Hermitage (Tsarskoye Selo)

The Hermitage Pavilion in the Catherine Park of Tsarskoye Selo is built in the Baroque style and served as a venue for entertainment gatherings of a narrow circle of courtiers. The decorative design of the building's facades was completed simultaneously with the interior decoration, which began in 1748, and the plaster bas-reliefs "Games of Cupids" on the column pedestals were created by the sculptor I. Dunker. In the four cabinets, the ceilings by Peresinotti depict allegories of the seasons in the form of cupids with bunches of grapes, flowers, and sheaves of wheat, while the ceiling of the main hall by D. Valeriani shows Juno and Jupiter inviting celestial beings to a set table. From 1918 to 1941, the pavilion hosted an exhibition featuring tables set with porcelain and crystal.