Interior of the Massandra Palace (part 1)

The design of the Massandra palace, perhaps to some extent, affected the tastes of the customer - Alexander III. This large, tall man, who was often called the "Russian hero", according to his contemporaries, felt better not in large ceremonial rooms, but in small cozy rooms. The architect Memecher gave his own expressive artistic image corresponding to this or that era of French architecture: Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, Rococo, Classicism. 

During the lifetime of Alexander III, his picturesque collection of works of art was placed in all the royal palaces: Alexandrovsky (Tsarskoe Selo), Anichkov, Winter, Gatchinsky, Cottages (Peterhof), Spala (Poland), Belovezha (Belarus). He wanted to fill the Massandra Palace with pictures. But this, unfortunately, remained only in the projects. From 1947 to 1989 the palace was used as a state dacha, and in 1992 a museum was opened which became a branch of the Alupkinsky State Palace and Park Museum-Reserve ...

Lower vestibule. In order to emphasize the appointment of the palace as a summer resting place, the architect in the first interior - the lobby instead of the traditional wooden panels - tiles the lower part of the walls with ceramic tiles painted in cold blue tones.

The Massandra palace. Lower vestibule.

The Massandra palace. Lower vestibule.

The Massandra palace. Lower vestibule.

The Massandra palace. Lower vestibule

Into the Massandra palace was conducted water heating, fireplaces were built in almost every room, although heated, but primarily were played the role of decoration. Decorative planking of the fireplace is artistically "tied" to panels, doors. The architect uses different techniques of wood processing: carving, intarsia, burning with tint.

The Massandra palace. Billiard room

Another wall at the entrance to the billiard room is decorated with a large canvas by artist-academician Wilhelm Alexandrovich Kotarbinsky (1849-1921) "Songs of slaves".

"Songs of slaves". The Massandra palace. Billiard room

The Massandra palace. Billiard room

Next to the billiard room is the dining room, in the decoration of which Mesmacher's talent as a decorator was clearly manifested. It was here that he largely used the style of Louis XIII. It resembles an ancient knight's hall. By all means, the architect strove to give the design a romantic coloring: he lowered the wooden beams, imitating the structures of the interfloor, raised the oak panels above the growth of man, covered them with complex carvings of baroque forms, weaving elements of knightly armor. 

Massandra palace. Dining room

The walls and ceilings, free from ornamental decoration, were painted by the scientist sketcher MD Saltykov in multicolor paintings, the overall color of which was surprisingly in harmony with the color of the stained oak.

Massandra palace. Dining room

Massandra palace. Dining room

 Rest rooms were usually decorated with landscapes in palaces. The billiard room is divided by pillars, behind which is a small gallery, facing the windows to the park. Placed in the hall mainly Crimean landscapes complete the views from the windows. They are written by artists of the late XIX century, many of whom often worked on orders of the Royal Family.

The Massandra palace. Billiard room

The Massandra palace. Billiard room

The Massandra palace. Billiard room

The Massandra palace. Billiard room

Following the example of the French castles of the 16th century, ladders played an important role in such premises. Open or hidden in the tower, they tied or divided the inner space into the female and male half, to the parade and intimate parts. The beautifully curved outer staircase of the main entrance to the palace leads to the elegantly decorated hallway of the second floor, from where it was possible to get into the reception room of His Majesty, or into the reception of the Empress.

Massandra Palace. Main staircase

Massandra Palace. Main staircase

Reception of Her Majesty. High oak panels make a small room look like a wooden box.

Reception of His Majesty. After the soft forms of the decor of the Empress's Reception, the decoration of His Majesty's Reception appears to be strict and a little solemn. It corresponds to the purpose of the room - to serve as a meeting place or for a solitary work with a book.

The Opochivalnya of Their Majesty (bedroom).

For the decoration of "Opochivali" the architect chooses the elements of the rococo: graceful, soft lines delineate the niche of the alcove niche, in gentle pastel colors the ceiling painting and sewing of the lambrequin were observed.

It does not get direct sunlight, it dissipates, penetrating through the columns of a deep balcony, which overlooks the windows of the bedchamber. The effect of diffuse rainbow lighting was created by colored stained-glass windows, mounted in the ceiling of the balcony (not preserved).

Her Majesty's Office. Here again, the "prototypes" of classicism are used. In the Empress's study there are picturesque portraits of the family of Paul I.