They did really serious things in tsarist times. It’s just that the Soviet government, for obvious reasons, did not consider it necessary to promote the exploits of the executed Tsar. Therefore, we have heard a lot about some Dnieper hydroelectric power station, but only narrow specialists know about similar projects of Nicholas II.
To correct the situation, an article “Major Russian projects of Nicholas II” was created on Rukspert. I'm posting it here. I recommend comparing the list of what was built with what was built under Yeltsin and Putin. Since inflation was taken into account when determining the size of projects, the comparison will be quite interesting.
If you are too lazy to compare, here is my conclusion: despite the impressive technological progress of the twentieth century, the difference between the economies of the Russian Empire and the Russian Federation is not as significant as it seemed to me until now.
(The cruiser "Rurik" with sailing rigs not yet removed in Nagasaki (Japan), 1890s)
Armored cruiser "Rurik"
The first in a line of the largest cruisers of its time, built by Russia to fight, in case of emergency, with British shipping in the far ocean zone. The ship became the last Russian cruiser to have sails, which, however, were soon dismantled. Named in honor of the ancient Russian prince - the founder of the Rurik dynasty. “Rurik” (and the “Russia” and “Gromoboy” that followed it) were built on the basis of having a range sufficient for direct passage from the Baltic to the Far East without the use of intermediate ports. Moreover, despite the low speed for a cruiser, the Rurik had powerful weapons and armor. It was assumed that this combination would make it possible to operate with almost impunity in distant seas and the Pacific Ocean, where the likelihood of running into a strong and fast enemy was minimal. The price for such versatility was a large displacement and, accordingly, a high cost of the ship. Laid down in May 1890, launched in October 1892, commissioned in October 1895. The cost of the ship was 7.6 million rubles in 1890 prices (which can be estimated at approximately 18 billion rubles in 2012 prices .).
The ship died heroically in August 1904 in the Battle of Ulsan, and later another armored cruiser was named by the same name.
(Cruiser "Russia" in the Vladivostok dock)
Armored cruiser "Russia"
The ship, which was a significantly improved version of the Rurik due to the use of the latest technical solutions at that time, became the strongest cruiser of its time, which contemporaries, not without reason, considered an outstanding achievement of domestic shipbuilding (for example, they spoke very flatteringly about the cruiser in their memoirs Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich, who was serving in the navy at that time). Laid down in November 1893, launched in April (May according to the new style) 1895, commissioned in September 1897. The exact cost of the ship could not be found, but judging by analogues, it could reach 10 million rubles in prices of those years (20 billion rubles in 2012 prices).
(Middle propeller and rudder of the cruiser "Thunderbolt")
Armored cruiser "Gromoboy"
The last in a series of long-range armored cruisers, the Gromoboy received better mechanisms and better armor protection compared to the Rossiya. At the same time, the displacement and cost increased again, but the enormous damage inflicted on the enemy by cruisers of this type during the Russo-Japanese War fully justified their construction, even taking into account the loss of the Rurik. Laid down in May 1898, launched in May 1899, commissioned in October 1900. The exact cost of the cruiser could not be found (except for certain cost items: hull - 4.1 million rubles; engine installation - 3.1 million rubles; armor 0.7 million rubles), but according to analogues it can be estimated at approximately 10 million rubles (18 billion rubles in 2012 prices)
Armored cruiser "Bayan"
The last cruiser of the shipbuilding program of 1895, later included in the united shipbuilding program “For the needs of the Far East.” Built in France with Russian weapons and individual components. Laid down in June 1899, launched in May 1900, entered service in January 1903. During the war, the ship proved to be the best among Russian cruisers of new designs, so later three more ships were built according to a slightly improved cruiser design. The cost of the project is 7.0 million rubles (12 billion rubles in 2012 prices).
(Diana-class cruiser "Aurora" in St. Petersburg, 2013)
1st rank armored cruisers of the Diana class
Cruisers of this type were intended for reconnaissance with the squadron, as well as combating enemy merchant shipping at a relatively short distance from their shores. They were built according to the shipbuilding program of 1895 specifically for the Pacific Ocean. The total cost of each ship was 6.4 million rubles (11 billion rubles in 2012 prices). A total of three ships of this type were built:
* "Pallada" - laid down in May 1897, launched in August 1899, commissioned in May 1901.
* "Diana" - laid down in May 1897, launched in October 1899, commissioned in December 1901.
* "Aurora" - laid down in May 1897, launched in May 1900, commissioned in June 1903, later in 1984-1987. underwent major reconstruction.
(Cruiser "Varyag" in pre-war livery)
1st rank armored cruiser "Varyag"
The cruiser was built in the USA with the aim of studying the best practices for building ships of this type in the world, as well as urgently strengthening forces in the Pacific Ocean, where Japan was also buying ships around the world. An additional factor in this case, apparently, was the fact that all the stocks of the St. Petersburg shipbuilding plants by this moment were busy with the construction of other ships. The weapons and some of the components were Russian. Laid down in 1898, launched on October 19, 1899, due to the wave of general strikes and labor strikes that were sweeping the United States at that time, handed over to the customer belatedly in September 1900, and actually put into operation in 1901. General the cost of the ship is 5.9 million rubles (11 billion rubles in 2012 prices).
Subsequently, he became famous throughout the world, having taken part in an unequal battle with the gunboat "Korean" with the Japanese squadron blocking it before the declaration of war in a neutral port.
(Cruiser "Bogatyr")
1st rank armored cruisers of the Bogatyr type
The first ship of the series was built in Germany with Russian weapons and individual components. Subsequently, before the war, it was recognized as the most successful of all imported cruisers ordered as “samples” (“Askold”, “Varyag”, “Bayan”). As a result, three more cruisers were built in Russia according to this project (the fourth, which was supposed to be the second in the series, was not completed, as it died in a fire in a wooden boathouse at a low stage of completion). The cost of the lead cruiser was 5.509 million rubles (taking into account data on the cost of 1900 and inflation, this allows us to estimate its cost at almost exactly 10 billion rubles in 2012 prices), the cost of the rest amounted to 7.36 million rubles (13 billion rubles in prices 2012). A total of 4 ships were built, of which three were commissioned during this period:
* "Bogatyr" - laid down in December 1899, launched in January 1901, commissioned in August 1902.
* "Cahul" (later renamed "Memory of Mercury" and "Comintern") - laid down in August 1901, launched in May 1902, commissioned in 1905.
* "Oleg" - laid down in July 1902, launched in August 1903, commissioned in June 1904.
Seaports
Naval Base Port Arthur
(Panorama of Port Arthur in the first years of the 20th century - ships of the Pacific squadron are visible)
On March 15, 1898, an agreement was signed in Beijing, according to which the Kwantung Peninsula and the port-fortress of Port Arthur, which was very outdated by that time, located on it, were leased to Russia for 25 years with the right to connect this territory with the CER using a separate branch. Port Arthur was of strategic importance for two reasons: firstly, it was the first ice-free port on the Pacific Ocean available to the Russian Imperial Navy, and secondly, unlike Vladivostok and all other military ports of Russia at that time, it allowed the free exit of the fleet into the world's oceans. Also, great economic hopes were placed on the commercial port of Dalniy, which was founded nearby (which has now developed into the large metropolis of Dalian).
In the equipment of the base, the first stage of which was supposed to be finally put into operation in 1909, in 1901-1904. 11 million rubles were invested (20 billion rubles in 2012 prices) out of 14 required. At the same time, for the organization of its defense (construction of fortifications of the Port Arthur fortress) in 1900-1904. About 4.25 million rubles were spent, with the required 15 million rubles. Apparently, significant funds were also invested in the development of the city itself, since in 5 years its population increased from 7 to 51.5 thousand people.
Later in the war, the fortress withstood a six-month siege with honor - despite the unjustified softness of the commandant during negotiations on surrender, in general the defense of Port Arthur can be considered heroic; just remember the first-class fortresses in Europe, which were taken in much less time than the unfinished Port Arthur. As one of the participants in those events aptly noted, near Port Arthur, each Russian soldier “grabbed with five Japanese and killed two of them.” Paying tribute to the spirit of our soldiers, it should still be recognized that it is unlikely that they could have resisted a many times superior enemy if they had not had fortifications built before the war. And it is unknown whether Russia would have had to lose the entire Far East if Port Arthur had not held out long enough while troops were transported to the east along the unfinished Trans-Siberian Railway.
(Panorama of the Dalniy port under construction)
Further
A commercial port and city of the same name on territory leased from China, built from scratch near the Port Arthur naval base as part of the Chinese Eastern Railway (CER) project. Unfortunately, at that time the Minister of Finance managed to convince the country's leadership to cut military spending in favor of commercial ones, so by the beginning of the war with Japan in 1904, this port was practically rebuilt (and even began to be considered the most comfortable city in the Empire), while Much more necessary for the defense of the region, the Trans-Siberian Railway, the Chinese Eastern Railway and the naval base of Port Arthur were in a half-finished state. As a result, the port, which could later become one of the largest in the Pacific Ocean and bring huge profits to the country, went to the Japanese. By now it has become the Chinese city of Dalian with a population of more than 6 million people. The volume of investments in the project in 1898-1904. amounted, according to various sources, from 18.9 to 30 million rubles (34-54 billion rubles in 2012 prices). Apparently, the price range is due to the fact that the smaller amount only takes into account the costs of the Chinese Eastern Railway Company; the remaining amount may account for other investments in the city itself.
Port Alexandra III
The military port (sea fortress) in Libau (now Liepaja) was built since 1890, since this port was the only almost ice-free port of the Empire on the Baltic Sea, and the situation required the constant presence of ships of the Baltic Fleet in the World Ocean. The complexity of construction was due to the lack of a natural harbor, shallow water and low strength of the bottom soil, which is why the harbor had to be artificially deepened. The cost of the initial project was estimated at 15.55 million rubles in 1892 prices (about 40 billion rubles in 2012 prices). The bulk of this work has been completed. The port received its first ships in the fall of 1898. During the Russo-Japanese War, it served as a forward base for the Baltic Fleet, where the retrofitting of ships sailing to the Far East was carried out, as well as the repair of ships returning from voyages and the “screwdriver” assembly of imported submarines for the defense of Vladivostok .
Railways
These years accounted for one of two (along with the years of the First World War) railway construction in the country. Neither before nor after the reign of Nicholas II was such a pace of work observed in Russia - only for the period 1894-1904. 28 thousand kilometers of railways were built, i.e. on average 2.8 thousand kilometers per year, the volume of investments was estimated at 2.24 billion rubles, which is about 5 trillion rubles in 2012 prices. With the exception of the Great Siberian Road (Trans-Siberian), all projects in the section are presented in approximately chronological order of entry into operation.
Note by F.M. A brief list of railways built in the first half of the reign of Nicholas II takes 17 (!) pages, so due to LiveJournal restrictions I was forced to omit it. I recommend at least a quick look at it on the main page of the article:
There will be, for example, an impressive bridge across the Ob, the world's only marble station and the famous Trans-Siberian Railway, the total length of which in those years was more than 9 thousand miles.
Largest bridges
(Trinity Bridge in St. Petersburg at the beginning of the 20th century)
Trinity Bridge over the Neva, St. Petersburg
A drawbridge with a swing span across the Neva, designed in the modern style that was fashionable at that time. It was built on the site of a former floating bridge in 1897 and put into operation in 1903. Later, the drawbridge part of the bridge underwent major reconstruction in 1965-1967, after which the drawbridge became a lifting one. The cost of the project is 6.1 million rubles in prices of those years (11 billion rubles in 2012 prices).
Pipeline transport
Kerosene pipeline Baku-Batum (first, second and third stages)
Under construction since 1897, the largest pipeline of its time, which was finally put into operation later in 1907, was put into operation in parts. The pipeline route ran directly along the tracks of the Transcaucasian Railway. During this period, the Mikhailovo - Batum section was put into operation (1900, 215 versts), extended in October 1903 to 240 versts and at the beginning of 1905 to 373 versts. Taking into account the total cost of the kerosene pipeline of 22 million rubles in technical prices years, with a length of 820 versts, the cost of the Mikhailovo - Batum section can be estimated at 5.7 million rubles (slightly more than 10 billion rubles in 2012 prices), while all sections put into operation at that time can be estimated at 10 million rubles in prices of those years (about 17 billion rubles in 2012 prices).
Oil fields
(Oil rigs in Baku at the beginning of the 20th century, colorized photo from a postcard of those years)
Development of the Baku Oil Region
During this period, there was an active development of oil production on the Absheron Peninsula (as they wrote then “on the Absheron”). From 1894 to 1904, the number of workers in the oil industry in Russia increased from 7 to 27 thousand people, of which 24.5 thousand worked in the fields and factories of the Baku oil region. Oil production from 1894 to 1901 increased from 311 to 672 million poods, which in 1901 accounted for 95% of Russian and more than half of world oil production. From 1898 to 1903 alone, and only by English entrepreneurs, 60 million rubles were invested in the development of oil production in this area (about 107 billion rubles in 2012 prices).
(Blast furnace shop of Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant)
Metallurgy
Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant
The largest and most modern metallurgical plant in the Urals at that time (now the A.K. Serov Metallurgical Plant) was built together with the village of Nadezhdinsky plant in the Bogoslovsky mountain district (now the city of Serov, Sverdlovsk region) from May 1894, in January 1896 The first steel was produced in March 1896, the first railway rails were rolled in March 1896, and on September 15 of the same year the first batch of 8,000 tons of rails was delivered to the customer in Tyumen. The enterprise reached full capacity in 1898, and by 1905, rail production increased to 38 thousand tons per year. The plant had blast furnace, open-hearth, rolling (with mill 850) and service shops. Also, as part of the project, the Bogoslovsko-Sosvinskaya narrow-gauge (875 mm) railway with a total length of about 130 versts (140 km) was built. At first, the company was engaged in the production of rails for the Trans-Siberian Railway and roofing iron. In 1904-1906. A section rolling shop with mills 450 and 320 was put into operation. In 1900, the plant employed 3,300 people. It was not possible to find the exact cost of the plant, but judging by the cost of similar projects, we can talk about an amount of about 5-8 million rubles in prices of those years (12-20 billion rubles in 2012 prices).
Mechanical engineering
Most of even large factories of that time did not reach the level of 10 billion rubles in 2012 prices, and it is often almost impossible to find investment estimates for them. The projects below are among the largest in mechanical engineering of that time and can definitely be valued at no less than tens of billions of rubles in 2012 prices.
Technical re-equipment of the Obukhov Steel Plant in St. Petersburg
During these years, the plant was actively modernized, and very expensive equipment was installed - the largest open-hearth furnace in the country at that time, several large presses, etc. For example, a press installed in 1897 cost over a million rubles in prices of those years. In total, just one two-year re-equipment of the plant in the second half of the late 1890s for new orders from the Maritime Ministry required 7 million rubles of investment in the prices of those years (about 13 billion rubles in 2012 prices).
Technical re-equipment of the Putilov plant in St. Petersburg
The largest machine-building plant in Russia in 1900 in terms of production capacity and one of the largest in Europe (at the beginning of 1905, the plant employed 12,500 workers) in the 1890s. increased production several times, which implied an investment in production, apparently, of no less than 10 million rubles (20 billion rubles in 2012 prices).
Hydraulic engineering
Reconstruction of the Mariinskaya water system
The main canal system at that time between the Volga and the Baltic Sea, built in 1810 and passing along the Sheksna River, by the 1890s. completely exhausted its carrying capacity, so in 1890-1896. has undergone major reconstruction. During the work, the Belozersky Canal, which was part of the system, was deepened and expanded, enlarged locks were built, and double-chamber locks were replaced with single-chamber ones. All these measures made it possible to significantly reduce the time it takes ships to navigate the system and increase the system’s navigation capacity from 500 thousand tons to 2 million tons. Later, in 1964, after a large-scale reconstruction, the Volga-Baltic Waterway passed along the Mariinsky system route. The cost of the project was 12.4 million rubles (about 27 billion rubles in 2012 prices).
Communications, telecommunications and data processing
Development of fixed telephone networks
At this time, fixed-line telephone communications were actively developing, both local communications, established since the early 1880s, and long-distance communications. Long-distance communication lines began to open after the St. Petersburg - Moscow telephone line, the fourth longest in the world at that time, was put into operation in December 1898. By January 1, 1905, 138,694 miles of telephone wires were used in telephone communication networks and 59,613 subscribers were served. For comparison, at the beginning of 1894, the length of telephone lines was only 26 thousand versts, i.e. five times less. By January 1, 1905, 10 long-distance and 1,296 local networks were in operation. Moreover, only the reconstruction of one Kyiv network in 1901-1904 cost 400 thousand rubles in prices of those years. Based on the fee for connecting to one of the private networks in 1902 at 750 rubles, even considering that only half of this amount went to create the network, the cost of the project can be estimated based on the number of subscribers at 22.4 million rubles in 1902 prices ( 39 billion rubles in 2012 prices).
Measures to rearm the army and navy
Replacing mass-produced types of weapons in the largest army in the world at that time easily qualified for the title of the largest projects of the era. During this period the following activities were carried out:
(Transbaikal Cossacks with rifles model 1891 (mosinki) during the Russo-Japanese War)
Re-equipment of the army with a three-line rifle of the 1891 model.
By the early 1890s, the Russian Imperial Army was armed with a single-shot large-caliber (10.67 mm) Berdan rifle No. 2 chambered for black powder. The impending transition to the use of smokeless gunpowder, reduced caliber and magazine loading was held back by the technical imperfections of the first samples of such weapons. However, by 1891, the Commission, to develop a sample of a small-caliber rifle, jointly modified Captain Mosin’s rifle to a state that satisfied the basic requirements. Officially, the weapon was called the “three-line rifle of the 1891 model”, but is still widely known under the abbreviated names “Mosinka” and “three-line”. After production of the rifle began in 1892, a project was actually launched to completely re-equip the army and navy with it and carbines based on it (that is, its shortened versions). The rearmament of the first-stage troops was completed in 1897, the rest of the army was almost completed by the end of 1901. Only to the French for an additional 500 thousand units. paid 12 million rubles (30 billion rubles in 2012), and in total by the end of the rearmament they produced 3,645,339 combat and 53,835 training rifles, i.e. in total the event can be valued at no less than 150 billion rubles in 2012 prices.
Re-equipment of first-stage field artillery batteries with rapid-firing three-inch guns
In February 1900, it was decided to order 1,500 three-inch (76 mm) guns of the latest system at that time to the Putilov plant, which successfully applied the patents it had purchased at that time for the most advanced technical solutions in the design of its guns. Later, instead of the 1900 model gun, the plant produced more advanced guns of the 1901 and 1902 model. As part of this order, it was planned to rearm “the entire field artillery of the Kwantung Region, the Amur and Vilna Military Districts, as well as most of the artillery of the Warsaw Military District and 2 artillery brigades of the St. Petersburg Military District.” The re-equipment of the first stage was practically completed by the end of 1902. “The total cash expenditure for the manufacture of the mentioned guns of the 1st stage with the material part was determined at approximately 33.75 million rubles. with the division of the necessary allocations: in 1900 - 6.5 million rubles, in 1901 - 9.25 million rubles. and in 1902 - 18 million rubles,” which is about 60 billion rubles in 2012 prices.
PS. If you notice any typo in the article, edit it directly on the project:
P.P.S.. The discussion about the importance of strong government with experts from the Rex news agency can be considered completed.
Russian-Byzantine style During the reign of Nicholas I, doubts arose in architectural circles about the modernity of classicism and its compliance with Russian artistic traditions, customs and living conditions. The ideological movement that emerged at this time - the so-called Slavophilism, which declared Ancient Rus' to be the true bearer of national identity and the heir of Byzantium, supported the theory of "official nationality" and the Russian-Byzantine style, which was implanted from above, in contrast to classicism, the ideologist of which was the architect K. A. Ton . The beginnings of this trend in architecture appeared in two works by the classicist architect V. P. Stasov: in the Church of Alexander Nevsky in the Russian colony in Potsdam (near Berlin) and in the Church of the Tithes in Kyiv.
The formal essence of the Russian-Byzantine style was the use of architectural images and forms of medieval cult Russian architecture in an eclectic (from the Greek ekiektikos able to choose, choosing a combination of heterogeneous artistic elements) combination of them with elements of Byzantine architecture. Typically, these were cruciform churches with a large central dome on four internal supports and bell towers with small domes at the corners of the building. This technique made it possible to satisfy the Synod’s requirement that the five-domed structure be mandatory. K.A. Ton, justifying his projects, wrote that “the Byzantine style, which has been akin to elements of our nationality since ancient times, formed our church architecture.”
Architect K. A. Ton, in his designs for churches, of which the most significant was the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, followed the path paved by V. P. Stasov and left by him. This temple was the end of a dramatic story with the creation of a temple - a monument to the glory of the Russian people and their heroic troops who saved the Motherland from the Napoleonic invasion in 1812. Initially, this temple was founded on the Sparrow Hills according to the design of the architect A. L. Vitberg, but was not completed. The work of K. A. Ton, created near the Kremlin on the left bank of the Moscow River, served as a means of glorifying the autocracy and its inviolability.
The Russian-Byzantine style appeared little in secular architecture, although the architect K. A. Ton tried to use it in the Grand Kremlin Palace (gg.). It is distinguished by a very high technical level of construction, as well as the quality of finishing materials and work. In the architecture of its facades, K. A. Ton reproduced the features of the Russian-Byzantine style, using for this some forms of the neighboring Terem Palace (17th century), in particular the frames of its windows, repeating them many times in greatly enlarged sizes. In the huge palace, ceremonial halls of different style characteristics are named after the patron saints of the Russian orders: Georgievsky, Vladimirsky, Andreevsky, Aleksandrovsky, etc. This was supposed to symbolize the inviolability of imperial power, while the grandiose palace personified the greatness of the Russian Empire.
Grand Kremlin Palace (years)
The building was erected over the years according to the design of the architect K. A. Ton, with the participation of R. A. Zhelyazevich, and is a “twin” of the Nikolaevsky station built by him in Moscow. K.A. Tona Following the artistic tastes of the 1920s, K.A. The tone decided the facades of the station in Renaissance forms. Its prototype was the town halls of Western European cities. The composition includes a tall tower that centers the facade, indicating the location of the main entrance and at the same time being a clock tower.
Basin's house in St. Petersburg V.O. Sherwood. Historical Museum. 1881
By the beginning of the 1880s. “Ropetovism” was replaced by a new official direction of pseudo-Russian style, which almost literally copied the decorative motifs of Russian architecture of the 17th century. Buildings were built, as a rule, of brick or white stone, and began to be richly decorated in the traditions of Russian folk architecture. This architecture is characterized by “pot-bellied” columns, low vaulted ceilings, narrow loophole windows, tower-shaped roofs, frescoes with floral patterns, the use of multi-colored tiles and massive forging. A.N. Pomerantsev. Upper shopping arcades. 1893
Architecture. First half of the 19th century was marked by the brilliant development of architecture. At the beginning of the century, classicism, which established itself at the end of the 18th century, occupied a strong position in it. Then the Empire style gained great recognition. Empire style is a type of classicism (late classicism), based on the artistic heritage of imperial Rome (the name of the style goes back to the word “emperor”). The architecture of the ancient world was perceived as a model of perfection; antique elements (columns, porticos, pediments, etc.) became indispensable details of the architectural design of buildings. This style is characterized by monumentality, clarity and severity of lines, a synthesis of architecture and sculpture. Triumphal arches and memorial columns were built, buildings were decorated with colonnades, and military emblems were used. The most prominent representatives of this trend in architecture were A.N. Voronikhin (1759-1814), A.D. Zakharov (1761-1811), K.I. Rossi (1755-1849), D.I. Gilardi (1785-1845 ).
A.N. Voronikhin built the Mining Institute and the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg, which are characterized by strict monumentalism. A.D. ZYAUYAPOV created the Admiralty building. He also built hospitals, food warehouses and shops.
Both Alexander I and Nicholas I, continuing the traditions laid down by Peter the Great, paid great attention to urban planning. During this period it took on a large scale. Monumental ensembles of St. Petersburg are being created, squares of the Northern capital are being formed - Dvortsovaya, Senate. According to the project of K.I. Rossi, new buildings of the Senate and Synod are being built, which completed the layout of Senate Square, as well as the Main Headquarters, which completed the design of Palace Square. In the 20-30s. XIX century According to the designs of K.I. Rossi, the Mikhailovsky Palace with Arts Square, the Alexandria Theater, and the public library building are being built. The architectural structures of Russia are characterized by classical severity combined with pomp and lightness.
In Moscow, the Russian Empire style had a certain peculiarity: a softer, more intimate character. This is typical for buildings and ensembles created by O.I. Bove (1784-1834), D.I. Gilardi (1785-1845).
During the years when Moscow was intensively rebuilt after the fire of 1812, O.I. Bove erected the buildings of the Bolshoi and Maly theaters, the Triumphal Arch in honor of the victory of the Russian people in the war of 1812, carried out the reconstruction of Red Square, and designed the architectural facade of the Trading Rows. D. Gilardi is rebuilding the fire-damaged building of Moscow University. According to Gilardi's designs, a wonderful Lunin house was built in Moscow. A.A. Betancourt and O.I. Bove erected the Manege building.
In the 30s, there were signs of the decline of Russian classicism in architecture. Pseudo-Russian and pseudo-Gothic styles are becoming fashionable, and interest in Baroque is growing. Eclectic forms of classicism and baroque are reflected in the architecture of A.A. Montferrand, whose main buildings are St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Alexander Column in St. Petersburg. A.P. Bryullov developed pseudo-Gothic forms in architecture, A.I. Stackenschneider - Baroque forms.
By decree of Nicholas I, the “Russian-Byzantine” style was created, which became the embodiment in architecture of the idea of “Orthodoxy, autocracy, nationality.” Its creator was K.A.Tsn, according to whose design the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Grand Kremlin Palace and the Armory Chamber in the Moscow Kremlin, and the buildings of the Nikolaevskaya Railway stations in Moscow and St. Petersburg were erected.
In the 30-40s. XIX century architecture begins to acquire a functional-utilitarian character. This was reflected in the construction of apartment buildings, which gradually began to replace noble mansions. But the vast majority of the provincial population lived in one-story wooden houses.
In the first half of the 19th century. Construction of residential and public buildings continues in Kazan. A significant work of classicist architecture was the building of the First Kazan Gymnasium (now it is the first building of the Kazan Aviation University, K. Marx St., 10). It was built in 1808-1811. designed by architects V.A. Smirnov and Y.M. Shelkovnikov.
A big event in the life of Kazan residents was the construction of the Gostiny Dvor, according to the project of F.E. Emelyanov. Its facade was made in the forms of Russian classicism, and the colonnade, completed by a pediment, was in the Ionic style.
The Kazan University complex has become a remarkable architectural ensemble that forms the public center of the city. The main building of the university was built in the classicist style (architect P.G. Pyatnitsky). The university campus was built with the participation of the architect M.P. Korinfsky.
An interesting phenomenon in the architecture of Kazan is the residence of the Governor General in the Kremlin (architect A.K. Ton). The building was stylized in the Byzantine style.
Stone construction was typical for the central part of the city; in other areas, wooden buildings predominated. The architecture of Tatar settlements testified to the perception of elements of classicism. IN
Tatar rich residential buildings combined classical forms with ““”“o-nal features.
Stone and wooden mosques, which preserved ancient local traditions in their architecture, gave the city a special flavor.
Thus, the urban planning of Kazan reflected both modern trends in Russian architecture and local traditions of Tatar architecture.
Sculpture. First half of the 19th century marked by the flowering of Russian sculpture and especially its monumental forms. It was during this period that monuments to outstanding Russian people, tombstones, and original works of easel and decorative sculpture were created. A characteristic feature of Russian sculpture of this period is the enormous achievements in the field of synthesis of sculpture and architecture.
The largest sculptor in Russia at the end of the 18th - first half of the 19th centuries. and a prominent representative of classicism in sculpture is I.P.Martos (1752-1835). Starting with memorial sculpture and creating wonderful examples in this form of art (tombstones of S.S. Volkonskaya and M.P. Sobakina), by the beginning of the 19th century. he turns to the monumental genre.
Martos's outstanding work is the monument to Minin and Pozharsky in Moscow (1804-818). The erection of the monument opposite the Kremlin was symbolic evidence of the patriotic upsurge that Russian society was experiencing in those years. The monument is distinguished by the severity and simplicity of the silhouette, the emotionality of the image, and the monumentality of its plastic forms. When creating a monument, the sculptor also solves an urban planning problem - he proportions the sculptural image to the huge area. Other monuments to Martos are also known - the monument to Richelieu in Odessa and to Lomonosov in Arkhangelsk.
Martos contributed to the development of the synthesis of sculpture and architecture, especially during the construction of the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg. He created the monumental high relief “Moses Giving Out Water in the Desert” (1807) on the attic of the cathedral colonnade. Martos depicted people suffering from excruciating thirst and finding life-giving moisture exuded by Moses from a stone.
In monumental and decorative sculpture of the beginning of the first quarter of the 19th century. F.F. Shchedrin (1751-1825) worked with great success. Shchedrin's best works include his statues and sculptural groups for the Admiralty. The allegories created by the master glorify the greatness of Russia as a maritime power and convey the triumph of man over the forces of nature.
The work of V.I. Demut-Malinovsky (1779-1846) and S.S. Pimenov (1782-1833) developed in line with the mentioned genre. Belong to them. the main decoration of the arch of the General Staff building, the facades of the Alexandria Theater, the Mikhailovsky Palace and other buildings in St. Petersburg.
A talented sculptor was I.I. Gerebenev (1780-1815). His most significant work is the high relief “Establishment of the Fleet in Russia” (1812-1814), placed on the Admiralty building. Here you can see a portrait image of Pe:ra, and allegorical images like Neptune, Minerva, and images of Russian workers pulling nets and ships on ropes. The depiction of labor scenes was an unusual phenomenon in monumental sculpture of the early 19th century.
In the 30-40s, certain changes occurred in the development of sculpture. The images lose their former words, become more real, but at the same time lose their monumentality. The vitality of the heroes is conveyed in the works of B.I. Orlovsky (1792-1838). He is the author of monuments to the heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812, M.I. Kutuzov (1829-1832) and M.B. Barclay de Tolly (1829-1837), erected near the Kazan Cathedral.
An outstanding role in Russian sculpture belongs to P.K. Klodt (1805-1867). One of the early major works that brought him universal recognition were equestrian groups for the Anichkov Bridge in St. Petersburg (1849-1850). It is no coincidence that their copies were donated to Naples and Berlin. These groups express the idea of man's conquest of nature. The taming of a horse by a man is conveyed in a dynamic and temperamental composition. This work reflected knowledge of the character of the animal, its habits, and anatomy. The skill of sculpting, the expressiveness of movements and the beauty of the silhouette made these sculptural groups one of the best decorations in St. Petersburg.
Klodt’s monument to the great fabulist I.A. Krylov, installed in the Summer Garden, is popular. The writer is depicted sitting in deep thought with a book in his hands, and on the pedestal there are bas-reliefs with various scenes from fables. "The image has a very specific and everyday connotation. The sculptor was considered a virtuoso casting master. Klodt cast all his works himself and for a long time, being a professor at the Academy arts, directed her foundry.
The original works in the field of medal art belong to F.P. Tolstoy (1783-1873). Impressed by the events of the War of 1812, he created a series of medallions (“People's Militia of 1812”, 1816; “Battle of Borodino”, 1816), which brought him real fame. His work contributed to the development of medal art.
Thus, Russian architecture and sculpture achieved great success. They represented a creative synthesis of world European achievements with national tradition.
