Catherine Palace, a photo from Saint Petersburg, Northwest

Photographer's Note

The Catherine Palace is named after Catherine I, the wife of Peter the Great, who ruled Russia for two years after her husband's death. Originally a modest two-storey building commissioned by Peter for Catherine in 1717, the Catherine Palace owes its awesome grandeur to their daughter, Empress Elizabeth, who chose Tsarskoe Selo as her chief summer residence. Starting in 1743, the building was reconstructed by four different architects, before Bartholomeo Rastrelli, Chief Architect of the Imperial Court, was instructed to completely redesign the building on a scale to rival Versailles. The resultant palace, completed in 1756, is nearly 1km in circumference, with elaborately decorated blue-and-white facades featuring gilded atlantes, caryatids and pilasters.
In Elizabeth's reign it took over 100kg of gold to decorate the palace exteriors, an excess that was deplored by Catherine II when she discovered the state and private funds that had been lavished on the building.

danos, Noel_Byrne, delpeoples, macjake, jacquest has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

emka (58078) 2013-03-02 23:41

Hi Jenna,

Excellent shot, nice view of this palace that seems to be typical for the Saint Petersbourg architecture. Superb composition, nice blue colours.

WArm regrads

MAlgorzata

danos (73946) 2013-03-02 23:51

Hello Jenna,
nice the view of the creative perspetive of the Catherine Palace as the exceptional architectural style of it.I like the beauty of the Palace as clarity of the scene that we can see all of its details of it.

Regards,Danos

Noel_Byrne (7301) 2013-03-03 2:15

Hi Jenna
Understandable that some found this lavish excess deplorable but it's hard not to glad today when we see a marvel like this has benn left to the ages to admire. A hundred kg of gold? Wow, a sign of wealth if ever.
I love the blue tones of the building, very unique and pleasing. It's a fine building, and your capture of it portrays it's status very well.
Thanks for a great note, if it were not for that, I would not have spotted the caryatids in the lower left. They look almost as if they are upset and grieving. I wonder if there is significance to that?
Many thanks
Noel

delpeoples (44904) 2013-03-03 3:33

Dear Jenna

Ahhh St Petersburg in the sunshine. One of the most beautiful cities in the world and your photo does it absolute justice. I am used to seeing this amazing city under the snow, so it is such a beautiful surprise to see it so luminous. The Palace is extraordinary, you have created a beautiful perspective and the sharpness is impeccable. It is a dream of mine to see this country, and particularly Sy Petersburg. So until that happens, I can live through your beautiful photos.

Thanks for sharing
Lisa

Miguel82 (7717) 2013-03-03 4:46

A very special architecture I appreciate Estelle,
Good document and note you wrote about it
Natural colors, good framing and pov
Good work
Have a nice We

macjake (39207) 2013-03-05 16:28

Hi Jenna
wow, 1 KM in circumfrence? wow!
and who wouldn't love a few Caryatids on our house!

this is such an overt expression of architecture, somebody really wanted their residence to stand out :)
The angled choice of composition is really effective in showing its length.
great building
cheers
craig

jacquest (14094) 2013-03-06 4:43

Hello Jenna,

I like the oblique line of this part of the palace which gives a good view of the details of this lavish architecture. The colors are very well rendered and your note interesting.

Best regards

Jacques