Charles Cameron
(1745-1811)

The Scottish architect Charles Cameron, one of the greatest exponents of Classicism ever to build in Russia, came to St Petersburg on a personal invitation of Empress Catherine II to build in her treasured country residence, Tsarskoe Selo. Of the majestic interiors he created for Catherine's Palace in Tsarskoe Selo Catherine II wrote: "These suites are superb. Only two rooms are ready so far, but people are already flocking in to take a look. They have never seen anything like this before." Cameron also built a whole complex next to the palace. One of the buildings was named the Cameron Gallery after him.

The true scale of Cameron's talent, however, was yet to manifest itself in his new creation, Pavlovsk, the country residence built for the heir to the throne, would-be Emperor Paul I. The rolling hills, restful woods and meandering river of the Pavlovsk estate must have reminded the architect of his native Scotland. The idea of a scenic country park craftily contrived to look perfectly natural fascinated Cameron. Laying out the future park, the architect pinpointed the compositional nuclei and threw a system of walkways and clearings in between, opening up breathtaking vistas. He blended a Palladian palace artfully into the landscape, and scattered ethereal pavilions and arbours, dainty bridges and cascades here and there, bringing the park's enchantment to the maximum. Cameron's creation is rightfully considered one of the best examples of landscape architecture in the world.

Under Alexander I, Cameron, 60, was appointed Chief Architect of the Admiralty, a very prominent post at the time. Charles Cameron, who hailed from Edinburgh, Scotland, died in St Petersburg, his second homeland where he was called, affectionately, 'Carl Carlovich.' St Petersburg cherishes the memory of this great Scotsman.