House with Lions – Introduction to Monferrand

The first completed building by Monferran in the Russian capital was the Lobanov-Rostovsky House, or the House with Lions, on Admiralteysky Avenue.

It was during the construction of this house that Samson Sukhanov met the future creator of St. Isaac's Cathedral. The master stonemason undertook the granite work for the building under construction. In a relatively short time, Sukhanov and his workers, who moved with him from one construction site to another, clad the plinth of the house all around its perimeter and the massive stylobates under the arcades with rapakivi granite slabs. Inside the vestibule, his team carved and installed in two rows eight polished granite columns, polished to a mirror shine, dividing the vestibule into three parts, as well as hewn granite steps of the three-flight grand staircase leading to the second floor. On either side of the central arch at the main entrance opposite the Admiralty, marble lion figures sculpted by Triscorni were installed on granite pedestals made by Sukhanov.

Sources:

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Дом_Лобанова-Ростовского