Leningrad region > Gatchina > Grand Military Study

Grand Military Study

Most likely the Grand Military Study owes Its name to the fact that it contained not only drawings of military uniforms but ado other works of art involving military personnel. There are prims demonstrating Russian military uniforms of the 18 century. Paintings by Kart Schulz depict the Prussian army of the time of Frederick the Great, and the painting with the view of the Gatchina Palace features the change of the guard in the time of Paul I. Emperor Nikolas I knew the history of his country perfectly well and paid special attention to the military history.

One of the most important Kerns in the Study is the painting "Emperor Paul I with his retinue" by Johann Baptist von Lampi the Younger. Upon Nicholas I's order the palming was bought and delivered to the Gatchina Palace and was always kept in his study. Next to the painting thorn is a simple field bed of Nicholas Pavlovich, which resembles a similar field bed in his father's study. It is covered with thin mattress and could not have been very comfortable, but the Emperor was very unpretentious when it came to personal comfort. His contemporaries noted that when he was ill he still went horse-riding even if it roe freezing outside. He did not listen to doctors who advised him to rest. If he stayed in bed, it was only fora short period of time, and he used his greatcoat as à cover.

Next to the bed there is a washstand with a faience basin. During the reconstruction of the Palace In the 19 century a water supply system was installed so the lower part of the washstand was used to cover water supplying pipes.

Two masked doors lead to a water closet and so called «rainy» or «bathing» closet - the shower, ft really locks ID a closet outside. It really looks like a closet outside. Inside it is covered with galvanized iron and a small window is cut in the done. Àðàrt from the writing desk there is a bureau in the Study ft is a special type of furniture which is used for writing and rearing. But also has various shelves, niches and drawers. Some drawers wee secret, and they were used for keeping private papers. A map of Gatchina is fixed on a special console, it is a modem copy of the Gatchina Park detailed plan drawn in 1816. The original is kept in the National Library of Russia.

The enfilade of rooms continues behind the Study with chambers of the Empress. The room next to the Study was her bedroom where she Bed to rest and where she stayed when she was ill.

Nicholas I spent his last autumn in Gatchina in 1854. By that time the first success of the Crimean war was almost forgotten, Sevastopol was in siege and news from the front were less and less optimistic The Gatchina Palace was unusually quiet ds spite the presence of the Court. The Emperor rarely joined evening gatherings in me Arsenal Hall, because he was extremely busy. He often went to St. Petersburg, received couriers and visitors.

Nicholas Pavlovich took to the heart all the misfortunes of war. Things became even more difficult for him, when he decided to Bead Na youngest sons — Nicholas and Michael — to the hunt in order to inspire soldiers with the presence of Imperial family members. The Empress was ill and spent almost all days in bed. So as not to disturb his wife, Nicholas Pavlovich usually took off his shoes and tried to move behind the screens as quite as he could. Even the Name Day of the Emperor on the 6» of December was celebrated very modestly, without any festivities. In late December 1854 the family finally moved from Gatchina to St-Petersburg. The Emperor Nicholas I was never to return to Ns new comfortable rooms In the Gatchina Palace. On February 18, 1855, he died of severe cold which resulted in paralysis of lungs. But thanks to him the Gatchina Palace became a comfortable residence for his children and grandchildren.