In the first quarter of the nineteenth century, classicism was replaced by a new direction in art and architecture - empire. A characteristic attribute for him began to appear in architecture - monumental massiveness with exquisite decorative elements. Empire style originated during the reign of Napoleon. Although some consider this direction in art and architecture to be narrow and limited, it nevertheless relied on the artistic heritage of Greek archaism and imperial Rome, drawing from there the power and grandeur of elaborate but beautiful elements, while its predecessor, classicism, was oriented, mainly on soft and harmonious elements.
Origin of style
Empire style in architecture is triumphal arches, massive porticoes with columns, numerous military symbols - laurel wreaths, armor, eagles, etc. All these elements did not affect the feelings, but rather the civil position of people. This is precisely what manifested itself in the solemnity and ceremoniality of the palace interiors created by Fontaine and Persie.
After
Napoleon’s campaign in Egypt, the undivided planes of walls and pylons, stylized sphinxes began to be introduced into the Empire style in architecture. For this time, a characteristic feature was the fact that the Egyptian traditions were combined quite organically with the Roman ones, without going into eclecticism for some time. Historicism is another feature that distinguishes the Empire style in architecture, which emphasized the connection with the greatness of the ancient emperors.
Ideology style
A rigid ideological orientation limited the development of style and became the reason that many states did not accept it, since "imperialism" was forcibly implanted by Napoleon in the course of his conquests. For example, in Germany and Austria, the Biedermeier trend developed in those days, which partly uses the motives of the Empire style, but contrasts itself with it. In England, the "style of George IV" arose, sometimes called the "English imperial."
Imperial style in Russia
The only country in which the Empire style in architecture, and not only in it, was developed, was Russia. This was explained by the fact that she was able to break the power of Napoleon, and therefore here he gained his own characteristic features. It was softer and more plastic. The founder of the Empire style in the architecture of St. Petersburg was K. Rossi, a Russian-Italian architect who managed to smooth out his coldness and rigidity. Another famous architect in this direction is V. Stasov. According to experts, the Moscow Empire style in the style of village estates, which is also called metropolitan classicism, had a special peculiarity.
The end of the era of classicism
The sources for creative inspiration of architects were the art of Ancient Greece during the Archaic and Ancient Rome period 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 correctness of whole volumes, etc. - all this distinguished empire. The architecture of the 19th century became the personification of laconicism, monumentality and strict poise and symmetry of the parts. This time is called the period of the establishment of military glory and imperial greatness, realized through numerous symbols and signs.
In the decoration of the interiors and exteriors of buildings, in furniture, as well as in lamps and utensils, a huge number of symbols of military glory and emblems were used, borrowed from ancient Roman decorative means in the form of trophies and laurel wreaths, speaker bundles and eagles, torches and the often repeated letter N .
Such exotic decor only enhanced theatricality in the interior. 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 decorated accordingly.
To replace sophistication and subtlety
With the advent of the era of empire, art becomes more ambitious and monumental. At the same time, the refined subtlety in the style of Louis XVI is replaced by excessive rationality with pomposity and even pathos. In the aspiration of the bourgeoisie, which triumphed and abandoned the “royal” trend, there was much theatrical or ostentatious imitation of the everyday life or customs of the ancient Romans. In some European countries, the aristocracy with the big bourgeoisie, for whom French classicism of the times of Louis XVI until recently was a role model, began to openly follow the imperial style.
After the revolution in Paris, numerous artists and architects gathered again from different places, who chose to work in this new style. An empire in
architecture, the examples of buildings of which did not resemble a more “assembled” classicism, unlike the previous directions, had a rather cosmopolitan character, which excluded the creation of local schools due to its regulation. However, this did not stop after some time the birth of the Russian variety of this style.
St. Petersburg
This direction in the years 1810-1830. began to appear in the largest urban ensembles. Examples of empire in the architecture of St. Petersburg are the famous Kazan Cathedral and the Admiralty building, the Transfiguration and Trinity Cathedrals, Ostrovsky Square and the Arts. Such prominent architects as K.I. Rossi and A.N. Voronikhin, J. B. Toma de Tomon and A. D. Zakharov, V.P. Stasov and others worked on them.
Outwardly, the Russian Empire in architecture, examples of buildings of which are literally scattered throughout the northern capital, is striking primarily using classical order systems, and not only Tuscan or Doric ones. Following the era of Alexander classicism, there is a desire for chic, splendor and monumentality, combined with masculinity. Empire style in architecture, the photo of the buildings of which testifies to strict symmetry and solemnity, along with the laconicism of its forms is replete with militaristic symbols.
The final "chord" of the Russian Empire
Empire style in architecture, examples of buildings of which are most seen in Russia in St. Petersburg, clearly expresses the mood of that time. The apotheosis of this Russian direction is St. Isaac's Cathedral. It was built in 1858 according to the design of O. Montferrand. The simplest 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 a certain additional monumentality and created the impression of imperial centuries-old immutability. During the construction of the cathedral, progressive technical solutions of that time were used: a continuous slab grillage made of masonry, cast-iron ribs on the domes, columns of solid granite monoliths. The rich outdoor decor with colorful interiors is striking.
Golden Age Sunset
Thus, the era of the Empire style in the architecture of St. 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 pieces of architecture were created. However, while the “golden age” in Russian literature, painting and music was just beginning, in Russian architecture it was approaching sunset.