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Kunstkammer (cabinet of curiosities) / Кунсткамера
A bit history…
The word «Kunstkammer» came to Russian from German language, where it means rare art, scientific and other collections. In XVI-XVII centuries reach people loved to collect expensive and interesting stuff, so they were making special rooms or buildings to storage the exhibits.
In 1697, Peter the Great went to a diplomatic mission in Europe («the Great Embassy»). There, he learned about the modern science at those times - the Anatomy and was excited to see how the human being is organized and how its body works. Also, some collections were shown to Peter and he bought some interesting exhibites to Saint-Petersburg’s Kunstkammer. The Kunstkammer was located in Human Chambers at the Summer Palace.
From every journey, Peter brought new showpieces to the Kunstkammer, so he decided to make a new building to contain all of that stuff. The building was called "Chambers of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, the Library and the Kunstkamera» and was building from 1718 to 1734, by an architector Mattarnovi. And nowadays, it’s a museum in there.
… and a city legends
A legend says that some day Peter the Great had seen a couple of phenomenal pine-trees, fused by branches. He ordered to make a building at that place and to add pine-trees in as an exhibiit.
Another legend is about a 2-meters tall sceleton, whose skull was stolen somehow. The guards said that they saw a ghost of the skull, which was yelling all the time. It was stopped when somebody figured out to attach another skull to the sceleton’s body - then the ghost has disappeared.
The word «Kunstkammer» came to Russian from German language, where it means rare art, scientific and other collections. In XVI-XVII centuries reach people loved to collect expensive and interesting stuff, so they were making special rooms or buildings to storage the exhibits.
In 1697, Peter the Great went to a diplomatic mission in Europe («the Great Embassy»). There, he learned about the modern science at those times - the Anatomy and was excited to see how the human being is organized and how its body works. Also, some collections were shown to Peter and he bought some interesting exhibites to Saint-Petersburg’s Kunstkammer. The Kunstkammer was located in Human Chambers at the Summer Palace.
From every journey, Peter brought new showpieces to the Kunstkammer, so he decided to make a new building to contain all of that stuff. The building was called "Chambers of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, the Library and the Kunstkamera» and was building from 1718 to 1734, by an architector Mattarnovi. And nowadays, it’s a museum in there.
… and a city legends
A legend says that some day Peter the Great had seen a couple of phenomenal pine-trees, fused by branches. He ordered to make a building at that place and to add pine-trees in as an exhibiit.
Another legend is about a 2-meters tall sceleton, whose skull was stolen somehow. The guards said that they saw a ghost of the skull, which was yelling all the time. It was stopped when somebody figured out to attach another skull to the sceleton’s body - then the ghost has disappeared.
During the reign of Nikolai I, there was a “Egyptopathy” in Europe. Egyptopathy is the fascination with ancient Egyptian culture, objects and way of life. Some day Russian traveler and writer A. Muraviev went to Alexandria, where two sphinxes were exhibited (they were found in 1820 in Fiva). Muraviev was very excited, so he decided that they must be installed in Saint-Petersburg as a decoration. He wrote a letter for a Russian ambassador immediately, but because of bureaucracy, decision took too much time, so sphinxes were sold to France. But because of the revolution in France, Paris had to decline this order - and Muraviev finally bought it. The journey home took almost an year and then sphinxes were installed to Universitetskaya (University) embankment.
The city legend
Locals say that sphinxes can change their faces, showing different expressions. This could be explained by the fact that those sphinxes were the guards of the pyramid of Amenhotep III. And because of they were moved to Saint-Petersburg against their willing, they are expressing dissatisfaction.
The city legend
Locals say that sphinxes can change their faces, showing different expressions. This could be explained by the fact that those sphinxes were the guards of the pyramid of Amenhotep III. And because of they were moved to Saint-Petersburg against their willing, they are expressing dissatisfaction.
Bronze Horseman - one of the most famous showpieces of Saint-Petersburg. It’s illustrated on the countless cards, coins, magnets and clothes.
The monument was opened in 1782, so since that time it managed to get a bunch of legends around thyself.
Ghost of Peter the Great
Some night Pavel ‘I’ was walking with his friend Kurakin and he saw a strange man, rolled in the raincoat. When they overtook him, he started to walk with them. Pavel said to Kurakin - “somebody’s following us”, but it turns out that Kurakin didn’t see anything. Then ghost said “Pavel! Darling! I am the one who is participating you...” (some untranslatable old-style phrase, maybe interpreted as “we are relatives” or “I’m taking a part in your life”), then he guide them to the center of Senatskaya square and said “Goodbye, Pavel! You will see me again here.”. Somewhen later Pavel got an invitation to opening ceremony of Peter the Great’s monument, installed right on the place shown by the ghost.
A rock-wave
Architector Falkone wanted to show that Russia is maritime state, so he searched for a big rock similar to sea wave. The search was going for a few years, until one ‘holy fool’ found an ideal rock in Lakhta. Locals said that Peter the Greate was personally climbing on this rock to view the territories in the days of North War.
The monument was opened in 1782, so since that time it managed to get a bunch of legends around thyself.
Ghost of Peter the Great
Some night Pavel ‘I’ was walking with his friend Kurakin and he saw a strange man, rolled in the raincoat. When they overtook him, he started to walk with them. Pavel said to Kurakin - “somebody’s following us”, but it turns out that Kurakin didn’t see anything. Then ghost said “Pavel! Darling! I am the one who is participating you...” (some untranslatable old-style phrase, maybe interpreted as “we are relatives” or “I’m taking a part in your life”), then he guide them to the center of Senatskaya square and said “Goodbye, Pavel! You will see me again here.”. Somewhen later Pavel got an invitation to opening ceremony of Peter the Great’s monument, installed right on the place shown by the ghost.
A rock-wave
Architector Falkone wanted to show that Russia is maritime state, so he searched for a big rock similar to sea wave. The search was going for a few years, until one ‘holy fool’ found an ideal rock in Lakhta. Locals said that Peter the Greate was personally climbing on this rock to view the territories in the days of North War.
There was a spreaded tradition to decorate the triumphal columns in the Ancient Rome. Architector Tom de Tomon, inspired by that, decided to create a project of Saint-Petersburg’s rostral columns, and they were installed in 1810.
Columns was needed not only for the decoration, they were used as a kind of lamps in XIX century. There is a spiral staircase inside - it’s a path to braziers.
Initially, hemp oil was used as a fuel, but it was splashing around onto the pedestrians’s heads. So in 1896 columns were electricized, but electricity was too expensive, that’s why in 1957 it was replaced with gas.
Columns was needed not only for the decoration, they were used as a kind of lamps in XIX century. There is a spiral staircase inside - it’s a path to braziers.
Initially, hemp oil was used as a fuel, but it was splashing around onto the pedestrians’s heads. So in 1896 columns were electricized, but electricity was too expensive, that’s why in 1957 it was replaced with gas.
The Russian branch of «Singer Sewing Machine Company» decided to make a multi-storey building for company’s top-management and for shops. Pavel Suzor was picked as an architect. Similar building was under construction at the same time in America (for USA’s office), but constructing of skyscrapers was restricted on the Nevsky prospect - to not to spoil the recognisable face of Petersburg. So architect offered an interesting idea - 6 floors with a mansard and amazing tower with a glass globe at roof.
The Nevsky prospect was selected as a location because it’s the center of business and commerce activity in the city.
The building was filled with modern technologies - roof with an automatic snow/icicles removal, elevators, ventilation and air-filtering.
The «Singer» company was the owner of that building until the 1917’s revolution. Since 1919 there are publishing offices and shops located here, so people started to call it «Book’s House».
The building was reconstructed in 2004-2006 and now it’s the «Book’s House» in the first two floors and another floors are occupied by the «Vkontakte» (or VK) company. (VK is a social network, leading on Russian market and defeated Facebook locally).
The Nevsky prospect was selected as a location because it’s the center of business and commerce activity in the city.
The building was filled with modern technologies - roof with an automatic snow/icicles removal, elevators, ventilation and air-filtering.
The «Singer» company was the owner of that building until the 1917’s revolution. Since 1919 there are publishing offices and shops located here, so people started to call it «Book’s House».
The building was reconstructed in 2004-2006 and now it’s the «Book’s House» in the first two floors and another floors are occupied by the «Vkontakte» (or VK) company. (VK is a social network, leading on Russian market and defeated Facebook locally).
Narva Triumphal Arch/Нарвские триумфальные ворота
The foundation of Narva Triumphal Arch started in 1827, to the honor of heroes of 1812’s War. As planned, it should be the first thing, that soldiers will see, returning from Europe. Author is Giacomo Quarenghi. The first version was made from wood and alabaster, in a month. By the opposite sides there are seats for viewers and orchestra. On the top of the arch it’s the Goddness of Fame seating, who is running a chariot of 6 horses. Horses, by the way, were the first serious work of very known sculpturist - Klodt. Russian troops passed through this gate 4 times.
Because of materials used in a construction, arch rapidly went bad, so governor Miloradovich offered to reconstruct the bulding, Nikolai the First agreed and the reconstruction began.
Vasiliy Stasov became the new architect. He decided to preserve the idea and view. Wood and alabastra were replaced with bricks, covered with copper sheets. In a reconstruction process, Rome’s warriors were changed to classic Russian heroes. Also, there was a label engraved «Started on August 26, 1827. Opened on August 17, 1834». Entire Imperor Family came to opening ceremony.
The city legend
The bas-relief is decoraded with statues of Russian warriers. Locals say that there is a ghost inside of it, which was scaring pedestrians in a midnight. He was raising hands up, trying to say hi to people or maybe to frighten them.
In the beginning of XX century somebody spreaded a rumor, saying that there a witch on the top of the arch instead the Goddness. That witch, by his opinion, was sending a curse to Russia. But some people thought that it is a sorcerer man. So people were coming to the arch and peering at goddness for a long time.
The foundation of Narva Triumphal Arch started in 1827, to the honor of heroes of 1812’s War. As planned, it should be the first thing, that soldiers will see, returning from Europe. Author is Giacomo Quarenghi. The first version was made from wood and alabaster, in a month. By the opposite sides there are seats for viewers and orchestra. On the top of the arch it’s the Goddness of Fame seating, who is running a chariot of 6 horses. Horses, by the way, were the first serious work of very known sculpturist - Klodt. Russian troops passed through this gate 4 times.
Because of materials used in a construction, arch rapidly went bad, so governor Miloradovich offered to reconstruct the bulding, Nikolai the First agreed and the reconstruction began.
Vasiliy Stasov became the new architect. He decided to preserve the idea and view. Wood and alabastra were replaced with bricks, covered with copper sheets. In a reconstruction process, Rome’s warriors were changed to classic Russian heroes. Also, there was a label engraved «Started on August 26, 1827. Opened on August 17, 1834». Entire Imperor Family came to opening ceremony.
The city legend
The bas-relief is decoraded with statues of Russian warriers. Locals say that there is a ghost inside of it, which was scaring pedestrians in a midnight. He was raising hands up, trying to say hi to people or maybe to frighten them.
In the beginning of XX century somebody spreaded a rumor, saying that there a witch on the top of the arch instead the Goddness. That witch, by his opinion, was sending a curse to Russia. But some people thought that it is a sorcerer man. So people were coming to the arch and peering at goddness for a long time.
History of creating
Initially, an idea to install Moscow Triumphal Gates was offered by Catherine the II. Inspired by drawings of architect Clerisso, who was making a pictures of antic ruins, she made an order for a model of the gates. But when the model was done, she was afraid that the building would cost too much money, so the idea was declined.
The topic of erecting those gates was continued after the winning in Russian-Turkish War. It was a competition opened, so almost every single engineer and architect answered with their solutions. But Nikolai the First declined them all, because he thought that it was too expensive or too ugly and etc. So, architect Stasov was selected, who has the successful experience with Narva Triumphal Arch.
‘Liteiniy’ factory started to produce the gates in 1834 and it was completed to 1838.
Interesting facts
Initially sculptirust Orlovsky shown 7 models of sculptures instead of 1, what was fixed in contract. The commission decided to punish him. Only Stasov's intervention saved him.
Initially, an idea to install Moscow Triumphal Gates was offered by Catherine the II. Inspired by drawings of architect Clerisso, who was making a pictures of antic ruins, she made an order for a model of the gates. But when the model was done, she was afraid that the building would cost too much money, so the idea was declined.
The topic of erecting those gates was continued after the winning in Russian-Turkish War. It was a competition opened, so almost every single engineer and architect answered with their solutions. But Nikolai the First declined them all, because he thought that it was too expensive or too ugly and etc. So, architect Stasov was selected, who has the successful experience with Narva Triumphal Arch.
‘Liteiniy’ factory started to produce the gates in 1834 and it was completed to 1838.
Interesting facts
Initially sculptirust Orlovsky shown 7 models of sculptures instead of 1, what was fixed in contract. The commission decided to punish him. Only Stasov's intervention saved him.
History of Saint-Petersburg starts here. May 27, 1703 Peter the Great laid the first brick into the Fortress Saint-Pitergurh, which was renamed to Petropavlovskaya later.
Initially the island was called Cheerful island, but after the strongest flood, covered a small village, people started to call it like Devil’s island.
The island is not only location of first building in the city, but also - it’s the place of the first channel for supplying the garrison with water during the siege. Furthermore, it was the first bridge erected in the city - the Bridge of Ioan.
The island was covered with military buildings, and there were only two non-military buildings - a mint and a church. Also, the Petropavlovskya fortress was a jail for rebels and criminals. In times of Pavel the First, there were a Secret House built. It was a 26-seat jail for extra-dangerous criminals.
Behind the Petropavlovsky Cathedral, there is the special building, where Peter the Great kept his boat, that one, which was used to study marine science.
And of course: the city legend
There is an interesting legend about renaming Devil’s Island to Zayachy(hare's literally) and here is it.
Once during a flood, Peter the Great sailed on his ship past this island and suddenly the hare, fleeing from the flood, jumped to him. Peter rescued him and then ordered everyone to call this island as Hare’s island.
Initially the island was called Cheerful island, but after the strongest flood, covered a small village, people started to call it like Devil’s island.
The island is not only location of first building in the city, but also - it’s the place of the first channel for supplying the garrison with water during the siege. Furthermore, it was the first bridge erected in the city - the Bridge of Ioan.
The island was covered with military buildings, and there were only two non-military buildings - a mint and a church. Also, the Petropavlovskya fortress was a jail for rebels and criminals. In times of Pavel the First, there were a Secret House built. It was a 26-seat jail for extra-dangerous criminals.
Behind the Petropavlovsky Cathedral, there is the special building, where Peter the Great kept his boat, that one, which was used to study marine science.
And of course: the city legend
There is an interesting legend about renaming Devil’s Island to Zayachy(hare's literally) and here is it.
Once during a flood, Peter the Great sailed on his ship past this island and suddenly the hare, fleeing from the flood, jumped to him. Peter rescued him and then ordered everyone to call this island as Hare’s island.
History of creating
Prussian monarch Fridrich the First, ordered to update the interier in the beginning of XVIII century. So he invited well-known designer Andreas Shluter to help with. Shluter shown him a gorgeous amber chamber in 1709. But it was destroyed because of bad mounting soon, so Fridrich kicked Slutter out from the country.
After Fridrich the First’s death, his son - Fridrich Wilhelm inherited the power. In 1716 he decided to trasfer the amber room to Peter the Great as a dimplomatic gift. But Peter didn’t have time to erect it, so all of the amber was just left in the Summer palace.
Some time above that, Elizabeth found amber and ordered architect Rastrelly to construct and append it, and then Rastrelly turned the small chamber to an entire room. The room took the area of 100 squared meters, but amount of amber was only for 40 meters, that’s why he placed the amber in between mirrors. Elizabeth started to hold receptions here in 1746.
Because of the fragility of the amber, the room was reconstructed many times. The capital restauration shell began in 1941, but the Second World War ruined those plans. Sadly, the German soldiers took the room to Keninsberg and It was lost somewhere.
After war, in 1970, the Soviets’s government decided to restore the room from scratch, so they allocated huge amount of money for this (but, of cource, transhes were extremely unstable and irregular). In 2000 Germany transferred a part of found Amber Room to Russia.
Interesting facts
Restauration process took 23 years
11 millions dollars was spent
It’s 6 tons of amber
The biggest amber weights 1kg
Prussian monarch Fridrich the First, ordered to update the interier in the beginning of XVIII century. So he invited well-known designer Andreas Shluter to help with. Shluter shown him a gorgeous amber chamber in 1709. But it was destroyed because of bad mounting soon, so Fridrich kicked Slutter out from the country.
After Fridrich the First’s death, his son - Fridrich Wilhelm inherited the power. In 1716 he decided to trasfer the amber room to Peter the Great as a dimplomatic gift. But Peter didn’t have time to erect it, so all of the amber was just left in the Summer palace.
Some time above that, Elizabeth found amber and ordered architect Rastrelly to construct and append it, and then Rastrelly turned the small chamber to an entire room. The room took the area of 100 squared meters, but amount of amber was only for 40 meters, that’s why he placed the amber in between mirrors. Elizabeth started to hold receptions here in 1746.
Because of the fragility of the amber, the room was reconstructed many times. The capital restauration shell began in 1941, but the Second World War ruined those plans. Sadly, the German soldiers took the room to Keninsberg and It was lost somewhere.
After war, in 1970, the Soviets’s government decided to restore the room from scratch, so they allocated huge amount of money for this (but, of cource, transhes were extremely unstable and irregular). In 2000 Germany transferred a part of found Amber Room to Russia.
Interesting facts
Restauration process took 23 years
11 millions dollars was spent
It’s 6 tons of amber
The biggest amber weights 1kg
History of creating
Peter the Great, after his journey to Europe, decided to make a palace to he honor of the French King’s residence in Marli Le Roi. So, Peter invited an architect Johann Braunstein. Braunstein presented a project of Marly ponds and a small palace. It’s noticable that initially the palace should be a single-floor bulding, but during the process, Peter offerred to make the second floor. The result was a building in the shape of a cube. Marly Palace is not so flush as other buildings in the Petergof or the Saint-Petersburg. It was used fot receptions, but in XVIII century it got a memorial functionality. Peter’s belongings were kept here for a long time after his death, but then it was transferred to the Hermitage.
In 1899 the walls went cracked, so it was decided to put the palace on a new foundation. Restorers completely disassembled the whole palace and, when the labor with its foundation was finished, compiled it back.
During the World War Second the palace were destroyed by the delayed-action bomb and it was restored only in 1955.
Now it is a museum, where you can find real stuff of Peter the Great.
Peter the Great, after his journey to Europe, decided to make a palace to he honor of the French King’s residence in Marli Le Roi. So, Peter invited an architect Johann Braunstein. Braunstein presented a project of Marly ponds and a small palace. It’s noticable that initially the palace should be a single-floor bulding, but during the process, Peter offerred to make the second floor. The result was a building in the shape of a cube. Marly Palace is not so flush as other buildings in the Petergof or the Saint-Petersburg. It was used fot receptions, but in XVIII century it got a memorial functionality. Peter’s belongings were kept here for a long time after his death, but then it was transferred to the Hermitage.
In 1899 the walls went cracked, so it was decided to put the palace on a new foundation. Restorers completely disassembled the whole palace and, when the labor with its foundation was finished, compiled it back.
During the World War Second the palace were destroyed by the delayed-action bomb and it was restored only in 1955.
Now it is a museum, where you can find real stuff of Peter the Great.