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Under these new circumstances, not only Paul I, but also his wife Maria Fyodorovna, who considered herself connoisseur and patron of arts, demanded state and solemnity rather than elegance from the constructors of Pavlovsk. Vincenco Brenna (1740–1820; adopted the Russian name of Vikenty Frantsevich) was the architect who managed to fulfil these new requirements as completely as possible. For construction of monumental as well as garden and park structures, Brenna adhered to the principles of classical architecture, but his interpretation of them was different than that of Cameron whose buildings were of rare harmony and elegance. Brenna's style was characterised by a much higher degree of state, solemnity and even by some massiveness: Brenna's model was not the noble restraint of the Doric order, but the pompousness of the imperial Rome. Unsurprisingly, it was this architect that was singled out and brought closer by Paul I who was far from being indifferent to external symbols of grandeur and might. During the last years of the 18th century, the works were being done at the full speed in Pavlovsk: the Palace was being refurbished; new pavilions were being constructed; the ponds were being deepened and cleaned; bridges were being erected; flowers, bushes and trees, which were brought from far away, were being planted; and lots that had recently been empty were being developed. The Palace itself, the central structure of the entire complex, underwent major reconstructions. Brenna added new storeys to the side blocks and also significantly extended the blocks; he also added the Church Wing to the southern side block. He completely redesigned the configuration of galleries between the central block and the side blocks. These connecting one-storey galleries were extended, a new storey was added to them, and finally two new curved wings were constructed. These wings continued the semicircle of the old galleries almost encircling the state square in front of the Palace, which immediately changed the appearance of the square, from a ground that was amiably open towards the park to an almost forgotten, isolated space. There even existed plans for construction of a moat in front of the square, which would make it similar to the St. Michael's Castle in Saint Petersburg or the Pavlovsk Bip Fortress and would further isolate the Palace (or securely protect it, according to the authors of the plan). Naturally, all these works significantly altered the appearance of th
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