CHINESE PALAIS

This is undoubtedly the jewel of Lomonosov. Catherine II quickly expressed the desire to build his own residences in the Oranienbaum park. In the second half of ^{XVIIIe siècle}, the Italian architect Antonio Rinaldi (who also designed the Palace of Peter III, the Opera House and the Ice Pavilion in the Oranienbaum Park) built the Chinese Pavilion and the Slide Pavilion, commissioned by the Empress to personalise the complex, which until then had been Menchikov's residence. From the outside, the pavilion, which has only one floor, does not give any indication of the treasures it conceals. And yet, following one another like so many preciously designed and decorated worlds, its four oriental-style lounges rival each other in whimsical beauty and opulence. Even the anteroom, whose function was purely utilitarian, presents a decor in perfect harmony with the interiors that follow. Between 1840 and 1850, the court architect Andrei Stackenschneider completed the building with two wings, a glass gallery and a south-facing floor.

The jet (or pearl) cabinet, is a brilliant sample of the rococo style. The walls are entirely covered with embroidered pearls and silk. La lumière of the day brings out the delicate shades of the silk and plays with the glass of the pearls. On the silk are painted fantastic or dreamlike landscapes representing fabulous birds, exotic butterflies, pagodas, garlands of flowers and fruits, dragons... Le bois gold which separates the panels adds to the beauty of the decor.

The incredible décor of the large Chinese cabinet offers a mix of rococo elements and motifs borrowed from Chinese art. The marquetry panels, with walrus ivory inserts, represent landscapes and scenes of life in China. On the ceiling, the union of Asia and Europe is illustrated through an assembly of extremely fine wooden pieces. The furnishings include Chinese- and Japanese-made furniture, red and black lacquered boxes, bronze perfume burners, wooden statuettes... The English billiard table, richly carved in Chinese motifs, adds to the incongruity of the whole.

In the Hall of the Muses, French windows in the three walls overlook the park. Delicate frescoes and allegories on the ceiling harmonize to create a blue and pink, somewhat meek decor. Gilded furniture designed by Rinaldi completes the ensemble.