porcelain, body with wide and fine gilt and coral red rims, white ledge with coral red painted flowers and gilt leafy stems, gilt neck, well with image of Catherine Park, Gallery and 2 people with a dog, monochrome transfer décor with polychrome overglaze painting, Ø 24 cm, to the reverse, Russian inscription: ‘View of the Gallery at Tsarskoe Selo’ St. Petersburg, Russia, unmarked 1814-1825 (Ru)

Lit. cf: Tamra Kudrjawzewa, Das weiße Gold der Zaren, Porzellan der kaiserlichen Porzellan Manufaktur Sankt Petersburg aus den Beständen der Staatlichen Eremitage Sankt Petersburg, p. 120, ill.53, from a series with views of St. Petersburg and surroundings, 1814-1825, St. Petersburg Manufactory, unmarked;
The Cameron Gallery is part of the Catherine Palace complex, built by architect, Charles Cameron, 1745-1812, circa 1785. An oil painting, dated 1823, by Fjodor J. Alexejew, 1753-1824, served as a precedent for the above veduta. Catherine II wanted thermal baths in the Roman style. She chose Charles Cameron as her architect. He built the Cold Baths with their agate rooms. In 1784 Catherine II commissioned Cameron to construct a pump room, a sort of hall of fame to accommodate antique statues of military leaders, poets and philosophers, particularly admired by her. 44 Ionic columns adorn the corridor on the upper storey of the gallery, a curved double stairway leading from the narrow elevation down into the garden. It is flanked by standing statues on high pedestals depicting Hercules and Flora. The bronze statues were executed in 1786 by Fjodor Gordejew, and are copies of ancient statues in the Villa Farnese in Rome.