Object History
Note: This comes from a small series Buffet made in 1989/1990 of the Russian Palaces.
The Hermitage Pavillion comes from a series of palaces and gardens located in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Prince Grigory Potemkin of Tauride commissioned his favourite architect Ivan Starov , to design his city residence in a rigorous Palladian style. Starov’s design called for an extensive park and harbour in front of the palace, which would be linked with the Neva River by a canal. Building work began in 1783 and lasted for six years. Considered the grandest nobleman’s residence of 18th-century Russia, Tauride Palace served as a model for innumerable manors scattered across the Russian Empire.Shortly before his death, on April 28, 1791, Potemkin used the palace to host unprecedented festivities and illuminations with the purpose of winning the Empress’s waning affections. The ball was described by Gavrila Derzhavinin the longest of his compositions. The palace had a long and fascinating history . It was bought by Catherine the Great and used as her summer town house. In the 19th century it was refurbished and used as a residence by minor royalty until 1906 when it was transformed into the seat of the first Russian parliament, the Imperial State Duma. Since the 1990’s the Palace has been home to the Interparliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent Sattes. On this account, a large glass-covered annex was erected immediately behind the palace, in the Tauride Gardens.These Palaces and gardens are sometimes referred as the “Russian Versailles”. The palace ensemble along with the city centre is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Provenance: Russian Collection
