The Painting Study
Between 1781 and 1783 "Her Highness' Dressing Room"
(belonging to Natalya Alexeevna, Emperor Paul's first wife) created
by the architect Vasily Neyelov, was divided with a wooden divider
by the architect Charles Cameron. In its place appeared two small
working studies belonging to Maria Feodorovna, second wife of
Emperor Paul. The first study was intended for painting. It received
the name "the Painting Study." In the second room, Maria
Feodorovna occupied herself with sculpting and ivory-carving.
This room became known as the "Sculpture Study." The
yellow-gold tones of the Painting Study, the delicate gilded stucco
work framing the walls, frieze and cornice, as well as the decoration
of the doors have all survived to this day since the creation
of this room by Charles Cameron. The cross vault, lunettes and
frieze were re-painted by the academician D. Antonelli according
to plans by Vasily Stasov when the room was restored following
the fire of 1820. The walls of the Painting Study are hung with
18th-century floral paintings. The room's furnishings consist
of 19th-century Maplewood pieces produced by the A. I. Tour shops
and painted by the artist Bernasconi. On the Karelian birch table
stands a six-armed French bronze and mother-of-pearl "miracle
candelabrum" from the 19th century.
