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One of the first Russian architects to
break with the traditional Russian style of the 17th century was Ivan Egorovich
(Yegorovich) Starov, 1743-1808. He was among the first to be educated at the
newly opened Imperial Academy of Art in Saint Petersburg, where most of the
professors were foreigners. Then as a graduate architect he spent some time in
France and Italy, where again he was exposed to foreign influence. Upon his
return he had the opportunity to meet and work with Velten, Guarenghi and other
foreigners. Thus almost all his education was influenced by foreigners. In
search of something specific that would be in line with Catherine's
understanding of classicism and at the same time, not be a copy of what foreign
architects had already introduced in Saint Petersburg, Starov conceived his own
architectural complex, which was very reminiscent of Palladio's countryside
composition, but not necessarily an imitation of it. The complex usually
consists of a two story mansion in the center, with a pediment, dome and
colonnades, and lower outbuildings like out-stretched wings, all in the middle
of a garden or a large estate with centuries-old forests, as was often the case
in rural areas. Starov's blue-print soon became very popular, and spread
rapidly throughout Russia, because it matched with her gentle landscape. It was
indeed a beautiful and very successful combination of architecture and nature.
In a way Starov's career started with the reconstruction of the Trinity
Cathedral at the Saint Alexander Nevsky's Lavra in Saint Petersburg, which he
did in 1776-1790. A model exists of the former Lavra Cathedral designed by
Tresini, which was built (1720-1753), however when the walls began to show
stress fractures it was brought down in 1753-1755. The model is held at the
Lavra museum and is obviously a builder's model. The Cathedral has a single
dome and two towers in front, one on each side, and would not be of much
importance if the remains of the Grand-duke and saint Alexander had not been
transferred there from Vladimir, making the Lavra one of the holy places of
Russia. Legend says that Alexander defeated the Swedish army in 1241 on the
field which presently occupies the Lavra. By bringing his remains back, Peter
the Great wanted to show that this land was to stay Russian. The sarcophagus
was made in 1752 of about a ton and a half of silver, the entire first
production of the newly opened silver mine at Kolivan, ordered by Elizabeth to
be used for this purpose.
Starov distinguished himself after in 1783-1788, he built the famous
Tavricheskii (Tauride) Palace in Saint Petersburg, which Catherine II offered
to Prince Potemkin in appreciation for his victory over the Turkish army, which
resulted in the annexation of the Crimea by Russia. The palace received the
name "Tavricheskii," after the Russian adjective for the ancient name
of the Crimea, and Potemkin became Prince of Tauride, a title that he added to
several others. The harmony and simple elegance of the palace, and the
magnificence of the central octagonal hall, some 1250 feet wide with 36 columns
set in double rows, and the beautiful garden around it with a large pond,
brought Starov praise from many sides. The palace acquired fame after many
magnificent celebrations were held in it, often in the presence of the empress.
One of them was commemorated by the poet and statesman Derzhavin in his poem
entitled "Description of the festivities in the home of Prince Potemkin on
the occasion of the capture of Izmail," written specially for the
celebration in 1791. The composer O. A. Kozlovskii arranged part of the poem
for orchestra and chorus, and the main hall resounded with "Let thunder of
victory be heard, rejoice brave Russ."
Often ignored by his mother's lovers, Paul I disliked the palace and when he
became emperor he moved out all the valuables and turned the palace into army
barracks, but after his death and until 1906 it served for various celebrations
and to accommodate visiting royalty and foreign dignitaries. In 1906 the palace
was remodeled to receive the members of the State Duma, the Russian
representative assembly, which Nicholas II was compelled to summon after the
revolutionary storm of 1905. The readjustment considerably reduced the interior
splendor of the palace. It was severely damaged during the revolution of 1917,
but nevertheless became the center of revolutionary activity in Saint
Petersburg, then already renamed Petrograd. Lenin moved in the day after his
arrival from Switzerland, to take control of the Soviet of Workers' and
Soldiers' Deputies - the new revolutionary authority. In August 1917, the
Petrograd Soviet moved to Smolnii, where Lenin established his headquarters,
and the Tavricheskii palace became the seat of the newly formed Constituent
Assembly (Uchreditelnoye Sobranie) for one day only, January 5 Th, 1918. The
non-Bolshevik members, who still believed in freedom and democracy, were chased
out by a navy detachment, controlled by the Bolsheviks, who were supposed to
protect them and guaranty their immunity. A few days later the Bolsheviks
opened their 3 rd congress of Soviets there with the singing of the
International, and in March of the same year held there the 7th congress of the
Bolshevik Party. In July, 1920, the Tavricheskii palace received the delegates
to the 2nd congress of the Comintern, and has since been used for various
meetings and conferences, and to accommodate a Communist Party school. For a
while the palace was renamed Uritsky palace, a name that nobody used willingly,
and which was finally dropped.
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