Alexander Palace in Tsarskoye Selo
It is part of the State Museum-Reserve Tsarskoye Selo.
Main article: Tsarskoye Selo
2016: End of restoration of Arsenal Pavilion
During World War II, the Arsenal was significantly damaged. By the beginning of the XXI century, the building went into disrepair.
In 2012, restoration began, the first stage of which included the installation of forests, stitching door and window openings, strengthening the vault and restoring brickwork. Genuine bricks from collapsed masonry were not used during restoration (at least partially), and were taken to a landfill. Their place was taken by new, artificially aged bricks by the size of historical ones. Decorative embroidery (processing) of seams with white gypsum on the facades of the building in places of loss was not recreated, its place was taken by gray masonry mortar.
In the interiors, the preserved stucco decorations are highlighted in dark and differ from the recreated ones painted white. Thus, the genuine details of the monument are visually separated from the "remodeled." On the facade and in the interiors of the building, the original brick and stone structures of the 18th century, preserved from the Monbijou Pavilion, are fragmentary revealed.
In August 2016, a permanent exhibition "Tsarskoye Selo Arsenal. Imperial Arms Collection. " The museum exhibits memorial items of Russian emperors and part of the collection of weapons preserved in the funds of the Tsarskoye Selo Museum-Reserve.
1914
1913
1902: Acquisition of Roerich's painting "Overseas Guests" for the palace
Main article: Painting in Russia
At an exhibition at the Academy of Arts in 1902, the painting was acquired by Nicholas II for the Tsarskoye Selo Palace.
1885: Alexander III transfers a collection of weapons from Arsenal to the Hermitage
The collection of weapons of Nicholas I, located in Arsenal, numbering more than five thousand items, was repeatedly replenished with the products of famous masters and the best European arms workshops. However, in 1885, the grandson of Nicholas I, Emperor Alexander III decided to transfer the meeting to the Imperial Hermitage (for 2022, several exhibits were exhibited in the Knight's Hall). In the Arsenal, unused porcelain and glassware were left, as well as a collection of small horse models of officers and lower ranks, showing samples of forms of Russian regiments from the time of Nicholas I (sculptor V. Gazenberger). The positions of caretaker and ministers were abolished.
1875
1865
1850
1847
Alexander Palace in Tsarskoye Selo, 1847, paper, watercolor, gouache, 25.8 x 38.2 cm]]
1835
View of the White Tower and gate-ruins in the Alexander Park of Tsarskoye Selo, 1835, paper watercolor 16 x 19 cm (clear); 32 x 35 cm (passport)]]
1830
paper, pencil, watercolor 35.5 x 50.5 cm]]
1834: The completion of the construction of the Arsenal pavilion and the placement in it of the collection of weapons of Nicholas I
The architectural masterpiece of Monbijou, which had deteriorated by the beginning of the 19th century, underwent a complete restructuring. In 1819-1834, the entire decor of the building was removed from the pavilion, the walls were included in the construction of the current Arsenal pavilion.
During the restoration of the Arsenal in 2012-2016, the brick and stone structures of Monbijou were fragmentary revealed by restorers and are available for inspection on facades and interiors.
The baroque quirkiness of Monbijou was replaced by simple strict lines: the author of the project, Adam Menelas, conceived a new park structure in the form of an English Gothic castle with elements of the Romanesque style.
Having died in August 1831, Menelas did not complete the construction. In 1832, the project came under the leadership of architect Alexander Ton, who completed it in 1834.
Inside, Arsenal was decorated in Gothic flavour. Precious stained glass windows of the 15th-17th centuries by German and Swiss craftsmen were inserted into high windows, supplemented by lush wooden platbands.
The interior space included on the 1st floor - a grand staircase, an entrance hall, a dining room, an office, an empress's room, a library, an art and an Albanian room. On the 2nd floor - three corner rooms (Turkish, Indo-Persian, Indo-Muslim) and in the center of the building - the octagonal Hall of Knights, in the center of which a round table was installed.
Until 1827, the collection of Nicholas I was stored in the Anichkov Palace in St. Petersburg, then it was transported to Tsarskoye Selo and for several years was located in the Ceremonial Dining Room of the Alexander Palace - a large two-room hall that closed the enfilade. In 1834, after the construction of the building intended for it was completed, the collection was moved to Arsenal.
Exhibits were placed on the 1st and 2nd floors in the central halls and in the side rooms. In the hallway, creating the illusion of a guard, there were mannequins in armor. In the Albanian room, an eastern collection was presented, which included works by Japanese, Chinese, Persian and Turkish masters, Spanish, Italian and German swords were in the office, and firearms were in neighboring rooms. On the second floor in the central Hall of Knights, knightly armor was displayed: mannequins intended for their demonstration were seated on "stuffed horses" equipped for battle and mounted on high pedestals.
1818
60 x 96 cm]]
Lord Whitworth Villa
245 x 350 mm]]