Pavilion of Venus

The Pavilion of Venus in the Gatchina Palace Park was designed by architect Vincenzo Brenna based on a structure in the estate of the Prince de Condé in Chantilly. The building consists of an elongated rectangular large hall with cut corners and a small antechamber with semicircular niches, while the hall's illumination is enhanced by mirrors in the inter-wall spaces with carved gilded wreaths. Above the mirrors are painted panels depicting flowers, flaming hearts, and quivers with arrows, and the huge ceiling painting "The Triumph of Venus" by Mettenleiter illustrates the mythological story of Cupid and Psyche. The sculpture of Cupid and Psyche, which returned to the museum in 1986 in a damaged state, was restored based on analogues and has been kept in the palace since 2015.