Kshesinskaya's mansion in St. Petersburg is one of the most important sights of the Art Nouveau era. Its elegant appearance on the Petrograd side is an undoubted decoration of the city. But, in addition to architectural merits, the Kshesinskaya mansion is a historically important and interesting place. Legends still circulate around him. And the very figure of a ballerina, a beautiful woman, is shrouded in an aura of romance and mystery.
Ballerina Story
Matilda Kshesinskaya was born into a ballet family. Her mother danced on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater, her grandfather was a violinist, her father was a famous dancer, a unique mazurka performer. The girl spent all her childhood behind the scenes. At the age of 8, she, like her sister and brother, was sent to a choreographic school. Here she was initially in a special position: all the children lived in an educational institution, and she was only allowed to come to class.
Already from early childhood MatildaI loved being the center of attention. She rode to school on a pony harnessed to a small stagecoach and reveled in curious looks. At the school, she also knew how to be a leader, although she was always compared to her sister. Even after coming to the theater after school, she became Kshesinskaya-2. Julia was the first. Matilda did not become the first student, but from her youth she was a purposeful careerist and knew how to turn circumstances in her favor. At the graduation at the choreographic school, she was able to charm the emperor. And it was he who wished her "to be the pride of the Russian ballet." At the solemn graduation party, where members of the imperial family were present, she first met with the heir to the throne, Nikolai, and a spark ran between them.
After that, she made a lot of efforts to constantly catch the eye of the heir and eventually achieved a date in private, after which a connection was established between them. Kshesinskaya, without hiding, began to live alone in the house where she received Nikolai. The relationship ended after the engagement of the heir to the throne with the German princess Alice. But Kshesinskaya did not waste time. In addition to making a successful career in the theater, not embarrassed to complain to members of the imperial family about any harassment, she also struck up a relationship with the Grand Duke - Sergei Mikhailovich. Thanks to such connections and high dance technique, Matilda reaches significant heights in the theater. She boldly intrigues against any competitors and becomes the leading ballerina of the Imperial Theater. She is the first domestic prima ballerina who was able to master 34 fouettes.
Since 1900, Matilda has been turning onin parallel, two novels with members of the imperial family: Sergei Mikhailovich and Andrei Vladimirovich. Kshesinskaya gives birth in 1902 from Prince Andrei's son. Since that time, Sergei Mikhailovich remains her only friend. Matilda has been working in the theater for two more years, but he is becoming less and less interesting to her. She enthusiastically plunges into the arrangement of her family (so far unofficial) life. Kshesinskaya's special talent was the ability to charm men. With all her lovers, she maintained friendly relations and skillfully used their support.
Life after ballet
In 1904, Kshesinskaya left the theater of her own free will. At the benefit performance, she receives a luxurious gift from the imperial family. She enters into a contract with the theater for one-time performances. Her fee ranged from 500 to 750 rubles for one performance. In 1917 she left St. Petersburg and went to Kislovodsk, and later to France. Just before the revolution, Prince Andrei gave her a luxurious mansion on the French coast. He became her refuge after emigrating.
In 1921, Matilda officially marries Prince Andrei in France. He finally adopted his own son, who until then bore the patronymic of Sergei. In 1924, she was granted the nobility and the title of Princess Krasinskaya. And in 1935, he and Prince Andrei received the title of Most Serene Prince Romanovsky-Krasinsky. A year later, Kshesinskaya finally said goodbye to the stage. But she taught for a long time. In 1960, she published a memoir written by her and her husband. The ballerina died in 1971, before she livedthe centenary is only a few months away.
History of the construction of the mansion
In 1904 Matilda Kshesinskaya decided to build her own house. Of course, this should be the best and most unusual mansion. Choosing a place, the ballerina drew attention to the most fashionable territory of that time - the Petrograd side. She found suitable land on Bolshaya Dvoryanskaya Street and invited the most popular architect, Alexander von Gauguin, to create the project.
In 1904, the Kshesinskaya mansion was erected in record time. Two years later, Matilda received her palace. She entrusted the interior design to the architect Alexander Ivanov. Only professional suppliers were invited to decorate the house and the best things were bought. Matilda wanted to hit the world. And she succeeded. In 1906, the Kshesinskaya mansion in St. Petersburg was opened, its address is Bolshaya Dvoryanskaya Street, house No. 2-4 and Kronverksky Prospekt, house No. 1. The house has become the most fashionable place in the capital.
Biography of the architect A. I. von Gauguin
Choosing an architect to create a project for her house, Kshesinskaya went through a lot of candidates. But she settled on Alexander von Gauguin. He was very famous for his works - numerous houses, churches and public buildings in St. Petersburg and its suburbs. He was a prominent representative of the Art Nouveau style, the most fashionable at that time. The Kshesinskaya mansion became an important project for A. Gauguin. He glorified his name for years to come. To get such a customer as Matilda Kshesinskaya was a great success for the architect,because she did not skimp on expenses and was ready for bold experiments.
A. A. von Gauguin began his architectural practice in 1877. He also had a diploma as an artist, created sculptures, painted pictures. For some time he worked as an architect in the Ministry of War: he built churches, buildings for officers' meetings, and hospitals. In 1903 he became the architect of the Imperial Court. This greatly increased the number of aristocratic clients. And that is why Kshesinskaya came to him, who all her life tried to maintain her closeness to the royal family. Gauguin received a classical education. He graduated from the Academy of Arts, but at the turn of the century he actively built in the Art Nouveau style, developing and enriching this style with new decorative and architectural solutions.
The main architectural style of St. Petersburg at the beginning of the 20th century
The mansion of the ballerina Kshesinskaya had to comply with all fashion trends. Therefore, when discussing the construction of a house with an architect, she immediately chose the Art Nouveau style, which at that time was the most advanced and striking in domestic architecture. It is distinguished by the desire to use natural forms, the inclusion of various elements of oriental architecture, a harmonious combination of utility and aesthetics, a craving for decorativeness, strong external effects. All this corresponded to the time of the turn of the century, when there was a feeling of a change of eras, there was a search for new forms, ideas, new canons of beauty. Gauguin was a representative of the early Northern Art Nouveau in St. Petersburg. In his buildings, the style has not yet been fully disclosed, but all the distinctive features of this trend in his buildingsattended.
Northern Art Nouveau is distinguished by asymmetry of forms, a tendency to use natural materials in decoration, a harmonious selection of textures and shades of decoration in natural tones. Buildings in this style are reminiscent of medieval castles and northern rocky shores in color and texture. Floral ornaments, decoration with majolica panels and mosaics are another feature of this trend. Buildings in the style are distinguished by the contrast of textures, large, massive forms, a wide variety of window opening shapes. The Kshesinskaya mansion in St. Petersburg has become a worthy example of early northern modernity.
Mansion setup
The idea of building a mansion came to Matilda after the birth of her son. In the house on the Promenade des Anglais, she could give the child only one room, and she wanted him to live comfortably with her even after he grew up. Having gathered to equip the mansion, Matilda expressed her wishes to the architect. In her memoirs, she writes that she herself outlined the interior decoration of some rooms. She wanted space and maximum comfort. And the Kshesinskaya mansion became a combination of beauty and convenience. The ballerina not only wanted to impress guests and onlookers, but also to live with maximum comfort.
The layout of the mansion was very convenient. Everything was provided for. There was even a luxurious wardrobe of two rooms: one kept the clothes of the hostess, the other - stage costumes. Everything was numbered. Matilda could simply send a note to the maid with the number of the closet, so that she would send her the right dress wherever she wanted. The kitchen was very spacious and equipped with the latest technology. Kshesinskaya often invited guests here after dinner.
The house was provided with a room for animals: the fox terrier Jibi, the cow, which provided the child with fresh milk, the pig and goat, with which Matilda performed at Esmeralda. The farm also had a separate laundry room, a garage for two cars. For guests in the house there is also a luxurious wine cellar, the filling of which was personally taken care of by Prince Andrei. The front part of the house was a luxurious suite of rooms, each of which struck with style and magnificence. A separate pride of the hostess was a luxurious winter garden.
Style and architecture of the mansion
Creating a project for a new house, the architect Gauguin literally put his soul into it. He thought through every detail, while clearly following the wishes of the customer. The Kshesinskaya mansion has an asymmetric composition, it is based on equal volumes. The peculiarity of the house lies in the fact that there is no main entrance on the front part, facing Kronverksky Prospekt. It is hidden in a small courtyard behind a granite fence gate. The originality of the facade is given by the free rhythm of windows of different sizes and shapes. Their openings correspond to the interior layout of the premises.
The plan of the house assumed that its lower part would be given over to various service premises, and the first floor would be occupied by state rooms: a salon for receiving guests, a dining room, and ballrooms. The latter, by the way, were planned in the form of an enfilade, reminiscent of palace interiors. At the same time, the family's private quarters will be located on the second floor: bedrooms, dressing rooms, a bathroom, and a nursery. Fairly spacious, bright rooms were allocated for the servants. Matilda did not skimp on this either.
The facade of the house is finished with red and gray natural granite and facing light brick with elements of blue majolica and metal decor. The style is northern modern, which implies restraint and elegance. The house does not look luxurious on the outside, but it does impress with the sophistication of style.
Interior
M. F. Mansion Kshesinskaya was designed for great effect with its interior decoration. All the best was used for its design. The furniture was ordered from the largest manufacturer Meltzer. Accessories, furnishings, lamps, chandeliers, dishes, fabrics - everything to the smallest detail was ordered in the best salons of Paris. Matilda wanted the best and was not shy about spending.
At the request of the hostess, one ceremonial hall was decorated in the style of Louis the Sixteenth, the second - in the Russian Empire style. The walls of the first room were covered with yellow silk, the second - white. For the bedrooms, she preferred the English style with white furniture. The dining room and salon were decorated in the Art Nouveau style. The interior has been thought out to the smallest detail. Everything - from the latch to the chandeliers - the architect Dmitriev selected in accordance with the concept of the room. Therefore, the guests were amazed not only by the luxury, but also by the absolute harmony and integrity of the interiors, which were ideally emphasized by the proportions and shapes of the rooms and windows.
Secular Centerlife
After the opening, the Kshesinskaya mansion, whose photo got into all the newspapers, became a gathering place for high society. Matilda was very proud of her work and was ready to conduct almost excursions. All the celebrities of that time were here. Yesenin often came with Isadora Duncan, who became very close to the mistress of the mansion. There was Chaliapin. Colleagues of the ballerina came: Karsavina, Nizhinsky, Pavlova. Sergei Diaghilev stayed with Matilda for a long time, with whom he was friends.
Kshesinskaya loved to arrange concerts, inviting the best musicians for this. For example, the Italian star Lina Cavalieri. Carl Faberezhe was a frequent guest in the house. And, of course, representatives of the imperial family became the main guests of Kshesinskaya. Receptions, home performances, grandiose dinners were often held here. For ten years, Matilda led a happy, luxurious life in her mansion, but the year 1917 came. Everything has changed.
Revolution Times
At the end of 1916, Matilda begins to receive threatening letters, but so far she is not very worried. And in February 1917, she had to face the revolutionary changes directly. On February 28, rebels broke into the mansion, began to smash and rob. Kshesinskaya and her son hurriedly left the house, taking a chest with valuables. For ten days lawlessness reigned in the house. And only on March 10, an officer from the service of the mayor was able to describe the preserved values, which were then transferred to the bank. Matilda fought for their return for a long time, but did not achieve anything. However, the biggestsome of the things had already disappeared without a trace by that time.
The revolutionary leadership has looked after the house to house their headquarters here. And the Kshesinskaya mansion in St. Petersburg, it was decided to "compact". For half a year, Matilda tried to defend her right to a house: she filed a lawsuit, turned to Kerensky. Received reassuring news from everywhere. But no one has vacated the house. In July 1917, Kshesinskaya leaves for a dacha in Kislovodsk. She will never see her mansion again.
The period of Soviet power
After 1917, the house housed the Petrograd Soviet, then the Museum of the Revolution. Street names change during this period. And questions about where the Kshesinskaya mansion is located (address), how to get to it, become very relevant. Residents of St. Petersburg will have to get used to the fact that Bolshaya Dvoryanskaya Street is now called after Kuibyshev. At different times, the mansion also housed the Institute of Public Catering, the Society of Old Bolsheviks. And only by the mid-30s, it was decided to give it to the museum.
Museum and mansion
In 1938, the Sergei Kirov Museum was opened here. By this time, the atmosphere of the mansion was almost completely lost. Only elements of the interior decoration remained. In 1957, a museum of the Revolution was created here, the furnishings of one of the offices of the leaders of the coup were restored. The Kshesinskaya mansion, whose opening hours are now determined by the museum regime, is connected to the neighboring building - the mansion of Baron Brant. In 1991, the complex was given over to the Museum of Political History of Russia, part of the exposition is dedicated to the times of Matilda Kshesinskaya.
Mansion life today
Kshesinskaya's mansion in St. Petersburg today appears in two forms: it continues to work as a museum of history, but many visitors come here to see the remnants of luxurious interiors with their own eyes. Few of the furnishings have been preserved here, but the halls themselves remain almost in their original form. The Kshesinskaya mansion, whose address has now become the venue for literary and musical evenings, allows you to see the brilliant, stylish idea of the architects and the magnificent execution of this idea. The surviving main staircase, halls, chandeliers give an idea of the scale of the project. The Kshesinskaya mansion (St. Petersburg) has the following opening hours: from 10 to 18. Today it attracts many guests and residents of the Northern capital as a stylish object and a place where the life of an unusual woman took place.
Mansion Legends
Kshesinskaya's mansion in St. Petersburg has always been shrouded in various rumors and legends. Even at the time of construction, people used to say that Emperor Nicholas II himself gave money for such a luxurious building. It was on his orders that an underground passage was laid between the house and the Winter Palace. This rumor was so persistent that even today, some visitors to the mansion want to see it with their own eyes.
Also, the mansion of Matilda Kshesinskaya, whose history and luxury amazed the imagination of the proletariat, was accompanied by rumors of a treasure throughout the post-revolutionary fate. Since not many jewels and objects were officially found during the capture of the buildingluxury, then there was a legend among the people that Matilda packed all the valuables in a chest and hid them. So far no one has been able to find it. Another urban rumor is connected with the vision of a female figure in the windows of the mansion. Residents of the Petrograd side say that the ghost of a ballerina wanders there at night, who cannot part with her beloved home.
Interesting facts
Kshesinskaya's mansion in St. Petersburg is a historical place. Here in 1917 Vladimir Lenin spoke from the balcony. Since 1938, it has been used as a museum, first of S. Kirov, then of the Revolution and, finally, of the political history of Russia. The huge wardrobe of the ballerina, which was in the mansion, was confiscated after the revolution. For many years, Alexandra Kollontai, a Russian revolutionary and diplomat, could be seen in Matilda's dresses.
