В первой четверти девятнадцатого века на смену classicism came a new direction in art and architecture - Empire. In the architecture began to appear characteristic for him attributes - a monumental massiveness with exquisite decorative elements. The Empire style emerged during the reign of Napoleon. Although some consider this trend in art and architecture narrow and limited, it nonetheless relied on the artistic heritage of Greek archaism and imperial Rome, drawing from there the power and grandeur of pretentious but beautiful elements, whereas its predecessor - classicism - was oriented, mainly on soft and harmonious elements.
Empire in architecture - these are triumphal arches,massive porticos with columns, numerous military symbols - laurel wreaths, armor, eagles, etc. All these elements influenced not the feelings, but rather, the civil position of people. This is what was manifested in the solemnity and splendor of the palace interiors created by Fontaine and Percier.
Tough ideological orientationlimited the development of style and became the reason that many states did not accept it, since "imperialism" was forcibly enforced by Napoleon in the course of his conquests. For example, in Germany and Austria the "Biedermeier" direction developed at that time, partly using the empire motifs, but opposing itself to it. In England, the "style of George IV" arose, sometimes called the "English imperial" style.
The only country in which the Empire style inarchitecture, and not only in it, was developed, was Russia. This was explained by the fact that she managed to break the power of Napoleon, and therefore he found his own characteristics. It was softer and more pliable. The founder of the Empire style in the architecture of St. Petersburg was K. Rossi - the Russian-Italian architect, who managed to smooth out his coldness and stiffness. Another famous architect in this direction is V. Stasov. In the opinion of specialists, the "Moscow Empire" in the style of country estates, which is also called the capital's classicism, possessed a special peculiarity.
Sources for creative inspiration of architectsbecame the art of ancient Greece during the period of archaism and ancient Rome of the late period of the empire in combination with the culture of Etruria, Ancient Egypt and other civilizations. Plastic ideas of ancient Egyptian architecture, undivided large wall surfaces with massive columns and pylons, providing clarity with geometric regularity of solid volumes, etc. - all this distinguished Empire. The architecture of the 19th century became the epitome of laconicism, monumentality and strict balance and symmetry of parts. This time is called the period of confirmation of military glory and imperial grandeur, realized through numerous symbols and signs.
In the decorative decoration of interiors and exteriorsbuildings, furniture, as well as lamps and dishes used in a huge number of symbols of military glory and emblematics, borrowed from ancient Roman decorative tools in the form of trophies and laurel wreaths, speaker bunches and eagles, torches and the often repeated N.
Such exotic decor only strengthenedtheatricality in an interior setting. Examples of Empire in architecture, according to experts, very clearly characterize the direct borrowing of certain types and forms from the objective world of antiquity. For example, triumphal arches and memorial obelisks were built and appropriately decorated.
With the advent of the era of Empire style, art is being mademore ambitious and monumental. At the same time, instead of exquisite subtlety in the style of Louis XVI comes excessive reasoning with pomposity and even pathos. In the aspirations of the bourgeoisie, which won and abandoned the "royal" trend, in imitation of the everyday life or customs of the ancient Romans, there was much theatrical or ostentatious. In some European countries, the aristocracy with the big bourgeoisie, for whom the French classicism of the time of Louis XVI was recently a model for imitation, began to follow the imperial style frankly.
This direction in 1810-1830.began to manifest itself in the largest urban ensembles. Examples of Empire style in the architecture of St. Petersburg are the famous Kazan Cathedral and the Admiralty building, the Transfiguration and Trinity cathedrals, the Ostrovsky Square and the Arts. Above them worked such outstanding architects as KI Rossi and AN Voronikhin, Zh. B. Toma de Tomon and AD Zakharov, VP Stasov and others.
Externally Russian Empire in architecture, exampleswhose buildings are literally scattered throughout the northern capital, strikes first of all the use of classical order systems, not only Tuscan or Doric. Following the era of Alexander classicism, there is a desire for chic, splendor and monumentality, combined with masculinity. Empire in architecture, photo of buildings which testifies to strict symmetry and solemnity, along with the brevity of its forms abounds in militaristic symbols.
Empire in architecture, examples of buildingsmost in Russia can be seen in St. Petersburg, clearly expresses the mood of that time. The apotheosis of this Russian direction is the cathedral St. Isaac's Cathedral. It was built in 1858 by the design of O. Montferrand. The most simple forms prevail in it: a cube with a square, a triangle, a cylinder and a parabolic dome, which, in addition to the large size, gave the temple some additional monumentality and gave the impression of an imperial age-old inviolability. During the construction of the cathedral, progressive technical solutions of the time were used: a plate solid grillage made of masonry, cast-iron ribs on domes, columns of granite solid monoliths. Striking and rich in exterior decor with colorful interiors.
Thus, the era of Empire style in architectureSt. Petersburg, framed by the construction of the two most grandiose monuments - the buildings of the Kazan and St. Isaac's cathedrals, completed the stage in the development of the city, when many unique works of architecture were created. However, if the "golden age" in Russian literature, painting and music was only just beginning, then in Russian architecture it was approaching the sunset.
