The successful renovation of the interior
of the Grand Kremlin Palace – the symbolic
heart of Russia – came as a surprise to
many. And while Nicholas I commissioned
the great architect Konstantin Ton to build
the Grand Kremlin Palace, our government
entrusted the interior renovation to Ilya
Glazunov.
Viewing the ceremonial magnificence of all
four stories of the palace, it is difficult
to believe that up until recently it housed
drab service chambers. Glazunov has not
only found a dignified architectural approach
in keeping with the traditions of the “Classical
Empire” and Byzantine styles for each of
the four stories, but he has also given
attention to each room’s historical contents.
Nikolaevsky Hall and the suite of rooms
named in honor of the Patriotic War of 1812
are adorned with beautiful landscapes of
Pavlovsk and Moscow painted by Glazunov,
along with others of his works such as “Golgotha,”
“Tsarevich Dimitri,” “Ivan the Terrible,”
and “Two Princes.” These strikingly beautiful
works are reminders of Russia’s great history.
Nineteenth century works of art from the
period of Nicholas I, including clocks,
candleholders, vases, engravings, and other
antique items, impart an important authenticity
to the interiors.
As the artistic director of the renovation,
Glazunov relied on a creative team of assistants
comprised of artists Ivan Ilyich Glazunov,
his son, and Ivan Vyacheslavovich Kuznetsov,
together with architect Andrei Vladimirovich
Vaneyev. As a note of historical interest,
architect K. Ton appointed young architect
Nikolai Benois, Ivan Glazunov’s great, great,
great grandfather on his mother’s side,
as his assistant during construction of
the Church of Christ the Savior and the
Grand Kremlin Palace.
One of the most impressive rooms is dedicated
to the great Russian reformer, Peter I.
Reminiscent of the famous Menshikov Palace
in St. Petersburg, it conveys the spirit
of Peter the Great’s epoch with great accuracy.
The room is graced with a model of the “grandfather”
of the Russian Navy – Peter I’s small boat
in a carved display case. The walls are
hung with paintings that masterfully evoke
the atmosphere of the Petrine epoch: “Portrait
of Tsar Peter I” by Ivan Glazunov, “Battle
of Poltava” and “Battle of Gangut” by I.V.
Kuznetsov and V. A. Shtein, and panoramas
of old St. Petersburg by artists O. F. Shtykhno
and I. V. Lapin.
Visitors to the Kremlin all marvel at the
magnificence and beauty that surrounds them,
understanding what an extraordinary effort
it must have been to recreate the grandeur
and glory of Russia in the past.
On each story of every building artistic
director Ilya Glazunov, People’s Artist
of the USSR and recipient of a UNESCO award
for contributions in the sphere of world
culture, succeeded in conveying not just
a distinctive artistic atmosphere, but one
filled with profound historical meaning,
reflecting the centuries-old history of
Russia. Although the competition for the
reconstruction of the interior of the Kremlin’s
14th building had been nearly decided, the
administrative department of the president
of the Russian Federation took note of Glazunov’s
adherence to a style of majestic classicism
characteristic of such Russian architects
as Kazakov, Zakharov, and Voronikhin, and
which differed sharply from other Soviet
architects. Glazunov’s stunning sketches
of the 14th building earned him a proposal
to serve as artistic director of the reconstruction
of the world famous Grand Kremlin Palace,
the symbolic heart of Russia. President
of the firm “MT Merkata Trading,” businessman
Viktor Stepanovich Stolpovskikh was chosen
to coordinate the entire project. Glazunov
gives Orenburg native Stolpovskikh high
marks for his civic-minded dedication and
organizational skills.
The restoration of the interiors of the
Kremlin was a task of the highest importance.
Glazunov’s work, which was awarded a State
prize, reveals new facets of his talent
as an artist and architectural designer.
His work on the interiors of the Kremlin’s
14th building, which elicited the admiration
of all who saw it, subsequently earned him
a commission to restore and create totally
new interiors in the so-called guest annex,
built in 1934 on the site of one of the
oldest churches of the Kremlin, the 14th
century Church of the Savior on Bor.
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| Presidential
Reception Room and Conference Hall.
Detail of the Interior |
Mural
“Glory of Russian Arms” by Ivan Glazunov,
M. Yu. Shan’kov, and V. A. Shtein |
Office
of the President of Russia |
Corridor
of the Presidential Reception Room |
Office
of the President of Russia. Detail |
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Office
of the President of Russia
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