St Petersburg in the Classicism period and Northern Art Nouveau

Each era has its own unique style, which records it in our memory. The 19th century is commonly regarded as the ‘Silver Age’ of St Petersburg architecture. It was the time of the construction of the greatest cathedrals, the technical breakthrough and construction of the Russian Venice bridges, the emergence of the unique new Northern Art Nouveau style, the eclectic era, the renaming of the city, and the end of the Imperial era.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a new trend − Art Nouveau − became the main alternative to traditional styles in St Petersburg, with its decorative furnishings and arcane symbols used in the culture of the time. Northern Art Nouveau is a combination of parting romanticism, innovative techniques and a reflection of the changing era of the early 20th century. The golden age of Northern Art Nouveau was short-lived, but it brought considerable change to the look of St Petersburg and gave us such architectural landmarks as Mathilde Kschessinska House, Fyodor Lidval House, Hotel Astoria, Singer House and DLT department store, as well as Vitebsky Railway Station, which is one of the most beautiful buildings of the Art Nouveau period.

In August 1914, Emperor Nicholas II of Russia issued a decree renaming the city of St Petersburg to Petrograd, which provoked a storm of angry reactions and condemnation. The change of name of the city on the Neva River turned out to be fateful: it became clear to everyone that the most fruitful St Petersburg period in Russian history was a thing of the past.

Our next lecture will be devoted to the landmark buildings and events of the turn of the century.

The lecture will be held as part of the events to mark the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University, the oldest university in Russia. The meeting will be held online in Russian with simultaneous interpreting into Spanish.

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