Chap. II. RUSSIAN.

1C3
'I'licre is generally one priiicip:l and four subordinate ciipolas round it, which stand on the
tour feet of the Greek cross. Tiie iconostasis is a i)rineipal object in every c'.iureli. It is
usually in four or five horizontal comjiartments, each containing an une(iual number of
pictures of saints painted on tablets or long square jianels, whose jjlaces are fixed with great
precision. In the first story, if we may so call it, are the three doors; the centre one, being
in two foldings, is decorated with the subject of the Annunciation, accompanied with tin;
heads of the four Evangelists or their emblems. To the right of the door is a picture of
Christ, and of the Madonna on the left. To the right of the Christ is the saint or festival
of tho church, after which the doors are inserted. Above the doors, on the left hand, is
|)laced a Greek cross; on tl'.e right hand the cross of IMoses, as symbols of the Old and
New Testaments. The paintings are all on a ground of gold. In the middle of the second
story is Christ on a throne ; on the right Saint John the Baptist ; on tlie left the JMadonna
without Child; then, on each side, two archangels and six apostles. In the third story or
horizontal compartment, the INIadonna is introduced with the Infant on her knees, sur-
rounded on each side by the ])roi)bets. In the fourth story is painted God the Father on
a throne, with the Infant Jesus, surrounded on each side by jjatriarchs of the church.
Occasionally a fifth story appears, upon which is jiainted tlie history or Passion of onr
Saviour. Paintings on a gold ground abound in the other jjarts of the church. The
exteriors of these churches are extremely simple ; cornices or other horizontal crownings
are not to found, but the coverings follow the cylindrical forms of the arches to Avhich they
are the extradoses, and are variously painted. The Russian churches built in the eleventh
century, which from the number of their cupolas resemble, and indeed were imitated from
those of the East, give a pecidiar effect to the architecture. The forms of these cnjiolas
are varied, but they generally stand on an octagonal tamhotir ; some are hemisi)lierica],
others in cin-vcs of contrary flexure, and a number of other figures.
377. The type of the Russian church, which is on plan a Greek cross, is to be finmd in
Santa Sophia at Constantinople. After the dis])utes between the Iconoclasts and Iconolaters,
which, at the close of the seventh century, ended in the separation of the Eastern and
Western churches, sculpture of statues dlsap])eared from the Greek church, statues of angels
excepted. Again, at this period, the altars on the side of the principal one were established,
not, as in the Catholic churches, at the extremities of the transejjts ; their j.-lace Is always in
a niche or apsis. This arrangement is found in the churches of the eleventh, twellth, and
thirteenth centuries, at Bari, Trani, Malfetta, Otranto, tS:c., while the Greek worship existed;
and a similar disposition is even seen at Palermo and other ))laces where the worship has
been Catholic. In the Catholic churches a sacristy, for the use of the jniests in robing,
iS(c., is always provided on the side of the church ; in the Greek church, however, the priests
robe themselves behind the iconostasis on the left of the altar, another altar being placed on
the right for the consecration of the elements ; and this arrangement exists in the present day.
The (Jreek church has no gynjeceum, or separate place for the women. l-'or the above we
*are indc4)ted to the researches of M. Ilallmann, an ingenious architect of Hanover.
.'578. It is in Saint Petersburg ])rincipally that we are to look for edifices which deserve
mention. The foundation of the city was laid in 1703, by the Czar Peter, when he con-
structed a fort on an island in the Neva for defence against the Swedes. Buildings, both
public and private, were soon erected ; and the nobility and merchants being induced to
settle there, the place quickly assiuned the ap])earance of a considerable city. In the reigns of
Catherine the Second and Alexander it reached a degree of great magnificence, from which
It has not declined, but has rather advanced. Magnitude, rather than beauty of form, marks
the public l)uildings of the city. The church of our I.ady of K^zan is of great dimensions :
for which, and its fifty-six granite columns with bronze capitals, it has obtained more cele-
brity tlian it will ac(piire for the beauty of its comi)osition. Some of tlie palaces in the
city are of colossal dimensions ; that of MichailofT, built by Paul, is said to have cost ten
millions of rubles. It was under the reign of Peter the Great that the great change took
place in the national character of Russian church architecture by the introduction of the
classical orders. The bulbous cupola, though at this period not entirely laid aside, fell irito
comparative disuse, being replaced by a green painted dome of which tlie Italian form was
the model. The tasteless custom of painting the exteriois of buildings with bright and in-
congruous colours was retained ; and, though well enough suited to the barbaric structures
of the Muscovite czars, it ill accorded with the purer style of Italy. It is unnecessary fur-
ther to detain the reader by any observations on the cliiirclies of the modern capital. In
l])oint of style or of history, they possess little or no interest for an English reader. To
Ithose who wish to become better acquainted with the architecture of Russia, we recommend
la reference to Geissler's T(dilc(i7t.v I'ittoresqiiex rics Manrs, &-c. rles liusses, Tartares, ^[omjolex,
1 ait es Xatiofis de C Empire Hrcsse; to Lyall's Character
of
the Rits^iane, &c., 4t(), IS'23
;
nd Ricaid de INIontferrand's L'Ef/lixe de S. Isaac, fol. 184.'). The ess^iy by the laie
I. Hallinann above noticed, was printed in the Tr.utsaction.s of the Institute of British
rchiteets, 1842.
M 2