7: The First Drawing Room

The drawing-room formed part of the official apartments of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Count Nesselrode. In general it retains the architectural décor of the 1820s designed by Carlo Rossi. The interior is notable for the impressive combination of polychrome painting with multi-figured compositions and grisaille elements on the ceiling. The doors are accentuated by sculptural panels above them. Portraits of Eugène Beauharnais (by J. G. Richter), the adopted son of Napoleon who played an important role in French history, and of his younger son Maximilian (by Josef Karl Stieler, 1821) decorate the walls of the room. Also on display are the lesser coronation robes of the viceroy of Italy belonging to Eugène Beauharnais and the mantle he wore for Napoleon’s coronation as Emperor of France in 1804. The porcelain set (Diehl et Guérhard Manufactory, early 19th century), like other heirlooms, was brought to Russia by Duke Maximilian of Leuchtenberg, son of Eugène Beauharnais, who married Maria, daughter of Nicholas I, in 1839.