Kikin Palace
Encyclopedia
The Kikin Hall is one of the oldest buildings in Saint Petersburg
, Russia
. The diminutive residence was commissioned by Alexander Kikin
in 1714. The name of the architect is unknown, but similarities to the old Peterhof palace
abound, suggesting an attribution to Andreas Schlüter
.
The palace was incomplete at the time of Kikin's disgrace and execution in 1718. The building was confiscated by the crown and housed the royal library and the cabinet of curiosities
of the Academy of Sciences
(later transferred to the Kunstkammer Building
). The original two-storey residence was expanded and the third storey was added at some point in the 1720s.
After 1733 the building was occupied by the office of the Horse Guards
and their hospital. It was completely remodeled in 1829, and its Baroque
decor was removed. The dilapidated building was further damaged by aerial bombs in the 1940s.
It was Irina Benois from the famous Benois family
who restored the building to its presumed Petrine Baroque
appearance in a campaign lasting from 1952 and 1956. The Kikin Palace currently houses a music school
.
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. The diminutive residence was commissioned by Alexander Kikin
Alexander Kikin
Alexander Vasilievich Kikin was a political mentor and advisor to Tsarevich Alexis. Accused of having arranged his flight abroad, Kikin was broken on the wheel....
in 1714. The name of the architect is unknown, but similarities to the old Peterhof palace
Peterhof Grand Palace
The Peterhof Grand Palace The largest of Peterhof's palaces looks truly imposing when seen from the Lower or Upper Gardens, but in fact it is quite narrow and not overly large...
abound, suggesting an attribution to Andreas Schlüter
Andreas Schlüter
Andreas Schlüter was a German baroque sculptor and architect associated with the Petrine Baroque style of architecture and decoration.-Biography:...
.
The palace was incomplete at the time of Kikin's disgrace and execution in 1718. The building was confiscated by the crown and housed the royal library and the cabinet of curiosities
Cabinet of curiosities
A cabinet of curiosities was an encyclopedic collection in Renaissance Europe of types of objects whose categorical boundaries were yet to be defined. They were also known by various names such as Cabinet of Wonder, and in German Kunstkammer or Wunderkammer...
of the Academy of Sciences
Russian Academy of Sciences
The Russian Academy of Sciences consists of the national academy of Russia and a network of scientific research institutes from across the Russian Federation as well as auxiliary scientific and social units like libraries, publishers and hospitals....
(later transferred to the Kunstkammer Building
Kunstkamera
The Kunstkamera was the first museum in Russia. Established by Peter the Great and completed in 1727, the Kunstkammer Building hosts the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, with a collection of almost 2,000,000 items...
). The original two-storey residence was expanded and the third storey was added at some point in the 1720s.
After 1733 the building was occupied by the office of the Horse Guards
Horse Guards
Horse Guards or horse guards can refer to:* A Household Cavalry regiment:** Troops of the Horse Guards Regiment of the British Army from 1658-1788** The Royal Horse Guards, which is now part of the Blues and Royals...
and their hospital. It was completely remodeled in 1829, and its Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
decor was removed. The dilapidated building was further damaged by aerial bombs in the 1940s.
It was Irina Benois from the famous Benois family
Benois family
The Benois family was a family of prominent 19th and 20th Century Russian artists, musicians, and architects, descended from French confectioner Louis Jules Benois, who came to Russia in 1794 after the French Revolution.-Prominent family members:...
who restored the building to its presumed Petrine Baroque
Petrine Baroque
Petrine Baroque is a name applied by art historians to a style of Baroque architecture and decoration favoured by Peter the Great and employed to design buildings in the newly-founded Russian capital, Saint Petersburg, under this monarch and his immediate successors.Unlike contemporaneous Naryshkin...
appearance in a campaign lasting from 1952 and 1956. The Kikin Palace currently houses a music school
Music school
The term music school refers to an educational institution specialized in the study, training and research of music.Different terms refer to this concept such as school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department or conservatory.Music instruction can be provided...
.