The directory «Plots of stamps in the catalogue»

The hospice of Count Sheremetyev

A Moscow guide of 1896 describes this house as ‘the hospice of Count Sheremetyev on Sukharyevskaya Sadovaya Road’, only today the road has been re-named and the address is now: Bolshaya Sukharyevskaya Square, 3’. It was built in the eighteenth century in 1792.The idea to build a hospice for the sick and poor belonged to the wife of Count Sheremetyev, Praskovya Kovalyeva-Zhemchugova (Zhemchugova, which means pearl was her stage name). She was the serf daughter of a merchant, born in 1768. She had a wonderful voice and unusual artistic talent and became an actress. The Count fell in love with her and she became his mistress. When she turned twenty, she and the Count moved in together. Ten years later in 1798 the Count gave her manumission from serfdom and in 1801 he secretly married her. This was a courageous thing to do in view of the certain contempt society would have for the marriage and the merchant’s daughter was never accepted into society. The Count and Pearl lived happily together but for a short time. Pearl gave birth to a son when she was thirty-five and died two weeks later; her husband passed away six years later. The hospice was raised in memory of Pearl, who had been charitably active all her life.

The architect Elizvy Semenovich Nazarov took up the project. His fate was somewhat similar to that of Pearl’s in that he was an emancipated serf. He designed the building in the >Pearl died, and after her death her inconsolable husband decided to raise it in her memory. The famous Petersburg architect Jacamo Kvarengi was called upon to help. He altered the plans substantially, adding a lot of embellishments. The main entrance was decorated with a semi-colonnade and inside a marble statue of ‘mercy’ was placed. This has unfortunately not been preserved. In the plans the Count altered the statue of ‘mercy’ to one of Pearl.

A chapel of the Holy Trinity was placed inside the building, as it was decided that the home should cater not only needs for of the body. Interestingly, the couple’s son Dmitri was depicted amongst the angels on the dome.

Kvarnegi never left Petersburg whilst the interior was being built; instead the work was directed by the Count’s serf architects, Dikushin, Argunov and the main assistant, Mironov.

The house was finally completed and opened in 1810. At first it was simply called the ‘hospice’, and then became the Sheremetyev Hospital. In 1812 wounded officers were brought here, and when the famous Moscow fire happened, it acquired further historical significance - having been spared from the fire, it became a true Moscow architectural relic. Two annexes were completely destroyed but the whole ensemble was completely restored in 1820.

Russia, 2011, The hospice of Count Sheremetyev