The Main Staircase

This staircase leads from the Egyptian Vestibule to the Upper Vestibule. Its decoration was completed ca. 1789 and executed by Vincenzo Brenna in the scope determined by the original project of Charles Cameron. Noteworthy are the organically developing flights of stairs behind the arch. The lion masks on the right side are supposedly made by the sculptor Ivan Prokofiev (two of them are original). The painting on the front wall near the ascent to the first steps was done in 1804 by Giovanni Battista Scotti (during the postwar restoration, the losses were filled in). The ceiling of the staircase room was originally painted by the decorator Carlo Scotti as per the design of Vincenzo Brenna, then, after the fire of 1803, by Giovanni Battista Scotti. This is an ornamental tone painting imitating molding. After World War II, the ceiling was recreated by the restorer A. V. Treskin based on photographs and the original sketch. A chandelier consisting of a wooden rod and gilded iron branches with six glass lanterns has been hanging over the last flight of stairs since the end of the 18th century (Sestroretsk Arms Factory (?), 1786). The original cast-iron grating of the staircase has also been preserved; it was made in the late 18th century at the same factory.

On the upper platform, there is a grandfather clock in a mahogany case with glass inserts painted in the eglomise technique (a combination of engraving with painting and finishing with gold or silver leaves; Saint Petersburg, the 1790s).