Portal Maska

#victor_ocean

The unique portal Mask owes its appearance to the desire of Emperor Paul I to hide from prying eyes the birch house, an unprepossessing externally surprise pavilion. Once again, Vincenzo Brenna faced a difficult task - to create a single architectural ensemble, while fulfilling the order of the sovereign. Construction begins in 1795. For about two years, Brenna has been in charge of the work, and in 1797 the modest Birch House is hidden behind a monumental structure made of blocks of light pudostx limestone. With its grandeur and solidity, Musk's portal resembles a grand triumphal gate. Sixteen identical columns hide a powerful stone wall and look like a colonnade. The total height of the building is nine meters and the width is thirteen. Columns spaced at different distances and rectangular cutouts in the wall form three spans. The central part of the portal is five meters wide. A staircase of five stone steps leads to it, along the edges of which pedestals are installed. They were supposed to place statues of lions. The triangular pediment is supported in front by eight columns - four on either side. The back of the ceiling rests on four columns, two on each side. The pediment is decorated with a relief image of cornucopia. The side spans are supported by four columns - two on each side. Low stone benches block the passage through the side arches. Vincenzo Brenna managed to create an amazing structure, which, together with the Birch House, formed a unique architectural ensemble, which became a real decoration of the Palace Park. The original and graceful Musk portal has no analogues in other park ensembles. During the war, the portal was practically not damaged. Unlike the Birch House, which was completely burned down.

In 1795-1797, under the leadership of the architect Vincenzo Brenna, a stone portal was erected in front of the Birch House, named "The Mask", which was designed to mask the nondescript appearance of the pavilion. The building is made of blocks of Pudost stone. With its monumentality, the portal resembles the triumphal gates of the Ionic order. Sixteen columns look spectacular against the backdrop of the park's age-old trees. The total height from ground level is almost nine, with a width of about thirteen meters.

A very beautiful and most importantly original structure.

A lot of ducks, a large and nice park. While there are no Chinese - a paradise. Hurry up to a complete restoration😆