Millionnaya Street, 5/1
1768-85. Architect A.Rinaldi
Now a Branch of the Russian Museum

 The Marble Palace is one of the outstanding 
samples of early Classic architecture. Unlike the 
majority of Petersburg buildings it is faced with 
natural materials-granite and marble. This is 
what gave the Palace its name.
  The building is notable for its discreet decor 
and strict forms. Both in the exterior and interior, 
many decorative elements are faced with marble 
of 32 kinds, the shades chosen with extreme 
precision and delicacy. The facade’s central part 
is topped with an attic decorated with two statues 
and compositions of armor performed by the 
famous Russian sculptor F.Shubin.  
   The outbuilding facade facing the garden is 
decorated with a unique plastic frieze devoted to 
the subject of Horse in the Service of Man 
(sculptor P.Klodt), which is 2m high.
   At first the palace was owed by Count G.Oriov. 
After his death in 1783 the palace was acquired 
into the Treasury. It used to be the residence of 
S.Poniatovsky, the last king of Rech Pospolita.