Green and Red Pilaster Rooms
Two rooms, side by side in the palace are known as the Red
and Green Pilaster Rooms. In this photograph we are looking at
the Red Pilaster Room into the green. They are nearly identical,
except for the colour of the metallic foil covered with glass
that forms the central panel of the pilasters running along the
walls of each room. This 18th century technique looks a bit odd
to modern eyes; the foil is similar to that used to wrap modern
Christmas presents. In fact, it was common in this period to back
precious diamonds with coloured foil to make them more colourful.
In the middle of the 18th century, in the late evenings of a Russian
Summer, when the sun stays up until almost midnight, the effect
of the slanting light upon the pilasters must have been magical.
One can imagine the delicate shimmer of fine silk gowns, powdered
wigs and flashing diamonds against the gilt carvings and glinting
pilasters of these rooms. Both rooms were completely destroyed
during World War II, and were recreated during the post-war years.
