versailles and hermitage at bride

Besides premises for the court and rooms
for servants, the ensemble had several other
RUSSIA — LATVIA — EU
buildings: stables, household outbuildings, and a
gardener’s house. The wealth climaxed in the
backyard of the palace with 62 hectares of a
arbors, and pavilions.
FROM DROP-OUT STUDENT
TO NATIONAL RULER
Capital city splendor and unheard of luxury
in poor Courland outback were the whim of Anna's
Empress of Russia omnipotent favorite Ernst
Johann von Biron.
For Biron who came from poor gentry and
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FORGOTTEN PAGES OF COMMON HISTORY
VERSAILLES
AND HERMITAGE
AT BRIDE-SHOW WITH
RUNDALE KINFOLK
French park with rose gardens, pools, fountains,
who by lucky occasion rose to the top of authority in a great power the construction of the luxurious residence was a demonstration of his might
and wealth. Arrogant Courland knights have never considered the native of the small town of
Kalnciems near Mitava (now Jelgava) who was
expelled from the Konigsberg University for riotous conduct as a man of their entourage. Due to
the favors of the Russian Empress Biron through
intrigues and wile received the crown of Courland Principality and hurried to assert himself in
the eyes of compatriots who ignored him until
recently.
TEMPORARY FAVORITE
EYES ETERNITY
Courtly tastes of the customer determined
In
the choice of the architect. Biron invited a very
summer Latvia celebrated the
275th anniversary of the laying
of the first stone into the foundation of
Rundale Palace. “The stone was square
with a hole where a silver plate was
placed. Another stone was to cover
it,” Pastor Joachim von Der Horst from
Mezhotne wrote in his recollections of
the event. After the symbolic ceremony
on May 24, 1736 the construction of a
92
It
expensive Italian – Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli
is a paradox that an unprecedented im-
Decoration corresponded to the taste of the
who preferred to be called Bartholomew as he was
perial baroque palace never seen in the
gallant century: molded fauna and flora, painted
named in the Orthodox manner when baptized
area emerged in green field in unvaried Zem-
ceilings and walls, artificial marble and gilding,
and was offended when they called him otherwise.
gale Valley away from major roads. Miles around
there were unfertile arable lands, bushy meadows, and poor peasants’ households. The nearest town was ten kilometers away and the pro-
Courtly tastes of the customer determined the choice of the architect. Biron invited a very
expensive Italian — Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli.
vincial city – 70 kilometers away. All of a
sudden a grandiose stone building appeared
with lion figures and hammered iron bars with a
carved doors, blue glazed tile stoves, chestnut
The greatness of his talent helped him
grandiose architectural building worthy
genuine Versailles behind them! 138 premises
and palisander parquet, heavy silk wallpaper,
combine elements of European baroque with
of any capital city of enlightened Europe
of 12 thousand square meters of space, gala
mirrors, rococo furniture, pompous paintings in
Russian architectural traditions. It manifested in the
began in the place called Ruhental.
and dance halls, musical salons, boudoirs and
stucco frames, bronze candle holders, multi-
major scope of the space of the architectural
dressing rooms, a library and a billiards room.
tier crystal chandeliers, china vases…
ensemble, in the use of bell towers characteristic
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TIME CHANGES,
AS WELL AS MORALS
AND MASTERS
of Russian architecture, cupolas and perrons, thin
Russian stove-setters, parquet layers, wood
columns, etc., and in colorful walls, gilding, and
cutters, and plasterers began to decorate the
flora motifs in decoration. The most famous
interior. Italian artist Giovanni Batista Tarsia painted
creation by Rastrelli include the Winter Palace, the
plafonds on canvas in Petersburg. Berlin sculptor
Smolny Cathedral, the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe
Johann Michael Graf created stucco decorations
After the abdication of
Selo, and St. Andrew’s Church in Kiev.
on the background of artificial marble while Italian
Ernst’s son – Petr Biron - in
Biron had ambitious plans to establish
masters from St Petersburg, Francesco Martini and
1795 the last Duke of Courland
Courland as an equal partner of strong neighbors.
Carlo Zucchi, painted the ceilings and walls.
left abroad and took a major
Suffice it to recall that, besides Russia, Poland,
However it all stopped all of a sudden.
part
TWENTY YEARS LATER
dale mansions went over to the
favorite of another Empress –
boundless
Catherine II. She presented the
ambitions. In 1737 he decided to build another
palace to Count Valerian Zubov
palace in Mitava which was to become the main
and then handed it over to his
residence of the Duke while Rundale had to be
brother and her lover Platon
the countryside summer residence. Part of the
Zubov. After the death of the
decorations was moved from Rundale to Mitava
latter his young widow Fekla
and in 1740 the construction came to a standstill.
married Count Alexander Shu-
After the death of Anna Ivanovna Biron’s
valov. The palace was the prop-
star decayed. He was arrested and exiled for
erty of Counts Shuvalov up to
twenty years. Catherine II brought him back only
1920.
It
FORGOTTEN PAGES OF COMMON HISTORY
appointments
was
because
Biron
had
FORGOTTEN PAGES OF COMMON HISTORY
construction in Rundale as there was a major
palace
with him. The complex of Run-
Germany, and Sweden were also eying Courland
Principality. The Duke spared no money for palace
of
The complex in Rundale
in 1763. The disfavored man found his castle
suffered a lot in various wars that
swept the Baltic region. The building
was
damaged
during
the
French invasion in 1812 and the
financial flow to the chamberlain of Her Majesty
First World War. However vandal-
from ingratiating nobility and from the Empress for
ism paramounted in 1919 when
decent service. Anna Ivanovna awarded Biron 500
Biron lived his last days in the residence, but
the soldiers from the army of Bermont-Avalov came
thousand rubles for the first Crimean military
pompous court life did not bustle there for long.
there. A big number of precious artifacts disap-
campaign although it was a failure for Russia. The
The
peared from the palace at the time. But some things
amount was immense at the time as the whole
presentations only up to 1795.
Russian army cost the country 6.5 million rubles.
GREAT FEUDAL
CONSTRUCTION SITE
The whole nearby community was mobilized
94
to build the palace. Facilities to produce construc-
desolate: most decorations – parquet, panels,
tion materials were launched in the area as the pal-
doors – were dismantled and sent to Petersburg.
palace
was
used
for
gala
balls
and
were preserved and others were later contributed
Priest, economist, and public figure of the
by Latvian museums. The archives of the Soviet de-
Enlightenment epoch I.T. Eisen who was the
fense ministry have a delivery and acceptance cer-
The archives of the Soviet defense ministry have a delivery and acceptance certificate
for valuables of Rundale castle which the Nazis had no time to withdraw. It is dated
September 15, 1944.
ace needed over one million bricks alone. Over
But Biron did not lose heart. He again called
three hundred carts daily delivered everything nec-
Rastrelli to restore and complete the construction.
manager of Rundale mansion for some time wrote
tificate for valuables of Rundale castle which the
essary to the object. Workers, craftsmen, and artists
Besides Russified Italian, architects Johann Seidel
about the palace in 1788: “It was built as a
Nazis had no time to withdraw. It is dated Septem-
were brought from Russia, mostly from Petersburg
and Severin Jensen helped create the imperial pearl
residence of the Duke with unbelievable costs and
ber 15, 1944.
and Moscow. Up to 1500 people simultaneously
in Rundale. They pulled down the tower from the top
is now kept only to commemorate its first builder.
Fortunately, World War Two hostilities did
worked at the construction site. Workers com-
of the gate and erected a low gate at the entrance.
It cannot be used as an entertainment palace at
not harm the palace as Soviet troops rapidly
plained, revolted and tried to escape from the site
However the general design of Rastrelli did not
present nor as a center of rural mansion in future.”
advanced towards Riga and quickly ousted the
guarded by armed soldiers. Nevertheless the build-
change. Today Rundale is one of the few palaces of
Rundale was truly located far away and was an
Germans from Rundale. However after the war one
ing was roofed in record two and a half years.
the epoch in Europe that preserved its original form.
inconvenient place for elite entertainments.
part of the palace was used as grain storage and
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95
the other part as a boarding school and housing
for teachers. The White Hall was turned into a gym
AGAIN RUSSIAN TRACE
donations were used to restore the lateral
staircase of the palace, the boudoir, bedroom
ALL TOURISTS COME TO VISIT US
and kids liked to kick the ball at stucco roses. In
Soviet workshops produced hand-made
the ‘60s the palace accommodated an affiliate of
fabric for Rundale Palace while landscape archi-
The most luxurious premise of the palace is
today that reflect the revival history. Naturally, the
the Bauska local history museum which was
tects from Leningrad designed a layout of a regu-
the Golden Hall (former Throne room). Gilded
contrast impresses as some photos show the rags of
headed in 1972 by graduate of the Latvian
lar French garden. In 1981 the first halls opened
stucco bass reliefs on the background of artificial
falling paint from the walls, exposed ceiling back-
Academy of Arts Imant Lantsmanis.
to the public in the eastern part of the palace fol-
and toilet of Duchess Benigna.
The ground floor of the palace offers slides
GUARDIAN ANGEL WITH
DIPLOMA OF ARTIST
in the central building and the Rose Room in
However it would be
museums
bedrooms and the Throne Hall in 1990. Many
in
Moscow
and
better to call the man the
Leningrad, including the Her-
guardian angle of Rundale.
mitage Museum, shared valu-
Lantsmanis was fond of the
able exhibits with Rundale for
mansion architecture of the
free. The research and resto-
marble allegorically depict various crafts and arts
ings, and torn-off doors and window frames. Others
XVIII century and enthusiasti-
ration workshops in Moscow
while the big plafond glorifies Biron’s virtues. The
show present-day splendor of the same rooms. Visi-
cally began to save the mas-
used 18th century samples to
Dance (or the so-called White) Hall justifies its
tors can see 50 restored rococo interiors.
terpiece. The talented artist
weave 4400 meters of wall-
name by light stucco bass reliefs painted in white
The president of Latvia uses Rundale halls to
put aside his beloved art for a
paper for the decoration of
and mirrors that create an airy atmosphere. Small
receive foreign guests. However private individuals
long time and engaged in re-
Rundale Palace.
chambers with walls decorated with consoles
can also lease the premises for several hours for
The Russians worked in
with Oriental china vases that form original
weddings, for example. The newly- weds will be
He studied French, Ger-
Rundale up to the restoration
compositions adjoin the big halls. The Golden
even offered a dance lesson while the guests can
man and even ancient German
of Latvian independence. They
and White Halls are linked
dress up in crinolines, cami-
to read 18th century manu-
shared their experience with
by
The
soles and powdered wigs and
scripts. He worked in archives
Latvian colleagues and actual-
restoration of its 30-meter
take pictures in the park. The
in Riga, Moscow, and Lenin-
ly created the national resto-
long ceiling painting lasted
basement of the palace ac-
grad and studied documents
ration school. Unfortunately,
14 years.
commodates
of the time to understand how
there is no mention of coop-
The Billiard Hall of the
which offers XVIII century
the
He
eration and Russian assistance
Duke was restored due to
dishes. Besides, you can drive
looked for early 20th century
to Latvia on the official web-
support from Inara and Boris
an electric cart in the French
photos to restore the lost de-
site of the Rundale Palace.
Teterevs' Foundation by the
park where dozens of various
275th
tulips flourish in May and ros-
search and palace keeping.
palace
was
built.
tails of interior and to learn which items of decorative art beautified the palace.
96
The Billiard Hall of the Duke was restored due to support from Inara and Boris
Teterevs' Foundation by the 275th anniversary of the masterpiece by Rastrelli. It was
decorated with an oak billiard table which is the biggest in the world and is 4 meters
95 centimeters long.
1986, the Dutch Hall in 1989, and the ducal
However the management of Rundale
the
Big
Gallery.
anniversary
of
the
Museum admitted it had received no state
masterpiece by Rastrelli. It
a
cozy
café
es follow in July-August.
It was the most difficult task to convince lo-
subsidies for Rundale restoration since 1992. At
was decorated with an oak
The
cal and national superiors to finance large-scale
present the budget only pays wages to the
billiard table which is the big-
scheduled
restoration work. Huge costs loomed. The merit of
museum staff and covers heating expenses in
gest in the world and is 4
restored in 2014 when Riga
the first director of the museum, Laimonis Lei (he
the cold season of the year. But the museum
meters 95 centimeters long.
takes over the title of the
was a big diplomat) and of his successor Lantsma-
staff
Imant
The table was made accord-
cultural capital of Europe.
nis was that they promoted a decision of the Sovi-
Lantsmanis deserve tribute for succeeding to
ing to a 1774 engraving.
Museum staff hope Rundale
et government to begin the restoration of Rundale
engage patrons of art. Practically every year new
Thanks to the Teterevs cou-
Palace and earmark budget money for that.
restored premises of Rastrelli’s palace open to
ple work is ongoing to re-
headed
by
continuous
Director
Ernst Johann Biron, Jr.
palace
to
be
is
fully
Palace in its final splendor
will be included in the list of
Lantsmanis succeeded to engage Leningrad
the public. Biron’s descendant and namesake
store the Library of the Duke.
specialists experienced in restoring palaces in the
Prince Ernst Johann von Biron also helped. The
The costs are estimated to comprise close to 500
with Petergof architectural ensembles, the Winter
suburbs of Petersburg – Petergof, Gatchina, and
German
thousand US dollars.
Palace in St. Petersburg, and Versailles in France.
Pavlovsk. Although numerous traces of war re-
contributed. However the family of Russian
Prince Ernst Johann von Biron is a retired
mained there the experts did not reject assistance
businessmen in Latvia Inara and Boris Teterevs
physicist who heads the Fund to support Rundale
to Latvian colleagues and designed the project of
made the biggest contribution of half a million
Palace. He presented to the palace eleven oak
complex scientific restoration of Rundale and be-
lats. Their foundation has been cooperating with
book-cases for the library. They were also made
gan meticulous work that lasted two decades.
the museum for nearly 15 years. Boris Teterev’s
according to the original.
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Robert
Bosch
Company
also
FORGOTTEN PAGES OF COMMON HISTORY
FORGOTTEN PAGES OF COMMON HISTORY
lowed by the first premises of ducal apartments
world cultural heritage along
The imperial pearl of Latvia shines with its original
brilliance and deserves a place in the list.
By Natalya Sevidova
for the Amber Bridge
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