Monday, January 27, 2020

Saint Petesburg at Night: Academy of Fine Arts. Sphinxes

I'd like to continue our strolls along the river Neva and today I tell you about the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts that was founded by the Russian empress Catherine the Great. She named it the “Academy of the Three Most Noble Arts” and chose a place for building at the bank of the river Neva. The empress herself laid the foundation stone of the building. One of the earliest neoclassical buildings in St. Petersburg was completed in 1788. 

 


There are some superbly decorated interiors, particularly the Raphael Hall and the Titian Hall.
The main architect of the project was Jean-Baptiste Wallin de la Mothe, who was invited from France to become the first professor of architecture at the Academy. De la
Mothe and the two Russians artists Felten and Kokorinov became the first professors to teach at the Academy.



Two Egyptian sphinxes dating from the reign of Amenhotep III (about 3,500 years ago) are considered one of the best examples of the ancient Egyptian colossal sculpture stored outside of Egypt. Once they stood on the Avenue of the Sphinxes in front of the tomb of Pharaoh Amenhotep III.



 
They were bought in France in 1832, on behalf of the Russian emperor and sent to St. Petersburg. A granite quay became their permanent home and they are among the most famous statues in St. Petersburg. 


Yesterday was my birthday, lilies on my table:









41 comments:

  1. A friend of mine has always wanted to visit St. Petersburg but for one reason or another has never done so. I will show her your blog and that maybe will stimulate her to take the trip she has always dreamed of. I am sure it is a fascinating city with much to offer. Now, perhaps you can do me a favour. I recently reviewed a book called "The Gardener's Botanical" for Princeton University Press and because I edited it and reposted it it does not show up on people's feeds. Perhaps you can make sure it is there (it will be the most recent post or the second most recent) and if you feel so inclined leave a comment. Thank you, Nadezda!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have found your new post David. Interesting book review.
      Sure your friend will learn more reading my post, and perhaps will come here one day.

      Delete
  2. Yes they are Agnes. Glad you liked my photos.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello Nadezda,

    I think St. Petersburg is a very beautiful city. The Spinxes was great.

    Congratulation with your bithday!
    Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dear Nadezda!
    Yesterday was your birthday, so I want to wish you everything that is most important: health, joy, happiness and love. I also wish you many interesting and inspiring blog posts, because I am happy to visit you here.
    Thank you that you once again showed us the beauty of St. Petersburg and its monuments at night.
    Hugs and warm greetings.
    Anita

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad Anita, you love my blog. I will tell my readers the most interesting events and news.
      Thanks for the wish of health - I really need it.
      Hugs!

      Delete
  5. Dear Nadezda!
    On the occasion of births, I wish you much health, joy, wonderful travels in the beautiful gardens of the world, make all your dreams come true.

    St. Petersburg is still in my dreams. I would like to see this amazing city. Thank you that I can admire him at night. St. Petersburg is a real pearl of Europe. Thank you very much for the beautiful photos.
    Hugs and greetings.
    Lucja

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Lucia, it’s nice that you liked my photos, and my city is still in your dreams.
      Thank you for your wishes, I love traveling, and health is what I need most right now.

      Delete
  6. Palju õnne sünnipäevaks!
    Lugesin just Leningradi blokaadi lõpust 76aastat tagasi, mis kestis 900 päeva.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Happy Birthday Nadezda!
    It is a great and beautiful building.
    Have a nice new week!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful photos, St Petersburg has wonderful buildings and very well maintained, it is a fantastic city that I loved to visit.
    I really enjoyed watching the video, it was like being there again.
    Nadezda, Many Congratulations, I wish you an immense world of joy and happiness.
    Hugs from Portugal

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree Maria the city is beautiful.
      Thanks for your kind wishes,
      all the best!

      Delete
  9. Città stupenda che mi piacerebbe visitare :)

    Ti auguro una buona serata e una buona settimana :D

    ReplyDelete
  10. Pensé de visitarla en junio de este año, pero creo que no podrá ser.... pero sigo pensando en ir. Muchísimas felicidades y que estés bien de salud y si alguna vez piensas en visitar España, Extremadura, aquí estoy. Abrazos y besos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Teresa, tal vez algún día puedo visitar Extremadura y tu verás San Petersburgo.
      Buena semana!

      Delete
  11. Beautiful and interesting!
    Belated happy birthday wishes! 💐

    ReplyDelete
  12. I think Saint Petersburg is a wonderful city, I would like to visit some time,
    Happy birthday, Nadezda!

    Hugs, Ida

    ReplyDelete
  13. Happy birthday, Nadezda! Hugs and kisses! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Happy happy birthday to you!!! Have a wonderful year in your personal calender!
    Big big hugs and all my best
    Elisabeth

    Love your pictures

    ReplyDelete
  15. Happy belated birthday, Nadezda. May the new year bring you only joy.
    If ever I could manage to come to Russia I’d come to Saint Petersburg, it is surely a fascinating city.

    Have you started gardening?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Friko,
      thank you for your kind wishes!
      There is snow in my garden, the soil is frozen, so there is no gardening here until March.
      Happy weekend!

      Delete
  16. Fe🎉 Li 🍰 Ci 🎈 Da 🍸 Des 😘 Amiga. Llego un poco tarde y espero que pasaras un buen día. Cumplir años es bonito y si es con salud mejor
    Preciosa ciudad y muy rica en historia. Me gustaría visitarla alguna vez. Lindas fotos y flores.
    Te deseo un buen domingo Nadezda.
    Un abrazo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gracias por tus felicitaciones Laura!
      Puede ser podras visitar San Petersburgo algun dia, quien sabe?

      Delete
  17. I often hear about an academy of "Arts and Sciences" but never of "Arts and Sphinxes" it sounds much more interesting! :) Happy belated birthday to you! May your coming year be a good one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha! Jenny, you are a writer and you know that the title of the post must be accurate. I was wrong to name the post that way. I think the title of the post should be "Academy of Fine Arts. Sphinxes." I'm right? I fixed it.
      Thank you for your good wishes!

      Delete
    2. I liked the idea of "Arts and Sphinxes" it is not quite grammatically correct - but I smiled happily to imagine such a fantastical academy, with sphinxes creating art works instead of merely being the subject of art. But of course the present title is clearer & more accurate so both are good. St Petersburg always looks such an incredibly grand place, full of magnificent architecture and built on such a large scale.

      Delete
    3. Thank you Jenny for you advice.

      Delete
  18. I loved your views of St. Petersburg and history behind the Academy. The photographs bring back memories of when my husband and I visited back in 1989. I would love to go back some day. It was one of my favorite places ever visited.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Lee, I'm glad you remember your visit to St. Petersburg many years ago.
      Thank you for your comment.

      Delete
  19. Happy Birthday to You Nadezda. Age is only a number I`ve heard. St. Petersburg is really fantastic city with all its palaces, fountains, channels, churches and museums. It is one of the places I will visit one day with my husband.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you will, Kruunuvuokko.
      Thanks for your kind words!

      Delete

Thank you for stopping by Nadezda's Northern Garden blog!
I'm glad to read your friendly comments very much.
Feel free to comment on the posts or photos
I warmly welcome the new followers on my blog.