St George's Hall and Apollo Room of the Winter Palace

Following the fire, Russian architect Vasily Stasov was commissioned to oversee the restoration and rebuilding of the palace.

While he retained the architectural features dictated by the exterior of the palace, he completely redesigned the interior in a more simple classical style.

St George's Hall, which served as the palace's principal throne room, was the scene of many of the most formal ceremonies of the Imperial court.

The Tsar's sister, who stood with the Imperial family on the steps of the throne, recalled of the masses of ordinary Russians who packed the hall: "I went with my mother to the first Duma.

Today, as part of the State Hermitage Museum, this room retains the decorative scheme created by Stasov.