RUSSIA - Palata umetnosti Madlena

19 century

19 century was of utmost importance in the history of decorative and applied arts in Russia. This period was marked by the rule and influence of members of the Romanoff dynasty, firstly Emperor Nicolas I, and later Alexander II. Nicolas I cherished love for art which was crowned by a range of positive state measures and ventures aimed at artistic and architectural activity. His taste was cosmopolitan and eclectic, while the support he extended to visual arts originated from the conviction that the emperor should be the creator of taste in everything. Even though eclecticism was one of the symbols of this period, the classicist esthetic remained relevant, although there were tendencies towards a dramatic change in understanding of spatial and content-related elements in interior decoration. Likewise, Russian interiors of the period were characterized by strong presence of folk impact which may be observed in colorful curtains, fabrics, or elaborate ornaments on upholstered furniture, which complement interior decoration and give an impression of warmth and comfort.