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The construction of the main staircase of the Winter Palace Royal greatness and ceremony, splendour and imperial swagger were the concept that guided the architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the creator of the Winter Palace. In the architect's opinion, this building was to be the face of the greatness and significance of Russia, which had become a mighty European power in the mid-18th century. The entrance staircase, a grand baroque masterpiece was assigned the most important role. The Emperor's guests and the ambassadors of foreign powers used it on their way into to palace for audiences with the sovereign. In the 18th century, the wall call the Ambassador staircase, and it was later called the Jordan staircase. On the day of the Epiphany, a sacred procession from the Great Cathedral of the Winter Palace would pass along this staircase. Members of the imperial family and the highest clergy went to the Neva to conduct the ceremony of blessing water; a hole was made in the ice, a so-called Jordan, on which a pavilion was erected. The architect's design was grand: the staircase took up the entire North-eastern corner of the building; two enfilades opened off it, leading towards the Throne hall and the Great Church. The design began to be executed during the period of the palace's construction under the Empress Elizaveta Petrovna. In October 1756, the architect, Rastrelli, was issued an imperial edict requiring him to create blueprints of "in what manner various decorations to the staircase was to be made". A model of the staircase, made by Alexei Belsky, with gilded details by Francois Leprens, was prepared by May 1758. It was then that the stone working master Gio Madoti began to execute the design. A year later, he demanded an increase in his salary of 50 rubles, which was denied. Having received a passport to England, Madoti left Russia. After he left, the process of finishing the staircase was continued by other masters; the construction and finishing work was carried out at the same time. The best materials were delivered to Petersburg. The steps and landings of the staircase were made from blocks of Italian marble, and Rastrelli intended to make the railings from gilded copper, as well as vases on pedestals and column bases. On the upper landing, the arches rested on twin columns made from pink marbles, the walls had decorative sculpture and fanciful gilded molding. On the highest level were allegorical statues entitled "Justice" and "Mercy" as well as figures representing martial prowess and commercial prosperity. Depictions of banners and arms were placed above the large windows. In July 1761, the moulded decorations were gilded. 675 books of gold leaf (every such roll contained up to 300 sheets with quarters of golf leaf with a thickness of several microns) were used for this purpose. Elizaveta Petrovna set a deadline for Rastrelli; finish the construction in 1761. However, the staircase was "received" after Elizaveta's death, by the Emperor Peter III on April 1762, at the same time that the palace was dedicated. |
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