the only two parts Of the Winter
Palace that present an aspect Of real gran
deur and nateSty.-Theodore Child in Har-
per's Magazine.