Room of French Decorative and Applied Art of the 18th Century

This is the former Large Drawing-room in the First Reserve Apartment that was decorated by Alexander Briullov after the 1837 fire. The display is devoted to the decorative and applied art of France in the last quarter of the 18th century and contains the creations of craftsmen working in the Neo-Classical style. The Gobelins tapestries from the Story of Esther series were woven from cartoons by Jean-François de Troy. The furniture, made in Paris, is embellished by porcelain insets that resemble ancient cameos. The Chesme ink-stand (on the table) was commissioned by Catherine II for the Chesme Palace, while the Sèvres Cameo Service (in the display-case) was the Empress's gift to Prince Potiomkin.