Sales Pitch for Saint Basil Cathedral
Art H 202
Paper Assignment: Research and Analysis of a Building
You should now have the skills to approach a broad range of structures and assess them with some degree of knowledge about the history of architecture and the culture in which they were made. This paper is an opportunity to show some of what you have leaned in an analysis of a work of architecture.
Your task is to choose any building dating from 1400 to the present (if you are uncertain, please ask Prof. Thomas or a TA). It may not be a building that we have looked at in class. You may use a building you have visited in person, one you find online. A good tip if you are uncertain which building to choose is to search for other buildings by an architect/historical period that you enjoyed studying in class.
Once you have selected a building your task is to write a paper as if you are pitching the building to clients or patrons. Provide a brief description of about a page in length. Then turn to your sales pitch. Why should they want to build it/buy it? What features make it suited to the time in which it was made? Does it reflect the values of its culture? Does it have particular political, economic, structural, social or religious significance? Finally, relate to works we have studied in class. You must mention at least two other works we have studied.
Use the information provided on trustworthy websites like Wikipedia and turn to JSTOR and Grove Art Online (both accessible through the library website) to find out more. Also, feel free to return to your class notes and textbook to deepen your historical analysis. Do not copy online texts in your final paper. You must synthesize what you read in your own words.
Your paper should be 3-4 pages in length and include an image of the building you examine (the image should be added at the end, and does not count as part of your paper’s length).
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Saint Basil’s Cathedral
Saint Basil’s Cathedral is Russia’s most iconic building found in Moscow’s Red Square. It has an impressive mix of colors, shapes, and patterns that illustrates traditional Russian architecture as seen in Fig 1. It is also referred to as the Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed and its construction was inaugurated by Moscow’s Grand Prince Ivan the Terrible in the mid-16th century from 1555 to 1561. Ivan the Terrible, or Ivan Ivy Vasilyevich, ordered the building of this Orthodox Church as a commemoration of his victory against Kazan (Howard). Over the centuries, this landmark church has assumed greater significance and marks an important symbol of Russian culture. The building appears like a bonfire rising into the sky and comprises nine domes which represent nine different churches. Eight chapels surround a central chapel which is the highest tower of the structure. These chapels are sacred as they stand for the struggle experienced in capturing Kazan (Howard). Thereafter, a tenth chapel was added following the death of revered saint Vasily or Basel the Blessed. This paper is a description of Saint Basil’s Cathedral, the features that make it suited to the time it was built, its reflection of the values of its culture, and the political, economic, structural, social, and religious significance.
Fig1 Saint Basil’s Cathedral (Jorgensen)
Most sources credit architects Barma and Postnik for the erection of the building which Ivan wanted to be a masterpiece that can’t be recreated elsewhere. The architectural style is a combination of Byzantine and Russian art with the use of wood and stone architecture during its construction. Byzantine art, which focuses on religious elements, inspired the inner and outer design of the structure (Howard). Certain aspects of the building such as the vault’s brickwork style were inspired by Italian craftsmen in Russia’s capital, Moscow.
Visitors to the building will be impressed by the symmetrical layout of the floor which produced an intelligible model for the eight chapels and central one. Another notable aspect is the vivid color display exhibited by the structure. Over the years, it has undergone a color transformation to reflect Russia’s viewpoint on color. Initially, the building was painted white, however, today one can note the use of brighter colors in its exterior decoration such as its scarlet red walls. The color scheme becomes more evident at night when it glows and sparkles in the dark skies. The use of white stone and red brick during its construction fitted perfectly with the times it was built. In Medieval Moscow, most architectural designs employed the use of these materials in their construction. The onion-dome design of Saint Basil also ...