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On the history of the St. Michael’s castle

On the history of the St. Michael’s castle
12 November 2021—14 February 2022
St. Michael’s Castle is an outstanding monument of history and architecture of the turn of the 18th - 19th centuries. The building, erected at the will and under the direct supervision of Emperor Pavel I, had a difficult fate. Initially, it was a luxurious imperial residence, which became the most expensive building in Russia in the 18th century. After the death of the emperor, the departure of the royal family and the resettlement of the Central College of Engineering., the building turned into a state institution, which received a new name - "Engineers’ Castle". In Soviet times, housing at first various military organizations, and then several design and technological institutes, the castle became a kind of huge communal apartment. Only in 1994 was the building transferred to the management of the State Russian Museum. A full-scale study of the monument building, restoration and museuification began. The exposition "On the history of the St. Michael’s Castle", which is offered to the attention of visitors, makes it possible to see ​​the research being carried out. It shows the original design drawings of the building of the late 18th century by the architect Vincenzo Brenna from the archives of the Committee for State Control, Use and Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments of St. Petersburg, presented for the exhibition; a drawing of the silver spades used by the imperial couple in the ceremony of laying the castle, from the State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg; engraved drawings of the Pavels time; documents, photographs and items from the collection of the Russian Museum and private collections related to the initial period of the building's existence and the time spent by military engineers in it in the 19th century. Special attention should be paid to the unique, known in only two copies, a miniature album of engraved drawings of the St. Michael’s Castle from the Russian Museum, made around 1800 based on drawings by the architect Carlo Rossi, with his inscriptions and the author's watercolor painting. All items were revealed during the study of the premises during the restoration work on the territory of the castle. A separate showcase displays rare copies of books, old postcards and medals dedicated to the former residence of Emperor Pavel I.


Exhibitions
Drawings and Watercolours by the Wanderers

Drawings and Watercolours by the Wanderers

21 March—8 July 2024

The exhibition presents graphic works created by the founders of the Society of Travelling Art Exhibitions, as well as by artists of the younger generation. Graphic works by the Wanderers supplement the idea of the work of artists whose paintings became significant events in social life.

The Coronation Album of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. 1744

The Coronation Album of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. 1744

3 January—1 April 2024

The tradition of creating coronation albums – publications with detailed illustrated descriptions of the coronation ceremony and other ceremonial events accompanying it – appeared in Russia in the 18th century. The current exhibition features three albums from the collection of the Russian Museum.

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Virtual tour of the museum complex. 2009 (Rus., Eng., Ger., Fin.)

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