Lion Cascade (Hermitage)

VWQ3+23 Petrodvortsovy District, Saint Petersburg, Russia

The idea behind the design of the Lower Park was based on the principle: each palace should correspond to a cascade of fountains. In 1721, the construction of the "Hermitage" pavilion began, and an alley leading to it was laid out. The cascade project, referred to as the "Moses Cascade" in Peter's sketches, was prepared by the architect Nicolo Michetti, but the original plan was not realized. Initially, statues of Hercules and Flora were used as sculptural decoration, but a year later they were replaced by bronze figures of lions, made based on Prokofiev's models. The cascade, named the Hermitage Cascade by its location, received its second, more famous name "Lion's" – after its decoration.

Imperial Parks of Peterhof

Great Architects: Andrey Ivanovich Stakenschneider

Great Architects: Andrey Nikiforovich Voronikhin

The idea behind the design of the Lower Park was based on the principle: each palace should correspond to a cascade of fountains. In 1721, the construction of the "Hermitage" pavilion began, and an alley leading to it was laid out. According to the original plan, the perspective of the Hermitage Alley was to be closed off on the southern side by the Hermitage Cascade. The cascade project, referred to in Peter the Great’s sketches as the "Moses Cascade," was prepared by the architect Nicolo Michetti; however, the initial concept was not realized. The principle of "palace — cascade" was revisited at the end of the 18th century, when the construction of the Hermitage Cascade began according to Voronikhin’s design. The cascade, built between 1799 and 1801, consisted of a rectangular pool with waterfall steps and eight flat marble fountain basins. Initially, statues of Hercules and Flora were used as sculptural decoration, but a year later they were replaced by bronze lion figures made after Prokofiev’s models. The cascade, named Hermitage due to its location, received its second, more famous name, the "Lion Cascade," because of its decoration.

Between 1854 and 1857, the cascade was completely rebuilt according to a project by Stakenschneider. The pool was enlarged (its current dimensions are 30 by 18.5 meters); on a granite pedestal, following the old contour, a three-sided monumental colonnade was installed, consisting of 14 eight-meter columns made of dark gray Serdobol granite, with capitals, an architrave, and bases made of snow-white Carrara marble. Between the columns, 12 basins made of the same marble were placed, each with single-jet fountains. The cascade was decorated below with mascarons located under each basin. In the middle of the colonnade, on a mound of granite boulders, a statue by Tolstoy, "Nymph Aganippe," was installed. From the previous decoration, only the lions remained, from whose mouths water jets flow.

The cascade, designed in the style of late classicism, is somewhat unusual for the Peterhof ensemble. It is distinguished by the strictness of ancient forms, the laconic water design, the deliberately restrained colors of the stone, and the complete absence of gilded details. The Lion Cascade is the only one of the four cascades in the Lower Park located not on a slope but on the lower terrace. The restoration of the Lion Cascade in 2000 completed the post-war restoration of the fountain structures of the Lower Park.

During the Great Patriotic War, the cascade was seriously damaged; only the pedestal, part of the colonnade, and damaged marble basins remained. The restoration took a long time — the cascade only resumed operation in August 2000.

Sources:

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_Cascade

https://peterhofmuseum.ru/objects/peterhof/fontan_lviniy_kaskad

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Fountains "Bells"

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

In the center of each of the four parterres into which the Monplaisir Garden is divided, Peter planned to install the "Bells" fountains, adorned with gilded sculptures. These water jets were created between 1721 and 1723 according to Miketti's drawings, simultaneously with the central "Sheaf" fountain. The weathered lead statues were replaced with bronze ones in 1817. Wax models for them were made by I. Martos based on molds kept in the Museum of the Academy of Arts.

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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The Grand Cascade is the most magnificent fountain structure of the Peterhof ensemble.

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Benois Family Museum

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

There are many world-famous artists, but artistic dynasties are few. Among them, the Benois family rightfully holds a special place. This lineage has French origins. As often happened with many foreign families in Russia, the Benois family, combining French and German blood, became Russified and became the progenitor of numerous Russian figures in the arts.

Grand Palace (Peterhof)

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

At the foot of the Grand Palace, in the center of the parterre flower beds, are the paired "Bowls" fountains, whose construction, according to the project of architect Nicolo Michetti, was completed at the end of 1722. The trial launch took place in the presence of Peter I. The oldest fountains of Peterhof, known for the power of their jets, received a second name – the "Great Fountains." Since the hydraulic work on the eastern fountain was carried out by the Frenchman Paul Soualem, and the western one by the Italians Giovanni and Giuliano Barratini, the western fountain is called the "Italian" fountain.

Paired Fountains "Bowls" (French)

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Imperial Parks of Peterhof

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