Kremlin interiors
Today for a camera crew to step on Red Squire cost $ 1000 for one hour. It is almost impossible to film Kremlin interiors; This footage was filmed in 1993 before Kremlin last restoration. It was unique opportunity to spend two days carefully filming Kremlin decor of closed to the public Kremlin cabinets and halls.
The Great Kremlin Palace is a masterpiece of Russian architecture of its time; a complex of buildings with gala reception halls, living rooms, court churches, workshops and household premises. The Great Kremlin Palace has surpassed many other European palaces in its grandeur and magnificence. Elements of various styles, from baroque to classicism, were incorporated in the palaces interiors, which are still almost intact today. Footage includes detailed shots of the gala reception halls- named Georgievsky, Vladimirsky, Andreyevsky, Alexandrovsky and Yekaterininsky- located on the second floor of the Great Kremlin Palace.
The Georgievsky (St. Georges) Hall is the largest and most popular of the gala halls. It was conceived as a hall of glory of the Russian army and is devoted to the military Order of St. George instituted by Empress Catherine II in 1769, one of the most honourable of the royal decorations. Relief work, sculpted and gilt bronze decorations adorn the snow-white walls and the vaulted ceiling. The hall glitters in the light of the many-tiered openwork bronze chandeliers and wall lamps set all along the cornices. The huge vaulted ceiling of the hall is held up by 18 massive pillars leaning against the twisted columns cast in zinc. Above their capitals one can see statues- the allegoric images of the regions, which joined the Russian state the late 15th to the early 19th century (by the sculptor I.P.Vitali).
The St.George’s Hall is the Vladimirsky (St.Vladimir’s) Hall devoted to the Order of St. Vladimir instituted by Catherine II in 1782. It was built on the site of the open Boyar Gallery of the 17th century. It is an octagonal room with the corners cut off and there are big broad arches in the low part. The walls and pilasters are covered with rose imitation marble. The cupola-shaped vault is decorated with gilt ornaments and symbols of the Order of St. Vladimir (a red-enameled gold cross and a star). During the day the Hall is lit by the sun shining through the vaulted cupola and in the evening a large bronze chandelier lights up the hall. The pattern of the parquet floor is made of rare species of wood.
Alexandrovsky Hall was named in honour of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, instituted by Catherine I, in 1725. Its walls were covered with rose-colored imitation marble. A spherical cupola is supported by sail-like vaults and is decorated with the Order’s symbols and state emblems.Moller’s scenes from the life of St. Alexander Nevsky hang on the walls. Hall’s parquet is made from various types of wood after the Academician Solntsev’s design. The room has two tiers of windows, six chandeliers and 28 wall lamps. There are glass panel doors and windows in the back wall. Hall was decorated with four marble mantelpieces and gilded chairs (made by Touret), which were upholstered in velvet of the color of the Order ribbon. The upholstery on the back of the chairs is embroidered with the Order’s stars.
