Russian style

The exhibition brought together more than 300 exhibits from the collections of the State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg, made in the “national” style: graphics, furniture, clothes, porcelain, glass, ceramics and household items of the XIX-XX centuries.

Russian style – is one of the most vivid and peculiar phenomena of Russian culture and art of the XIX-XX centuries. The idea of some national movement occupied the minds of our countrymen from the beginning of the nineteenth century. One of the main moving forces was the growth of patriotism and national identity after the victory over Napoleonic France in 1812. The problem of national distinctive character has also become one of the most relevant problems for Russian artistic culture. Already in the 1820-1830s a so-called “Russian style” begins to form in traditional Russian culture. The basis for this movement is the interest towards the historical past of Russia, Russian art of pre-Petrine epoch and attention to the life and customs of Russian villages and folk art. “Russian style” reached the peak of its popularity, in the second half of the ХIХ – early ХХ century; however, this interest didn’t weaken neither in the XX, nor in the XXI century.

The “Russian style” in the first place originated in the period of the late classicism and early eclecticism. The exhibition in the Peter and Paul Fortress presents architectural graphics of the 1830-1900s demonstrating the development of a “national” trend in Russian architecture. These are the works of Konstantin Thon – the founder of the so-called “Russian-Byzantine” style and the architect of Orthodox cathedrals in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tsarskoye Selo and Peterhof. The drafts of the 1860-1870s done by the architects Ivan Ropet and Victor Hartman give the idea of the folk trend of the Russian style which used folk art motifs. The period of the 1900s when the wave of modernism in Russian architecture formed a new national trend – “neo-Russian style” – is represented by the works of Nikolay Vasilyev, Stepan Krichinsky, Konstantin Makovsky and others

Over time, the “Russian style” has penetrated into all types of art and into all spheres of daily life. It was applied to interiors, furniture, dishes and costumes. The images of stylized fairy tale decorated palaces, Russian epic heroes, beautiful women wearing a traditional sarafan and kokoshnik appeared on placards, posters, theater programmes, gala dinner menus and trade packages. Traditional wood carving, lace and embroidery were widely used as a main idea for design. The interest towards “everything Russian” which emerged in the society was actively supported by the official powers. For example the Emperor Nicholas I ordered to build in the suburbs of Peterhof original Russian villages with traditional Russian huts and peasants dressed in a “Russian dress” and the Emperor Nicholas II gave grand costume balls were all the guests were dressed in costumes of pre-Petrine Russia.

The objects exhibited in the Peter and Paul Fortress reflect all stages and directions of the Russian style in Russian art and recreate the idealized image of the patriarchal Russia which was formed in the XIX-XX centuries.

The exhibition presents furniture in the “Russian style”: an armchair made after a drawing by Ivan Ropet, a cupboard in the shape of a peasant's hut and the famous series of chairs, “Arch, axe and gloves”, done after drawings by a St. Petersburg craftsman Vasilii Shutov (everything – the second half of XIX century). Of great interest are the works of Abramtsevo and Talashkino workshops especially the items made after drawings by Elena Polenova and Nataliya Davydova.

The exhibition displays a replicated collection of graphics which includes works of famous artists Viktor and Apollinary Vasnetsov, Ivan Bilibin and Vasily Polenov. Apart from it a visitor can see posters of industrial and handicraft exhibitions, movie posters for films “Stenka Razin” and “Tsar Ivan the Terrible”, calendars, placards of the 1900-1910s, patriotic posters of the First World War period: “Russian soldiers are waiting for help from us”, “War loan” and a collection of menus. The attention of a visitor is also attracted by decorated in “Russian style” menus of festive lunches and dinners to celebrate the coronation of Alexander III and Nicholas II, menus in honor of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty, the lunch menu for the members of the Order of St. George (after a drawing by Viktor Vasnetsov), menu of the restaurant “Bear” of 1912 (after a drawing by Ivan.Bilibin).

The “Russian style” was clearly reflected in porcelain, ceramics and glass items. At the exhibition one can see the production of the Imperial Porcelain Factory, the Imperial Glass Factory, Kornilov brothers’ factory, Matvey Kuznetsov’s factories, etc. Among these are the items from the “Gothic service”, Nicholas I (Imperial Porcelain Factory, 1836-1855), plates and tea pairs of a so-called “Boyar” series made for the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty (“Matvey Kuznetsov’s Partnership”, 1913). One of the most impressive exhibits is a majolica dish “Sadko” made after a drawing by Mikhail Vrubel (1899, production of 1920s).

In the second half of XIX-early XX century a “national” trend appeared in Russian jewelry in the production of art objects made of silver. Along with jewelry casting and stamping techniques the traditional for pre-Petrine times filigree and enamel production was used. Samples of silverware in the «Russian style» are widely represented on the exhibition. In particular, a visitor can see a silver punch bowl, decorated with cornelian and chalcedony (1905) by Carl Faberge.

“Russian style” was also widely used in the production of costumes. A new type of dress parade lasted until 1917, varying only in details. It gives an idea of ceremonial court dress early twentieth century, made in the St. Petersburg workshop, ET, and A. T. Ivanov.

One of the main exhibits is the original costume of Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna for the costume ball at the Winter Palace in February, 1903.

The exhibition shows many household items in the design of which “national” motives are used: the samovars, irons, paper-weights, ink-pots, ashtrays, caskets, boxes, cans, etc.