The Church on the Spilled Blood Церковь на Крови
On 1 March 1881, on the eve of the publication of the decree by which the constitutional government would have been established in Russia, Emperor Alexander II was killed by Ignatiy Grinevitskiy, the member of the terrorist organization – the People’s Will (Narodnoya Volya) on the Catherine Canal (Griboyedov Canal). The Emperor died in the Winter Palace from blood loss within hours. Alexander III, son of the late Emperor, ordered to erect a church on the spot where his father was assassinated. On 27 April 1881 the Committee for the Immortalization of the memory of Alexander II announced the competition for the design of the church that should be built in the purely Russian style of 17th cent. The project finally approved belonged to architect Alfred Parland.
The original plan of the church in the form of the five open petals of an immortelle and the name were suggested by the abbot of the Trinity – St Sergius Monastery Archimandrite Ignatius – Ignatiy Malyshev. On 1 May 1887 the final version of the design (with some adjustments requested by the Emperor) was approved. The ceremonial foundation of the church took place on 6 October 1883.
The design suggested by A. Parland and Father Ignatius involved certain techniques used in the architecture and ornamentation of the St Basil’s Church in Moscow which was considered to be a unique symbol of nationality at that time. Though contemporaries viewed the edifice reminiscent of the Moscow and Yaroslavl’ Churches of 16th – 17th cent. The Church was built in the Neo-Russian Style that first emerged in 1830s. The location of the Church on the very edge of the embankment is explained by the requirement to incorporate the spot on which the terrorist attach took place into the church premises. To prevent the ground water and the water of the Catherine Canal from penetrating the edifice it was sealed with a layer of clay.
The Church on the Spilled Blood is 81 m high and has an area of 1,642.35 square metres. The building lacks symmetry and has two porches instead of one central entrance. The square body of the Church is crowned with 5 cupolas: the central one placed atop a pointed roof is surrounded by four onion-shaped domes (covered with gilded or enameled sheets of brass (the enamel covers an area f 1.000 square metres!). On the west side a two-storey column-like bell tower is located crowned with a gold cupola. The area around the base of the Church is clad with grey Serdobol granite, the façade is decorated with dark red granite, while the walls are faced with red-brown Siergersdorf brick that enhances the harmonious combination of the carved marble columns, the colourful patterns of porcelain and ceramic bricks, and the mosaic ornamentations of the tympanums. The mosaics cover over 400 square metres depicting religious subjects and coat-of-arms of Russian towns and provinces
The magnificent interior décor of the Church boasts marble tiles of the floor (the work of Italian masters covers the area of 698 square metres!). The iconostasis which stands in front of the main altar is decorated with Genoese marble and crowned with topaz crucifixes on gilded bronze mounts. In the western part of the Church one can see a special canopy (to the design by A. Parland, installed in July 1907) marking the spot of the tragedy – seven steps below floor-level the part of the street and railings of the Catherine canal stained with blood are demonstrated. The vault of the canopy is decorated with Bokhara azure, Siberian agate, jasper and topaz cut in the form of stars. The main décor of the interior is the mosaics (covers 6.560 square metres) created by the mosaicists from the Academy of Arts (to the design by the group of 25 artists). According to Parland’s idea Viktor Vasnetsov would have been the author of all mosaics of the Church. The artist however being busy with other projects accomplished only two sketches – The Savior and The Mother of God and the Child for the iconostasis, and five mosaics on the outer walls – The Bearing of the Cross, The Crucifixion, The Descent from the Cross, The Descent into Limbo and The Seraph. Another artist chosen by the architect was Andrey Ryabushkin who executed 17 mosaics for the interior décor of the Church and produced 7 sketches for the outer walls. The major work was accomplished by Nikolay Kharlamov who created 42 of the mosaics inside the Church, the largest one being placed on the roof of the central dome – Christ the Pantocrator. The outstanding Russian artist Mikhail Nesterov also designed a number of mosaics for the Church.
In 1903 – 1907 the magnificent railings of the Michael Garden from the direction of the Catherine Canal were constructed to the design by A. Parland. The Church on the Spilled Blood was closed on 30 October 1930, for a number of years being used as a warehouse of the Maly Theatre of Opera and Ballet. During the siege the missile fell on the roof without exploding and was successfully defused by the team of sappers. In 1970 the Church on the Spilled Blood became the part of the State Museum “St Isaac’s Cathedral”.
24 Architectural Styles Архитектурные стили
- An architectural style архитектурный стиль – a recognizable system of architectural compositional techniques, forms and decor, which differences are caused by social and cultural environment, aesthetic preferences and the type of architectural culture of a particular epoch.
- Baroque/Барокко (an Italian word barocco – strange, intricate) барокко / Барокко (итальянского барокко слова - странные, сложные) – an artistic style, mainly spread in the art of Europe in late 16th – mid. 18th cent. In architecture its forms are closely related to the art of late antiquity and Renaissance (it applies to order elements, elaborately combined with such ornamental motifs as draped atlantes’ torsos or leaves of acanthus). The style is characterized by space scale, unity and fluctuation of intricate, usually curvilinear forms. In Baroque architecture, new emphasis is placed on bold massing, colonnades, domes, light-and-shade effects, and the bold play of volume and void. In interiors, Baroque movement informs monumental staircases that have no parallel in previous architecture. The other Baroque innovation in interiors is the state apartment, a processional sequence of increasingly rich interiors that culminated in a presence chamber, a throne room or a state bedroom. Main representatives in Russia: Rastrelli B.-C., Rastrelli F.-B., Trezzini D., Zemtsov M. G.
- Classicism/Классицизм (a Latin word classicus – exemplary) классицизма / Классицизм (Латинская classicus слова - образцовый) – an artistic style formed in France and widely spread in 17th – early 19th cent. The style applies to the antiquity as a norm and an ideal example and is characterized by clarity and geometrism of forms, a logical planning, a combination of a wall with an order and a reserved decor. Orderly arrangements of columns, pilasters and lintels, as well as the use of semicircular arches, hemispherical domes, niches and aedicules replaced the more complex proportional systems and irregular profiles of medieval buildings. Main representatives in Russia: Brenna V., Quarenghi G., Rinaldi A., Rossi C.I., Starov I.E., Velten Yu. M., Voronikhin A.N., Zakharov A.D.
- Empire Style/Ампир (a French word empire – an empire) ампира / Ампир (французской империи слово - империя) – an artistic style in architecture and decor art of early 19th cent. The highest point of Classicism, the style is characterized by massive lapidary monumental forms and a rich decor (military emblems and ornament). The style applies to the art heritage of imperial Rome, ancient Greece and ancient Egypt symbolizing the ideas of state might and military force; in some countries it symbolized state independence manifested in anti-Napoleon wars. Russian Empire Style resulted in harmonious synthesis of architecture and monumental sculpture. Main representatives in Russia: Montferrand A., Rossi C.I., Stasov V.P., Thomas de Thomon, Voronikhin A.N., Zakharov A.D.
- Eclecticism/Эклектика – (a Greek word eklektikos – a choosing one). Эклектика / Эклектика - (греческий eklektikos слово - выбрать один). An architectural style of late 19th cent., the highest point of Empire Style, is characterized by a collage of different, sometimes opposite artistic elements, the use of Ancient Egyptian, Ancient Greek, Chinese, Moresque, Gothic, Byzantine and Turkish arts; the development of new architectural elements such as balconies elaborately decorated by railings, and intricate lanterns. Main representatives in Russia: Parland A., Stakenshneyder A.I., Zhelyazevich R.
- Modern Style/Модерн (a French word moderne – the most recent, a modern one) Эклектика / Эклектика - (греческий eklektikos слово - выбрать один). is sometimes called Art Nouveau or Jugendstil. An artistic style spread in European and American art of late 19th cent. – early 20th cent. The adherents of Modern Style strive to create new forms and means of expression, rejecting the use of old styles; they use free planning to create individualized buildings all the elements of which are the parts of one ornamental rhythm and one symbolic idea. The style is characterized by poetics of symbolism, supple fluid lines and a stylized plant pattern. The most typical architectural elements are: tall railings with lanterns, suites of courts linked by lofty archways, elegant towers, gothic windows, carved bas-reliefs placed asymmetrically. The style aims at creation of aesthetically beautiful functional edifices in which every detail is thoroughly worked over. Such materials as glass and metal are widely used in interior decoration. In Russia and especially in Saint-Petersburg the style is closely connected with the Silver Age in art. Main representatives in Russia: Brzhozovskiy S.A., Gogin A.I., Pretro I.A., Syuzor P.Yu.
25 Architects and Sculptors Архитекторы и скульпторы
Brenna Vincenzo Бренна Винченцо – a Russian interior-designer and architect. An Italian by nationality. A representative of Classicism. In 1783 – 1802 he was working in Russia. Most famous works are: the palaces in Pavlovsk and Gatchina; the Michael Castle.
Demouth-Malinovskiy Vasiliy Ivanovich Demouth-Малиновский Василий Иванович – a Russian sculptor. A representative of Classicism. Most famous works are: the Institute of Mines, the General Staff Building Arch, the Michael Palace.
Falconet Etienne Maurice – a French sculptor. A representative of Classicism. In 1766-1778 he was working in Russia. Most famous work is: The Bronze Horseman.
Felten Yuriy Matveyevich – a Russian architect. A representative of early Classicism. Most famous works are: the Old Hermitage, the railings of the Summer Gardens; participated in the construction of the granite embankments of the Neva.
Kavos Albert Katerinovich – a Russian architect. A representative of Classicism and Eclecticism. Most famous work is: the Mariinskiy Theatre.
Klodt Pyotr Carlovich – a Russian sculptor. A representative of late Classicism. Most famous work is: the four Horse Groups (The Taming of a Horse on the Anichkov bridge.
Le Blond Jean-Baptiste – a French architect. A representative of Petrine Baroque. Since 1716 he had been working in Russia. Most famous works are: the General planning of Saint-Petersburg, the planning of the Upper Garden in Peterhof, the Grand Palace, the decoration of Monplaisir in Peterhof, the interior decoration of the Summer Palace.
Mattarnovi Georg Johann – a representative of Baroque. Since 1714 he had been working in Russia. Most famous works are: the Kunstkammer, the Menshikov Palace, the Summer Palace of Peter I.
Montferrand August Ricar – a Russian architect. A Frenchman by nationality. A representative of the late Empire Style. Since 1816 he had been working in Russia. Most famous works are: the St Isaac’s Cathedral, the Alexander Column.
Quarenghi Giacomo – a Russian architect. An Italian by nationality. A representative of Classicism. Since 1780 he had been working in Russia. Most famous works are: the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoye Selo; the Assignation Bank, the Hermitage Theatre, the Smolny Institute – in Saint-Petersburg.
Parland Alfred Alexandrovich – a Russian architect. A representative of Eclecticism. Most famous work is the Church of Christ’s Resurrection/The Savior on Blood.
Rastrelli Francesco-Bartholommeo – a Russian architect. A representative of Baroque. A son of C.-B. Rastrelli. Most famous works are: the Smolny Convent, the Winter Palace – in Saint-Petersburg; the Grand Palace in Peterhof, the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo.
Rinaldi Antonio – a Russian architect. An Italian by nationality. Since 1751 he had been working in Russia. A representative of Baroque and Classicism. Most famous works are: the Pavilion “Katal’naya Gorka”, the Chinese Palace – in Oranienbaum; the Marble Palace – in Saint-Petersburg; the Grand Palace – in Gatchina.
Rossi Carl Ivanovich – a Russian architect. A representative of Empire style. Most famous works are: the Michael Palace, the Palace Square Ensemble, the General Staff Building, the Alexandrinskiy Theatre.
Starov Ivan Yegorovich – a Russian architect. A representative of Classicism. Most famous works are: the Taurida Palace, the Trinity Cathedral of Alexander Nevskiy Lavra Ensemble.
Stasov Vasiliy Petrovich – a Russian architect. A representative of Empire style. Most famous works are: the Pavlovsk Quarters, the Preobrazhenskiy Cathedral, the Trinity Cathedral, the Narva Triumphal Arch, the Moscow Triumphal Arch.
Stakenschneider Andrey Ivanovich – a Russian architect. A representative of Eclecticism. Most famous works are: the Mariinskiy Palace, the New Hermitage, the Belosel’skiy-Belozerskiy Palace.
Thomas de Thomon Gean – a Russian architect. A Frenchman by nationality. Since 1799 he had been working in Russia. A representative of the Empire Style. Most famous works are: the Stock Exchange, the Rostral Columns in Saint-Petersburg; the “Mausoleum” in Pavlovsk.
Trezzini Domenico – a Russian architect. A Swiss by nationality. A representative of the early Baroque Style. Since 1703 he had been working in Russia. Most famous works are: the Summer Palace, the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, the Twelve Collegia Building.
Vallin de la Mothe Jean-Baptiste Michel – a French architect. A representative of Classicism. In 1759 – 1775 he was working in Russia. Most famous works are: the Big Merchant Court, the Small Hermitage; participated in the construction of the New Holland Ensemble.
Voronikhin Andrey Nikiforovich – a Russian architect. A representative of the Empire Style. Most famous works are: the Kazan Cathedral, the Institute of Mines; participated in the construction of architectural ensembles in Pavlovsk and Peterhof.
Zakharov Andreyan Dmitriyevich – a Russian architect. A representative of the Empire Style. Most famous works are: the Admiralty in Saint-Petersburg, the Cathedral in Krondstadt.
Zemtsov Mikhail Grigoryevich – a Russian architect. A representative of the early Baroque Style. Participated in the construction of the Summer Gardens in Saint-Petersburg and the Palace and Park Ensemble in Peterhof.