Shuvalovsky Palace
Shuvalov Palace, also known as the Naryshkin-Shuvalov Palace, is one of the most beautiful palaces in St. Petersburg. Its elegant appearance was formed in the 40s of the XIX century, incorporating architectural features of late classicism and neo-Renaissance. The palace, facing the Fontanka River, attracts citizens and guests of Northern Palmyra not only by its architectural merits, but also by the famous Fabergé Museum, which opened its doors in 2013.
Video: Shuvalov Palace
ContentsHighlights
The history of the Shuvalov Palace spans three centuries and is associated with the names of prominent members of the Russian aristocracy – the Vorontsovs, Naryshkins, and Shuvalovs. The restored palace interiors impress with their splendor and reflect the atmosphere of the luxurious lifestyle of its lordly owners. The former beauty of the house on the Fontanka River was revived by the “Link of Times” foundation established by businessman Viktor Vekselberg. His efforts were also used to create the museum fund, which included more than 4000 works of decorative, applied and fine arts. The core of the collection were masterpieces of the Russian jewelry firm Carl Fabergé, and the name of the founder of the famous workshop was given to the museum, opened within the walls of the palace.
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Viktor Vekselberg acquired the collection of unique pieces in 2004 from the heirs of Forbes magazine publisher Malcolm Forbes, who for more than half a century bought up royal treasures around the world. The Russian billionaire bought the entire collection without waiting for the auction. He told BBC journalists that it cost him about $100,000,000.
.The pride of the collection – 9 Easter eggs, presented at different times to Tsars Alexander III and Nicholas II. In terms of the number of these unique works of art, the Fabergé Museum is second only to the Armory, where 10 imperial Easter eggs are kept. Its halls also display similar items created by the jewelers of the famous firm for representatives of the world elite. The collection is rich in precious jewelry, accessories, and intricate trinkets from Fabergé that belonged to the royal family.
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The exhibition also includes works by contemporaries of the legendary master – jewelry, stone carvings, vases, enamel painting, icons, religious objects. The halls of the Shuvalov Palace are decorated with paintings by famous Russian and European artists.
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History of the palace
Construction of the palace on the Fontanka embankment began in the 80s of the XVIII century, when this piece of land belonged to the Count Vorontsov family. At that time, the left part of the building was erected – a mansion in the style of classicism with an 8-column portico. In 1799 it was bought from the Vorontsovs by Maria Naryshkina, the wife of Dmitry Naryshkin, the richest nobleman of the Catherine era. In the 20-ies of the century before last, a wing was added to the house on the Fontanka, which accommodated a “museum”, an art gallery and a huge ballroom with marble Corinthian columns. Between them were placed sculptural panels with the subjects of the Trojan epic. The plafond was decorated with monochrome paintings by Giovanni (Ivan) Scotti.
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Under the new owners, the palace became the most fashionable place in the capital of the empire. Here gave luxurious balls, concerts. Before the high society performed the famous orchestra Naryshkin, playing music on hunting horns. Diplomats, poets and writers, representatives of the royal family were regular guests of the festivities. Among the guests one could meet the autocrat Alexander I, whose favorite for almost 15 years was the mistress of the house – the dazzling beauty Maria Naryshkina. In 1834, on the day of adulthood of the future Emperor Alexander II, the palace hosted a famous ball and celebrations to which one and a half thousand people were invited.
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After Dmitry Naryshkin’s death in 1838, the palace was inherited by his nephew, Lev Alexandrovich. The building became part of the dowry of the new owner’s daughter Sophia Naryshkina, who in 1846 married Pyotr Shuvalov. Thus began a new, “Shuvalov’s” period in the life of the house on the Fontanka.
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Large-scale reconstruction of the palace was carried out both on the eve of the wedding of the future owners, and after it. During this period, both parts of the building were united by a common facade. It was executed in neo-Renaissance style according to the project of architect Nikolai Efimov. Architect Bernard Simon worked on the renovation of the palace interiors. His ideas were reflected in the design of the entrance hall, the grand staircase and the drawing rooms. The knight’s hall was decorated with paintings depicting scenes of martial arts; the Golden, Blue and Red Drawing Rooms were decorated with molding, carved and polished panels. Part of the luxurious decoration were art canvases purchased by the Naryshkins. The new owners continued to add to the art collection. Its curious component was the exquisite works of Limoges enamellers.
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The last owner of the Shuvalov Palace was the widowed Countess Elizaveta Shuvalova. After the Bolshevik coup, the aristocrat went into exile, and her capital residence was nationalized. Until 1925, the Museum of Noble Life hosted guests in the palace walls. Here the furnishings created by the last owners were preserved as much as possible, and citizens could admire the works of art that belonged to them. After the art collection was transferred to the Hermitage, the Palace became the home of the Press.
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Since the early 30s, for almost a decade, the house on the Fontanka River housed the DITR – House of Engineering and Technical Workers. Representatives of the working intelligentsia gathered there to play chess, tennis, billiards. In the Shuvalov Palace operated a movie theater, hunting club, and after sunset, as in the old days, there were organized dance parties. They were called dansingas. To the music played by the local jazz band, Soviet citizens dashingly danced the foxtrot, the Charleston and other “bourgeois” dances, until they were banned.
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At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the palace housed the headquarters of the air defense. In 1941, due to a direct hit from an incendiary bomb, a fire broke out here. The flames destroyed the wooden structures, the interiors were damaged, including the famous plafond. Immediately after the war it was restored, but the main restoration of the building was carried out only in the 60s. Soon the House of Friendship and Peace with Peoples of Foreign Countries was opened in the Shuvalov Palace.
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In 2006, the house on the Fontanka was leased to the Cultural and Historical Foundation “Link of Times”, founded by entrepreneur Viktor Vekselberg. Until 2013, the Shuvalovsky Palace underwent a large-scale reconstruction, after which the Fabergé Museum – Russia’s first private museum of federal significance – opened its doors.
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Shuvalov Palace today
The interior of the Shuvalov Palace has an area of 4,700 m². It is divided into 11 halls. The museum collections are housed on the 2nd floor, where a luxurious two-marched grand staircase with a wrought iron fence leads. In the niche between the central columns, a copy of the statue of Apollo of Belvedere, created in Italy in the XVIII century, draws attention. Dmitry Naryshkin bought this sculpture in Rome, paying for it, as they say, 10,000 rubles in gold.
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A unique collection of Easter eggs made by the masters of Carl Fabergé’s firm is on display in the Blue Room. It includes Easter eggs created for Russian emperors, European nobility, pendant eggs, and the surprise of the lost egg – a heart-shaped frame with three miniatures. Of special value are the very first imperial Easter egg “Chicken” (1885), eggs “Coronation” with a surprise carriage and “Order of St. George”. The latter was the only Imperial Easter egg that Empress Dowager Maria Feodorovna was able to take out of Russia.
.The Knights’ Hall, with bas-reliefs depicting iconic battles, displays war memorial items that were awarded to soldiers who distinguished themselves in battles. There are award cups, silver cigarette cases, ladles, cups, glasses, medallions.
.In the Knights’ and Exhibition Halls and in the Canteen are concentrated the most important art canvases of the museum. Their authors are Ivan Aivazovsky, Karl Bryullov, Alexei Kharlamov, Konstantin Korovin, Louis Walta, Henri Martin and Auguste Renoir. The Exhibition Hall, in addition, features stone-carved creations.
The Red Drawing Room of the Shuvalov Palace houses a unique collection of Russian silver. Among the items created in the period from the XVIII to the beginning of the XX century, – sets, cigar holders, chests. Many of the exhibits are decorated with semi-precious stones and gold details.
The Golden Living Room is decorated with precious souvenirs from Faberge and other jewelry workshops – brooches decorated with rubies, diamonds, medallions, as well as gold and silver snuffboxes, cigarette cases, lighters, decorated with monograms of royalty, their portraits. Impressive knitting needles, in the manufacture of which were used gold, rubies, smalt, enamel.
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Jewelry, accessories, elegant household items can also be seen in the Avanzale. These items are united by the amazing technique used in their creation – the use of enamel guilloche with its rich variety of colors. Highly artistic enameled porcelain vases, dishes, household items are also presented in the White and Blue Drawing Rooms, Beige Hall.
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The richest collection of Russian icon painting is demonstrated in the Gothic Hall. Here icons and folding books created mainly in the 19th and early 20th centuries are exhibited, but the collection also includes some unique images from the 16th-17th centuries.
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Practical information
The Shuvalov Palace is open to visitors from 10:00 to 20:45. It can be viewed independently or as part of a tour group. The last excursion starts at 19:00. For inspection of the expositions accompanied by a guide you will need to pay 1000 rubles.
.An individual visit to the palace will cost 500 rubles. Those who wish can use an audio guide, paying 250 rubles.
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In the store operating in the Shuvalov Palace, sell copies of museum exhibits, beautifully illustrated publications on the theme of history and art, works of domestic designers.
On the lower floor there is an atmospheric cafe offering Russian and European cuisine.
.How to get there
Shuvalovsky Palace is located at 21 Fontanka River Embankment. The nearest metro stations are “Gostiny Dvor”, “Mayakovskaya”, “Ploshchad Vosstaniya”. From them you can walk to the palace in 10-15 minutes, following Nevsky Prospekt in the direction of Anichkov Bridge, before which you need to turn left. You can shorten the time by taking buses No. 7, 24, 27 or trolleybus No. 10 for 1 stop.
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