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The Main Staircase was restored after the fire of 1837
by Vasily Stasov who largely preserved the design of Francesco Bartolomeo
Rastrelli. Starting from the Main Gallery, the white marble staircase
then divides into two flights meeting again on the level of the first
floor. The ten solid columns of Serdobolye granite support the vaults
of the staircase. Full of light and gleaming with gilding and mirrors,
the staircase extends for the whole height of the Winter Palace. The
painted ceiling by 18th-century artist Diziano Gasparo representing
the gods of Olympus Olympus gives an impression of an additional height
to the staircase. The décor of the staircase includes monumental sculptures
brought by Peter the Great from Italy: Power, Antinous, Diana, Equity
and Might. In the 18th century the staircase was known as the Ambassadorial
Staircase because the envoys of foreign countries ascended it when
going to the palace for official receptions. Later the staircase received
the name of the Jordan Staircase - on the Epiphany day religious processions
from the Grand Church of the Winter Palace went down the Jordan Staircase
to the Neva River. |
