Pavlovsk Palace - Grecian Hall

Pavilion of Three Graces in Own Little Gargen near Pavlovsky Palace. Pavlovsk, a suburb of Saint Petersburg, Russia

The Grecian Hall, connected to the Hall of War by an open archway, is one of the most impressive, strictly classical and elegant interiors in the Pavlovsk Palace. The sixteen green Corinthian columns stand out again the light artificial marble of the walls making the hall look like a Greek temple. Intricate molding with varied ornament forms an entablature supports by the columns. A broad molded frieze adorns the walls.

The molded panels, the plaster statues (replicas of Greek originals), the splendid white-marble fireplaces decorated with lazurite and jasper and, finally, the exquisite coloring of the painting all testify to the rich imagination, refined taste and great talent of Brenna and Voronikhin who created this magnificent symphony of ornament and architecture.

The planning of the hall, i.e., its position in relation to the other rooms, belongs to Cameron, but Brenna was the first designer of its elaborate decorative and artistic ornament. After the fire of 1803 the interior of the hall was restored by Voronikhin. It illustrates his talent at its height. 

Voronikhin proved himself to be not only an outstanding architect, one of the finest exponents of Russian classicism, but also a great master of decorative applied art. The lamps, furniture and vases designed by him fit in perfectly with the interior and the architecture of the hall.

Voronikhin made a few changes to the painting on the ceiling, designed new fireplaces and put them in a different place, and changed the molded compositions on the walls. 

The set of furniture painted imitation antique bronze with carved gilt backs and elbow-rests was designed by him and manufactured in St Petersburg workshops. It consisted of four divans and twenty-two chairs in Greek forms. The monumental quality of the furniture fitted in well with the hall’s majestic décor.

The hall is also tastefully adorned with lamps, candelabra, clocks and fireplace ornaments by well-known French masters of the late 18th century. Most of these items were purchased specially by Brenna for Pavlovsk Palace while it was being built.