Neoclassicism is a term used in Russian art criticism to refer to the artistic phenomena of the last third of the 19th and 20th centuries, which are characterized by appeals to the traditions of the art of antiquity , Renaissance art or classicism (in music, also the Baroque era). In foreign art, neoclassicism is called classicism in architecture and fine art of the second half of the XVIII - the first third of the XIX centuries, in contrast to classicism of an earlier period [1] .
Content
Neoclassicism in architecture
Confusion in terms. Classicism and Neoclassicism
The confusion arose due to the fact that in France classicism called the style of the XVII century, the style of Louis XIV (Louis XIV). Neoclassicism is understood as the style of the second half of the 18th century, the style of Louis XVI (Louis XVI) - that is what in Russia (as in Germany ) is traditionally called classicism (period 1762-1840).
In Russia and Germany, neoclassicism is called a retrospective style of the beginning of the 20th century, "different from the" good old " Russian classicism and materials (not white plastered columns, but a natural stone), and is emphasized by the expressive drawing of classical forms and details, and sometimes by reducing details and mixing classical and Renaissance motifs ” [2] .
Analogues of neoclassicism in foreign practice are the and the in the USA (1876–1914).
| Period | Europe | Russia |
|---|---|---|
| XVII century | classicism | - |
| end of XVIII - mid 19th century | neoclassicism | Russian classicism |
| end of XIX - beginning of XX century | neoclassicism ( retrospective ) |
Art Nouveau Crisis
At the end of the 19th century, a new architectural style was formed, in Russia called “ modern ”. But he could not satisfy the urgent need for a large monumental style. Neoclassicism appeared at the beginning of the century as the antithesis of the decorative redundancy of modernity. Reliance on the classics, the order system, compliance with classical proportions. The desire for comfort, harmony. Characteristic decorations: leaves, shells, architectural gables, antique figures. The furniture is light, elegant, straight lines.
In parallel with innovative trends in architecture of the early XX century. retrospective currents gained strength. The thirst for novelty quickly gave way to dreams of the past. The "discovery" of the values of classic architecture again accelerated the disappointment in architectural innovations and the sunset of a "fleeting" style. Neoclassicism and the “ neo-Russian style ” first influenced the vocabulary of Art Nouveau, and after 1910 pushed it into the background.
A New Look at the Architecture of Old Petersburg
Back in the early 1900s. the artist and critic Alexander Benois was one of the first to speak about the unique beauty of old Petersburg. His articles seemed to open their eyes to contemporaries who were able to appreciate the classic legacy that was forgotten. From this moment, neoclassicism began its ascent.
This movement covered both Russian capitals, and then the province. Naturally, neoclassicism had close parallels in the European architecture of that time. And yet this phenomenon was specifically Petersburg. Its supporters proceeded from their own traditions, appealing to the “golden age” of the architecture of the Neva capital. Unlike modernity and most neo-styles of the 19th century, it was a return to its roots. Therefore, neoclassicism can rightly be called the St. Petersburg revival, personifying the historic involvement of the city in the pan-European classical culture.
Retrospectives
The retrospective trend was based primarily on Russian classicism and empire , in part - baroque . Initially, it focused on the specific context of classic ensembles (built by V.F. Svinyin and E.S. Vorotilov ). The jubilee celebrations for the 200th anniversary of St. Petersburg aroused a general interest in its early history and contributed to the emergence of a non-barren trend ( A. I. Dmitriev , L. A. Ilyin , N. E. Lansere ). The leader of neoclassicism was I. A. Fomin , a passionate adherent of Russian architecture of the late 18th - early 19th centuries. Then, supporters of the traditionalist path increasingly began to turn to the primary sources of Russian classicism - the Italian Renaissance and especially Palladianism . The leading representatives of the neo-Renaissance direction were V. A. Schuko , A. E. Belogrud , M. M. Peretyatkovich , M. S. Lyalevich .
Ideally, retrospectives sought a complete reconstruction of the historical style, even the illusion of antiquity. In practice, the motives of retro-styles, as a rule, layered on modern functional planning structures and acquired a clear shade of modernization. One of the first to enter the path of modernized neoclassicism was F.I. Lidval and R.F. Meltzer . The German Embassy of the German architect Peter Behrens was an innovative example of the transformation and simplification of classic forms.
In the light of retrospective attitudes, all shades of neoclassicism, including neo-baroque, were considered desirable for St. Petersburg. And, on the contrary, inappropriate - a national direction, as it does not correspond to the historical context of the city. Therefore, the "Russian style" found application mainly in the church buildings of V. A. Pokrovsky , S. S. Krichinsky , A. P. Aplaksin . In search of monumental simplicity, architects turned to the ancient monuments of Novgorod and Pskov . On the buildings of this direction lies the imprint of stylization in the spirit of Art Nouveau.
The goals and objectives of neoclassicism
Neoclassic posed a large-scale task: to revive and affirm the ensemble and style integrity of the capital, to continue its development at the level of the latest achievements, but according to the legacy of antiquity. This contributed to the upsurge of urban development ideas, which wore mainly historical coloring. The grandiose plan of the New Petersburg residential area on the Golodai Island ( I. A. Fomin , F. I. Lidval ) and the competitive projects of the monumental ensemble of public buildings on Tuchkovoy Buyan (I. A. Fomin, O. R. Munz , M. Kh. Dubinsky, S. S. Serafimov). The “Project for the Transformation of St. Petersburg” by F. E. Enakiev and L. N. Benois , comparable to the general plan, provided for a comprehensive reconstruction of the city and its infrastructure with the laying of new streets and transport arteries. The implementation of these proposals was prevented by the First World War .
At the beginning of the 20th century, the entire Petrograd side , many quarters on Vasilievsky Island and in the left-bank regions were almost completely redeveloped. The model street of this time was Kamennoostrovsky Prospect - an “exposition” of the best works of modernity and neoclassicism. On Nevsky Prospekt and in the surrounding neighborhoods, the Petersburg City district was finally formed. The city acquired new features of metropolitan impressiveness and European gloss. But revolutionary upheavals tragically destroyed his fate.
Neoclassicism - in fact, the first major style direction in the history of Petersburg architecture, the main one based on its own heritage - stepped over the boundary of 1917 and continued to develop under completely different conditions until the mid-1920s, when it gave way to constructivism for a short time. The neoclassical lessons of the beginning of the century turned out to be extremely fruitful and promising not only for Soviet traditionalist architecture of the 1930-1950s; they have regained relevance now.
Neoclassicism in the Fine Arts
Neoclassicism was already anticipated in the work of the Pre-Raphaelites from the middle of the 19th century, however, it finally developed by the end of the 1870s in Germany “Neo-idealists” ( A. Feuerbach , H. von Mare and others) sought to revive the monumentality and plastic clarity of classical art. Neoclassicism became widespread in the late XIX - early XX centuries, being one of the varieties of the reaction to impressionism . He combined in general terms certain late academic trends, to a greater or lesser extent, following the principles of ancient art (mainly the archaic period), less often - the art of the Renaissance (mostly Early) and classicism , and finally, the contact (sometimes very close) with the style of modernity .
Neoclassicism (or its elements) is, to one degree or another, present in the works of such masters of the late 19th - 1st half of the 20th centuries as sculptors A. Mayol , E. A. Bourdelle , G. Vigeland , I. Meshtrovich , S. T Konenkov , S. D. Merkurov , painters F. Hodler , P. Puvi de Chavannes , M. Denis , L. S. Bakst , V. A. Serov , A. E. Yakovlev , K. S. Petrov-Vodkin . Involvement in neoclassicism is also revealed by trends in the visual arts of the 1920s and 1930s, which arose as a reaction to new trends ( expressionism , futurism , cubism , etc.) [1] .
Neoclassicism in Literature
In the 20th century, movements that identified themselves with neoclassicism appeared in Ukrainian ( "Neoclassics" ) and Russian ( "Neoclassics" and others) literature, primarily in poetry. If in Ukraine neoclassicists ( Nikolai Zerov , Maxim Rylsky and others) became one of the central movements of the “executed revival” , then the Russian poets of the late Silver Age (1918-1920), who called themselves by this name, did not have large creative individuals in their ranks.
Neoclassicism in music
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 TSB
- ↑ Kostylev, R.P., Perestoronina, G.F. Modernized retrostil // Petersburg architectural styles. (XVIII - beginning of XX century). - Add. circulation. - SPb. : Parity, 2007 .-- S. 210-219. - 256 s. - 4000 copies. - ISBN 978-5-93437-127-3 .
Literature
- Bass V.G. Petersburg neoclassicism of the 1900-1910s Architectural competitions: architect, workshop, city. - SPb. : NP-Print, 2005 .-- 84 p. - ISBN 5-901724-18-6 .
- Borisova E.A. , Kazhdan T.P. Russian architecture of the late XIX - early XX century. - M .: Nauka , 1971. - 239 p.
- Borisova E.A. , Sternin G. Yu . Russian neoclassicism. - M .: Galart , 1998 .-- 80 p. - ISBN 5-269-00960-6 .
Links
- Trykov V.P. Neoclassicism [in literature ] . Electronic Encyclopedia "Modern French Literature" (2011). Date of treatment December 3, 2011. Archived on May 18, 2012.
- Neoclassic architecture in LJ