Gold Drawing Room of the Winter Palace

[1] The vaulted ceiling and window embrasures give this large room a cavernous air.

It was refurbished for her by Andrei Stakenschneider, who employed heavy gilt mouldings for the ceiling and walls in a Byzantine style.

A low panel in the lower part of the walls was painted in imitation of lapis lazuli.

In 1850 the architect Andrei Stackenschneider created new curtains, cornices and a furniture set covered in crimson brocatelle.

The Golden Drawing Room was the ceremonial salon of Empress Maria Alexandrovna and a dance hall.