View source for Russian Revival architecture

{{Short description|Late 19th-century Byzantine revivalist architectural style}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox art movement
| name = Russian Revival architecture
|image = {{photomontage
|photo1a= Russia-Moscow-Cathedral of Christ the Saviour-6.jpg
|photo2a= Moscow BolshayaYakimanka43 X10.jpg
|photo3a= Biological Museus named after Timiryazev.jpg
|size = 230
|color_border = #AAAAAA
|color = #F9F9F9
}}
| caption = Top: The [[Cathedral of Christ the Saviour]] from [[Moscow]] (original built 1839–1860, dynamited in 1931, rebuilt 1994–2000); Centre: The [[Igumnov House]] from Moscow (1883–1893); Bottom: The [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Timiryazev_Museum Timiryazev Museum] from Moscow (1892–1905)
| yearsactive = Mid-19th – early 20th century
|countries = [[Russian Empire]]
}}

The '''Russian Revival style'''{{efn|Historiographical names are: ''Russian style'' ({{langx|ru|русский стиль|russky stil'}}); ''Pseudo-Russian style'' ({{langx|ru|псевдорусский стиль|prevdorussky stil'|label=none}}; ''Neo-Russian style'' ({{langx|ru|нео-русский стиль|neo-russky stil'|label=none}}); and ''Russian Byzantine style'' ({{langx|ru|русско-византийский стиль|russko-bizantiysky stil'|label=none}})}} comprises a number of different movements within [[Russian architecture]] that arose in the second quarter of the 19th century and was an eclectic melding of [[Byzantine architecture|Byzantine elements]] ([[Neo-Byzantine architecture in the Russian Empire]]) and [[Peter I of Russia|pre-Petrine]] ([[Architecture of Kievan Rus'|Old Russian]]) architecture.

Russian Revival architecture arose within a framework of renewed interest in national architectures which occurred in Europe during the 19th century, and it is an interpretation and stylization of the Russian architectural heritage. Sometimes, Russian Revival architecture is often erroneously called Russian or Old-Russian architecture, but the majority of Revival architects did not directly reproduce the old architectural tradition. Being instead a skilful stylization, the Russian Revival style was consecutively combined with other international styles, from the architectural [[National Romantic style|romanticism]] of first half of the 19th century to the [[Art Nouveau|style moderne]].

==Cultural background==
Like the Romantic revivals of [[Western Europe]], the Russian Revival was informed by a scholarly interest in the historic monuments of the nation. The [[Historicism (art)|historicism]] resonated with the popular nationalism and pan-Slavism of the period. The first illustrated account of Russian architecture was the project of [[Anatoly Nikolaievich Demidov, 1st Prince of San Donato]] and French draughtsman André Durand, the record of their 1839 tour of Russia was published in Paris in the 1840s as ''Voyage Pittoresque et Archéologique en Russie''. Durand's lithographs betray a foreigner's sensitivity to the seeming otherness of Russian architecture, displaying some curiously distorted features, and while they are, on the whole, fairly accurate representations, the folios that he produced belong to the genre of travel literature rather than historical inquiry. 

The attempt to discern the chronology and development of Russia's building begins in earnest with [[Ivan Snegirev]] and A.A. Martynov's ''The old Russia in its ecclesiastical and civil architectural monuments'' («Русская старина в памятниках церковного и гражданского зодчества») (Moscow, 1851). The state took an interest in the endeavour by sponsoring a series of folios published as ''The antiquities of the realm of Russia'' («Древности российского государства») (Moscow 1849–1853, 6 vol.) depicting antiquities and decorative works of art. By this time the {{ill|Moscow Archeological Society|fr|Société impériale d'archéologie|ru|Московское археологическое общество|uk|Московське археологічне товариство|lt=Moscow Archaeological Society}} undertook research on the subject, formalising it as a field of study. A series of triennial conferences was instituted from 1869 to 1915, and its reports included studies of the architecture of the [[Kievian Rus]]' and [[Principality of Moscow|early Moscow]] periods. Perhaps the Society's most significant achievement was the publication of the ''Proceedings of the Commission on conservation of the old monuments'' («Труды Комиссии по сохранению древних памятников») in 6 volumes between 1907 and 1915. Also, the [[Imperial Academy of Arts|St. Petersburg Academy of fine Arts]] commissioned research from V.V. Suslov in the form of his two multi-volume works ''The monuments of the old Russian architecture'' («Памятники древнего русского зодчества») (1895–1901, 7 vol.) and ''The monuments of the old Russian art'' («Памятники древнерусского искусства») (1908–1912, 4 vol.). With the application of positivist historical principals the chronology of Russian architecture was firmly established by the time of the publication of that definitive 6-volume survey of Russian art ''The Russian art history'' («История русского искусства») (1909–1917), edited by [[Igor Grabar]]; the appearance of the final volume was, however, interrupted by the [[Russian Revolution]].

{{gallery|mode=packed
| title    = Neo-Russian style examples
|File:The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood.jpg|[[Church of the Savior on Blood]] in [[Central Saint Petersburg]]
|File:Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in Peterhof 01.jpg|[[The Cathedral of Peter and Paul|Sts Peter and Paul's Cathedral]] in [[Petergof]], Saint Petersburg
|File:Państwowe Muzeum Historyczne w Moskwie 01.JPG|[[State Historical Museum]] in Moscow
|File:Svyato Mihailovsky Cathedral Izhevsk Russia Richard Bartz Alt.jpg|[[St. Michael's Cathedral (Izhevsk)|St. Michael's Cathedral]] in [[Izhevsk]]
|File:Колокольня 3.jpg|Bell tower of the {{Ill|Epiphany Cathedral (Kazan)|ru|Богоявленский собор (Казань)|lt=Epiphany Cathedral}} in [[Kazan]], [[Tatarstan]]
|File:Колокольня - panoramio (5).jpg|[[Chernigovsky skete]] in [[Sergiyev Posad]]
}}

==Development==

===1825–1850===
[[Image:Russische Orthodoxe Kirche Alexander Newski Potsdam.jpg|thumb|upright|left|The oldest statement of Russian Revival, 1826 [[Alexander Nevsky Memorial Church]] in [[Potsdam]]]]
The first extant example of Byzantine Revival in Russian architecture and the first example ever built stands in [[Potsdam]], [[Germany]], the five-domed [[Alexander Nevsky Memorial Church]] by [[Vasily Stasov]] (builder of neoclassical [[Trinity Cathedral, St. Petersburg]], father of critic [[Vladimir Stasov]]). The following year, Stasov completed the larger five-domed [[Church of the Tithes]] in [[Kiev]].

The [[Russo-Byzantine]] idea was carried forward by [[Konstantin Thon]] with the firm approval by [[Nicholas I of Russia|Nicholas I]]. Thon's style embodied the idea of continuity between Byzantium and Russia, perfectly matching the [[Orthodoxy, Autocracy, and Nationality|ideology of Nicholas I]]. Russian-Byzantine architecture is characterised by mixing the composition methods and vaulted arches of Byzantine architecture with ancient Russian exterior ornaments, and were vividly realised in Thon's 'model projects'. In 1838, Nicholas I "pointed out" Thon's book of model designs to all architects; more enforcement followed in 1841 and 1844.<ref>Russian: Власов, В.Г., "Большой энциклопедический словарь изобразительного искусства", 2000, ст."Русско-византийский стиль"</ref> Buildings designed by Thon or based on Thon's designs were [[Cathedral of Christ the Saviour]], the [[Grand Kremlin Palace]] and the [[Kremlin Armoury|Armoury]] in [[Moscow]], also cathedrals in [[Sveaborg]], [[Yelets]], [[Tomsk]], [[Rostov-on-Don]] and [[Krasnoyarsk]].

Official enforcement of Byzantine architecture was, in fact, very limited: it applied only to new church construction and, to a lesser extent, to royal palaces. Private and public construction proceeded independently. Thon's own public buildings, like the pseudo-[[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance]] [[Moskovsky Rail Terminal (Saint Petersburg)|Nikolaevsky Terminal]], lack any Byzantine features. A closer look at churches constructed in Nicholas' reign reveals many first-rate neoclassical buildings, like the [[Elokhovo Cathedral]] in Moscow (1837–1845) by [[Yevgraph Tyurin]].<ref>"Moscow. Monuments of Architecture, 18th – the first third of 19th century", Moscow, Iskusstvo, 1975, p.331</ref> Official Byzantine art was not absolute in Nicholas reign; it is scarce in our days, as the Byzantine churches, declared 'worthless' by [[Bolshevik]]s, were the first to be demolished in the Soviet era.

[[Image:"Усадьба В.П. Сукачева", фасад здания Картинной галереи.jpg|thumb|Sukachev's Cottage, [[Irkutsk]]]]
[[Image:Иркутск. Дом Шастиных 1.JPG|thumb|Lace House, [[Irkutsk]]]]
[[Image:Дом Степановых (Челябинск).JPG|thumb|Stepanov Bros. Cottage, [[Chelyabinsk]]]]
[[Image:Асташовский терем, 2019.jpg|thumb|Terem Astashovo, [[Kostroma]]]]


===1850s===

Another direction taken by the Russian Revival style was a reaction against official Thon art, influenced by Romanticism, [[Slavophile|Slavophilism]] and detailed studies of [[vernacular architecture]]. The forerunner of this trend in church design was [[Alexey Gornostaev]] (in his later years, 1848–1862), notable for reinventing Northern Russian [[tented roof]] motif augmented with [[Romanesque Revival architecture|Romanesque]] and [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance]] vault structure. An early extant example in civil architecture is the wooden {{Ill|Pogodinsky Cottage|ru|Погодинская изба}} in [[Devichye Pole]], Moscow, by [[Nikolai Nikitin]] (1856).<ref>[http://www.msk-guide.ru/foto_991.htm photo]</ref>

===Post-1861===
<!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[Image:Abramstevo.jpg|thumb|left|Church in [[Abramtsevo, Sergiyevo-Posadsky District, Moscow Oblast|Abramtsevo]], designed by [[Vasily Polenov]] and [[Victor Vasnetsov]] (1881-1882)]] -->
[[File:Russian Orthodox Cathedral Nice France.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Russian style Orthodox Cathedral in Nice, France]]
The [[Emancipation reform of 1861]] and subsequent reforms of [[Alexander II of Russia|Alexander II]] pushed the [[liberal elite]] into exploring the roots of national culture. The first result of these studies in architecture was a birth of "folk" or Pseudo-Russian style, exemplified by 1870s works of [[Ivan Ropet]] (Terem in [[Abramtsevo Colony|Abramtsevo]], 1873) and [[Viktor Hartmann]] ([[Savva Mamontov|Mamontov]] printing house, 1872). These artists, in alliance with [[Narodnik]] movement, idealized the peasant life and created their own vision of "vernacular" architecture. Another factor was the rejection of western [[Eclecticism in architecture|eclecticism]] that dominated civil construction of the 1850s–1860s, a reaction against "decadent West", pioneered by influential critic [[Vladimir Stasov]].

[[Ivan Zabelin]], a theorist of the movement, declared that "Russian ''Khoromy'', grown naturally from peasants' [[log cabin]]s, retained the spirit of beautiful disorder... Beauty of a building is not in its proportions, but on the contrary, in the difference and independence of its parts" ("русские хоромы, выросшие органически из крестьянских клетей, естественно, сохраняли в своем составе облик красивого беспорядка... По понятиям древности первая красота здания заключалась не в соответствии частей, а напротив в их своеобразии, их разновидности и самостоятельности").<ref>Russian: Власов, В.Г., "Большой энциклопедический словарь изобразительного искусства", 2000, ст."Псевдо-русский стиль"</ref> As a result, "ropetovschina", as Ropet's foes branded his style, concentrated on hoarding together vivid but not matching pieces of vernacular architecture, notably high-pitched roofs, barrel roofs and wood tracery. Wood was the preferred material, since many fantasies could not be physically built in [[masonry]]. This was good and bad for "dopetovschina". Bad, because wooden structures, especially those unconventionally shaped, were not scalable and had a very short life span. Very few survive to date. Good, because speed of construction and unorthodox looks were a perfect match for exhibition pavilions, coronation stands and similar short-term projects. The trend continued into 20th century ([[Fyodor Schechtel]])<ref>[http://www.muar.ru/ve/expo/07.htm 1901 draft] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020904231950/http://www.muar.ru/ve/expo/07.htm |date=4 September 2002 }}</ref> and 1920s ([[Ilya Golosov]]).<ref>[http://www.muar.ru/ve/expo/25.htm 1923 draft] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061013051340/http://www.muar.ru/ve/expo/25.htm |date=13 October 2006 }}</ref>

For a short time in the 1880s, a less radical version of Pseudo-Russian style, based on copying 17th century brick architecture, almost succeeded as the new official art. These buildings were built, as a rule, from the brick or whitestone, with the application of modern construction technology they began to be abundantly decorated in the traditions of Russian popular architecture. The characteristic architectural elements of this time, such as "pot-bellied" columns, low arched ceilings, narrow window-loop holes, [[tented roof]]s, frescoes with floral designs, use of multicolored tiles and massive forging, are manifest both in the external and in the internal decoration of these structures. A typical example is the [[State Historical Museum|Historical Museum]] (1875–1881, architect [[Vladimir Osipovich Sherwood|Vladimir Sherwood]]) which completed the ensemble of [[Red Square]].
[[Image:St. Nicholas Perervinsky monastery Николо-Перервинский монастырь.jpg|thumb|upright|Our Lady of Iveron Cathedral, Pererva (now Moscow)]]

===1898–1917===

At the turn of the centuries, the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] experienced a new trend; construction of unusually large cathedrals in working-class suburbs of big cities. Some, like [[Dorogomilovo]] Ascension Cathedral (1898–1910), rated for 10,000 worshippers, were launched in quiet country outskirts that increased in population by the time of completion. Christian theorists explain the choice of such remote locations with the desire to extend the reach of Church to working class, and only working class, in the time when wealthier classes stepped away from it.<ref>Russian: Елена Лебедева, "Храм Богоявления Господня в Дорогомилове", [http://www.pravoslavie.ru/jurnal/070119140654 www.pravoslavie.ru] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225052701/http://www.pravoslavie.ru/jurnal/070119140654 |date=25 February 2007 }}</ref> Byzantine architecture was a natural choice for these projects. It was a clear statement of national roots, against the modern [[Europe]]an heresies. It was also much cheaper than grand [[Neoclassicism|Neoclassical]] cathedrals, both in initial costs and subsequent maintenance. The largest examples of this type were all completed after the [[Russian Revolution of 1905]]:

* [[Dorogomilovo]] Cathedral, Moscow, 1898–1910
* Our Lady of Iveron Cathedral in [[Nikolo-Perervinsky Monastery]] Cathedral, Pererva (now Moscow) 1904–1908
* [[Kronstadt]] Naval Cathedral, 1908–1913

===1905–1917===
* [[Rogozhskoye Cemetery]] belltower by [[Fyodor Gornostaev]], 1908–1913
* [[Balakovo]] church by [[Fyodor Schechtel]], 1909–1912
* [[Emperor railway station in Pushkin town]], 1912
* St.Nicholas church by Belorusskaya Zastava in Moscow, 1914–1921

===Gallery===
<gallery widths="170px" heights="170px">
File:Schechtels Odintsovo Pavilion.jpg|Odintsovo
File:St.Basil of Caeasarea in Tverskaya, 1905.jpg|Church of St.Basil of Caesarea
File:Храм Христа Спасителя (Борки).jpg|Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Borky
File:Mayakosky theatre (Paradise).jpg|[[Mayakovsky Theatre]]
File:Moscow, 1896 coronation stand, by Fyodor Schechtel.jpg|Pavilion at the Triumfalnaya Square
File:Церковь на Боровой.jpg|{{Ill|Pokrov church|ru|Покровская церковь на Боровой улице}}
File:La rue des nations. Façade de la section russe.jpg|Russian pavilion at the [[Exposition Universelle (1878)]]
File:Russian section at 1893 World's fair.jpeg|Russian pavilion at the [[World's Columbian Exposition|World's Columbian Exposition (1893)]]
File:Le pavillon de la Russie à l'exposition universelle de Paris en 1900.jpg|Russian pavilion at the [[Exposition Universelle (1900)]]
File:GUM Moskau2.jpg|[[GUM (department store)]]
File:Korsh Theatre 2015-09-28.jpg|[[Theatre of Nations]]
File:Церковь Пантелеймона целителя при доме призрения.jpg|Church of the Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon in [[:ru:Удельная (исторический район)|Udelnaya]]
File:Moscow, Timiryazev Museum 01.jpg|{{Ill|Timiryazev Museum|ru|Биологический музей имени К. А. Тимирязева}}
File:Saint-Pétersbourg - Basin.jpg|[[Basin house]], [[Saint Petersburg|St. Petersburg]]
File:Музей Политехнический.JPG|[[Polytechnic Museum]]
File:Apartment house Nikonov NN neo-Russian style - panoramio.jpg|The [[Nikonov building]] from [[Saint Petersburg]]
File:Moscow Kazansky railway station asv2019-06.jpg|[[Moscow Kazansky railway station]]
File:Rizhskaya.jpg|[[Moscow Rizhsky railway station|Rizhsky station]]
File:Доходный дом Московской духовной консистории 01.jpg|{{Ill|Moscow Spiritual Consistorium|ru|Здание Московской духовной консистории}}
File:Samara. Drama Theatre P8160481 2200.jpg|{{Ill|Maksim Gorky Samara Academic Drama Theatre|ru|Самарский театр драмы имени М. Горького}}
File:Moscow, Novaya Basmannaya 23-1 July 2015 03.JPG|{{Ill|Shibaevs’ estate|ru|Усадьба Шибаевых}}
File:Отделение Центрального банка Российской Федерации.jpg|Central Bank branch, [[Oryol]]
File:Church of the Dormition SPB 01.jpg|{{Ill|Church of the Assumption (Saint Petersburg)|ru|Успенская церковь на Васильевском острове|lt=Church of the Assumption}}, [[Saint Petersburg]]
File:Дом купца Г.М. Голованова.jpg|Golovanov House, [[Tomsk]]
File:Former Lenin museum (Moscow) by shakko 01.jpg|[[Former City Duma building (Moscow)|Moscow City Duma]]
File:Moscow 09-13 img20 Grand Kremlin Palace.jpg|[[Grand Kremlin Palace]]
File:Abramtsevo wooden building.jpg|[[Abramtsevo Colony]]
File:Moscow, Archangel Michael church (3).jpg|Church of Archangel Michael
File:Meshchansky District, Moscow, Russia - panoramio (198).jpg|{{Ill|Miansarova-Gutman house|ru|Доходный дом Миансаровой}}
File:Санкт-Петербург, Гутуевская церковь (2).jpg|[[Church of the Epiphany (Saint Petersburg)|Church of the Epiphany]]
File:Crimea South Coast 04-14 img12 Yalta Alexander Nevsky Church.jpg|[[Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Yalta]]
File:Нижний Новгород. Главный ярмарочный дом (2018).jpg|[[Nizhny Novgorod Fair]]
File:Spb 06-2017 img17 Suvorov Museum.jpg|[[Suvorov Museum]]
File:Церковь Воздвижения Животворящего Креста Господня.JPG|{{Ill|Holy Cross Church in Darna|ru|Крестовоздвиженская церковь в Дарне}}
File:NN BolPokrovskaya Street 08-2016 img2.jpg|Head office of the [[Central Bank of Russia|State Bank of Russian Empire]] in [[Nizhny Novgorod]]
File:Church of the Epiphany (Irkutsk).jpg|Epiphany Cathedral (1718), [[Irkutsk]]
File:1-й Хвостов переулок 5.jpg|Modern House "Теремок" in [[Moscow]]
File:Saint Mary Magdalene Church 2013-04-15.jpg|[[Church of Mary Magdalene]], [[Jerusalem]]
File:Altai filarmonia.jpg|Philharmonic building, [[Barnaul]]
File:Chelyabinsk Alexander Nevsky Church (The Organ Hall) from the south.jpg|Church of Alexander Nevsky, [[Chelyabinsk]]
File:Berezovka-2009-06-18.jpg|Temple of Demetrius of Thessaloniki, [[Lipetsk Oblast]]
File:Church of Resurrection of Christ, near Warsaw Rail Terminal.jpg|Church of Resurrection of Christ, [[Saint Petersburg]]
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal bar|Russia|Architecture}}
*[[Neo-Byzantine architecture in the Russian Empire]]
*[[Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (Samara)]]
*[[Russian neoclassical revival]]
*[[National Romantic style]]
*[[Postconstructivism]]

==Footnotes==
===Notes===
{{notelist}}

===References===
<references/>

{{Russian architecture}}
{{revivals}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Russian Revival Architecture}}
[[Category:Russian Revival architecture| ]]