Stroganov Palace

The palace was built to Bartolomeo Rastrelli's designs for Baron Sergei Grigoriyevich Stroganov in 1753–1754.

Since the Stroganovs were the richest family in Russia and were related to the Empress by marriage, Rastrelli could not turn down the commission and hastily prepared a design for the townhouse.

This chain of ownership was preserved until 1919 when the last Count Sergei Stroganov sold his rights to the entail.

The Soviets declared the palace a national museum chronicling the lifestyle of the Russian nobility.

In keeping with Rastrelli's original design, its walls are now painted light pink (rather than dark green, as they were in the mid-20th century).

Increasing plastic expression toward the center is a favorite method of the architect's for producing strong concentration in a building.

According to one version, the man is the first owner of the palace, Baron Stroganov, whom Rastrelli wanted to surprise.