Alferaki Palace
Encyclopedia
Alferaki Palace is a museum in Taganrog
, Russia
, originally the home of rich merchant Nikolay Alferaki. It was built in 1848 by the architect Andrei Stackenschneider in the downtown Taganrog
on Frunze Street (formerly Katolicheskaya).
The building is decorated with a portal featuring four Corinthian columns and stucco moulding in baroque
style. Inside was created suite of rooms, and a spaceous hall with ceiling-painting.
and his family.
Mikhail Shchepkin
stayed In Alferaki Palace in July 1863. In 1870s after the Alferaki family went bankrupt, the palace was sold to the Greek merchant Negroponte. Its garden was sold to merchant community. It re-opened as Commercial Assembly. Anton Chekhov
(as a student of The Boys Gymnasium
) visited concerts given at the commercial club's in 1876, and later mentioned the palace in his novels Ionych, Mask and My life.
From February to April 1918 the mansion became the headquarters of the Soviet Workers' council
of Taganrog
.
Later during occupation in 1918 it housed German
war hospital, and in 1919 – Anton Ivanovich Denikin
's staff.
After establishment of Soviet power in Taganrog
, the building accommodated various institution, after 1927 it housed the Museum of Regional Studies (founded in 1898 by Anton Chekhov
).
During Occupation of Taganrog
, the whole collection of Russian art, as well as 339 other objects of art were looted by German
occupation authorities
.
Alferaki Palace was renovated in 1991-1996 and is now open to public as Museum of Regional Studies, though more commonly known under the name Alferaki Palace.
The spacy hall with amazing acoustics is also used by the Municipality in the official ceremonies, especially the annual ceremony of honoring the best school graduates by the Mayor of Taganrog.
and Peter I of Russia
, playwright and poet Nestor Kukolnik
, the founder of Russian heraldry Alexander Lakier
, the great actress Faina Ranevskaya
, author of children's books Ivan Vasilenko
, romantic composer Achilles Alferaki
, general Paul von Rennenkampf
and many more.
Taganrog
Taganrog is a seaport city in Rostov Oblast, Russia, located on the north shore of Taganrog Bay , several kilometers west of the mouth of the Don River. Population: -History of Taganrog:...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, originally the home of rich merchant Nikolay Alferaki. It was built in 1848 by the architect Andrei Stackenschneider in the downtown Taganrog
Taganrog
Taganrog is a seaport city in Rostov Oblast, Russia, located on the north shore of Taganrog Bay , several kilometers west of the mouth of the Don River. Population: -History of Taganrog:...
on Frunze Street (formerly Katolicheskaya).
The building is decorated with a portal featuring four Corinthian columns and stucco moulding in baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style. Inside was created suite of rooms, and a spaceous hall with ceiling-painting.
History
The first owners of the palace were Nikos Alferakis, who was born in TaganrogTaganrog
Taganrog is a seaport city in Rostov Oblast, Russia, located on the north shore of Taganrog Bay , several kilometers west of the mouth of the Don River. Population: -History of Taganrog:...
and his family.
Mikhail Shchepkin
Mikhail Shchepkin
Mikhail Semyonovich Shchepkin was the most famous Russian actor of the 19th century.As his father was a serf, Shchepkin's freedom had to be bought by his admirers in 1821. Three years later, he joined the Maly Theatre in Moscow, which he would dominate for the next 40 years—it became known as the...
stayed In Alferaki Palace in July 1863. In 1870s after the Alferaki family went bankrupt, the palace was sold to the Greek merchant Negroponte. Its garden was sold to merchant community. It re-opened as Commercial Assembly. Anton Chekhov
Anton Chekhov
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian physician, dramatist and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history. His career as a dramatist produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics...
(as a student of The Boys Gymnasium
Chekhov Gymnasium
The Chekhov Gymnasium in Taganrog on Ulitsa Oktyabrskaya 9 is the oldest gymnasium in the South of Russia. Playwright and short-story writer Anton Chekhov spent 11 years in the school, which was later named after him and transformed into a literary museum...
) visited concerts given at the commercial club's in 1876, and later mentioned the palace in his novels Ionych, Mask and My life.
From February to April 1918 the mansion became the headquarters of the Soviet Workers' council
Workers' council
A workers' council, or revolutionary councils, is the phenomenon where a single place of work or enterprise, such as a factory, school, or farm, is controlled collectively by the workers of that workplace, through the core principle of temporary and instantly revocable delegates.In a system with...
of Taganrog
Taganrog
Taganrog is a seaport city in Rostov Oblast, Russia, located on the north shore of Taganrog Bay , several kilometers west of the mouth of the Don River. Population: -History of Taganrog:...
.
Later during occupation in 1918 it housed German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
war hospital, and in 1919 – Anton Ivanovich Denikin
Anton Ivanovich Denikin
Anton Ivanovich Denikin was Lieutenant General of the Imperial Russian Army and one of the foremost generals of the White movement in the Russian Civil War.- Childhood :...
's staff.
After establishment of Soviet power in Taganrog
Taganrog
Taganrog is a seaport city in Rostov Oblast, Russia, located on the north shore of Taganrog Bay , several kilometers west of the mouth of the Don River. Population: -History of Taganrog:...
, the building accommodated various institution, after 1927 it housed the Museum of Regional Studies (founded in 1898 by Anton Chekhov
Anton Chekhov
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian physician, dramatist and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history. His career as a dramatist produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics...
).
During Occupation of Taganrog
Taganrog during World War II
The Soviet city of Taganrog, now part of the Rostov Oblast of the Russian Federation, had an eventful history during World War II, from 1941 to 1945.-Defense of Taganrog:...
, the whole collection of Russian art, as well as 339 other objects of art were looted by German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
occupation authorities
.
Alferaki Palace was renovated in 1991-1996 and is now open to public as Museum of Regional Studies, though more commonly known under the name Alferaki Palace.
The spacy hall with amazing acoustics is also used by the Municipality in the official ceremonies, especially the annual ceremony of honoring the best school graduates by the Mayor of Taganrog.
Museum's collection
The basis of museum collections is formed with funds related to famous historical or artistic personalities, including authentic personal belongings of the Russian tsars Alexander I of RussiaAlexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
and Peter I of Russia
Peter I of Russia
Peter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style. All other dates in this article are New Style. ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother, Ivan V...
, playwright and poet Nestor Kukolnik
Nestor Kukolnik
Nestor Vasilievich Kukolnik was a Russian playwright and prose writer of Carpatho-Rusyn origin. Immensely popular during the early part of his career, his works were subsequently dismissed as sententious and sentimental. Today, he is best remembered for having contributed to the libretto of the...
, the founder of Russian heraldry Alexander Lakier
Alexander Lakier
Alexander Borisovich Lakier was a Russian historian of German descent who was interested in heraldry.Alexander Lakier was born in the city of Taganrog in 1825. His father, Boris Lakier, a convert from Judaism, was the doctor who certified the death of the late Russian Emperor Alexander I of...
, the great actress Faina Ranevskaya
Faina Ranevskaya
Faina Georgievna Ranevskaya is recognized as one of the greatest Soviet Russian actors in both tragedy and comedy. She was also famous for her aphorisms....
, author of children's books Ivan Vasilenko
Ivan Vasilenko
Ivan Dmitrievich Vasilenko , was a Russian Soviet children's books author.-Early years:Ivan Dmitrievich Vasilenko was born January 20, 1895 in the village of Makeevka, in the former guberniya of Taganrog in a clerk’s family. Seven years later, his family moved to the city of Taganrog proper...
, romantic composer Achilles Alferaki
Achilles Alferaki
Alferaki, Achilles Nikolayevich ; , was a Russian composer and statesman of Greek descent, brother to Sergei Alphéraky. He was born in Kharkov . He spent all of his childhood in the city of Taganrog in the magnificent palace on Catholic Street...
, general Paul von Rennenkampf
Paul von Rennenkampf
Paul von Rennenkampf was a Russian general who served in the Imperial Russian Army for over 40 years, including during World War I.-Early career:...
and many more.
See also
- Achilles AlferakiAchilles AlferakiAlferaki, Achilles Nikolayevich ; , was a Russian composer and statesman of Greek descent, brother to Sergei Alphéraky. He was born in Kharkov . He spent all of his childhood in the city of Taganrog in the magnificent palace on Catholic Street...
- Sergei AlphérakySergei AlphérakySergei Nikolaevich Alphéraky was a Russian ornithologist and entomologist who specialised in Lepidoptera.Sergei Alphéraky was born into a noble Greek family of Alferakis, brother to composer Achilles Alferaki, his father Nikos Alferakis owned the Alferaki Palace in Taganrog...
- History of TaganrogHistory of Taganrog- Ancient history:The excavations conducted by the German Archaeological Institute led by Ortwin Dally and Don Archaeological Society, brought to conclusion that there was a Greek settlement in the place of the modern-day Taganrog, founded in the late 7th century BC.It played an important role in...
- List of people in Taganrog