To the page “Scientific works”

To the main page

Sergey Zagraevsky

Jury Dolgoruky and ancient Russian white stone architecture

Published in Russian: Заграевский С.В. Юрий Долгорукий и древнерусское белокаменное зодчество. M.: Алев-В, 2001. ISBN 5-94025-014-9

Introduction

Chapter I. White stone and brick

Chapter II. Galich, Caucasus and Volga Bulgaria

Chapter III. Suzdal masters and Romanesque

Chapter IV. “The limit of reliability”

Chapter V. Sculpture decoration

Conclusion

Applications, notes

Chapter I.

White stone and brick

Attention!

The following text was translated from Russian original by the computer program

and has not yet been edited.

So it can be used only for general introduction.

RUSSIAN VERSION

I

To begin, we must see whether the Vladimir-Suzdal and Moscow lands dominated by white-stone building. We have to list the known monuments of architecture of XII-XV centuries, passing mention and sculptures - this we will need in the future.

For our purposes it is sufficient to distinguish two types of sculptural decoration in white-stone building:

- decor ornamented type (Fig. 1) - crenate belt, arcature, ornate cornices and any other decoration, except attributable to zooantropomorfnomu type. For ornamental type we assign and floral ornament post-Mongolian time (Fig. 2);

- zooantropomorfnogo type - all listed for decoration ornamented type, plus any zoomorphic and anthropomorphic bas-relief, high relief and volumetric sculpture of white stone (Fig. 3).

Fig. 1. The pre-Mongol decor ornamented type in the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in Pereslavl-Zalessky.

Fig. 2. Post-Mongol decor ornamented type in the Cathedral of the Savvino-Storozhevsky monastery in Zvenigorod.

Fig. 3. Zooantropomorfnogo type on the Dmitrievsky Cathedral in Vladimir.

Mixed technique masonry (stone and brick) we will call the traditionally - "opus mixtum"².

Polubutovaya the white stone walls, which consisted of two folding walls of carefully hewn limestone blocks and in filling the gap between the debris of the same stone, tufa, tile or boulders on lime mortar³will be called simply by the white stone walls. Other technologies white-stone building in the examined period is practically not used (except we specifically discuss).

Usually stone and brick building stone collectively referred to as - unlike wood. For our study, this approach is unacceptable. Stone will be called the only building stone (limestone, granite, Sandstone and other), featuring such equipment and the wooden and brick. A generic term for the construction of more durable materials than wood, we will use the word "capital".

Thus, the term "capital construction" includes the stone, and white-stone (as a special case stone, and brick, and mixed ("opus mixtum") construction equipment.

We also note that the tile everywhere we will call with brick, as the technology of construction of plinfy is a special case of a brick.

II

To Yuri Dolgoruky in Suzdal capital construction led only Monomakh (Grand Duke in 1113-1125). His temples:

- Suzdal, the virgin Nativity Cathedral. About 1101, technology "opus mixtum". It existed before the construction at the beginning of the XIII century on the site of a new temple;

- Vladimir, the Church of our Saviour on the Monomach yard. 1108. Her whereabouts are unknown, the estimated construction machinery - "opus mixtum"⁴;

- Rostov, the assumption Cathedral of the late XI-early XII centuries. So far no clear evidence of what material it was built of stone or wood⁵.

Temples Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgoruky (Prince of Vladimir-Suzdal land with 1096⁶ or 1113⁷ year, the great Prince of Kiev in 1155-1157):

- Kideksha, the Church of Boris and Gleb. 1152 (about the Dating of temples Dolgoruky we discuss in detail in the main 2, here are the dates, which adheres to the author of this book). The white stone, ornamental decor type. In the XVII century shifted the vaults, the upper apses and the head⁸in a way the Church has reached our days;

- Pereslavl-Zalessky, Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral. 1152. The white stone, ornamental decor type. Preserved;

- Suzdal, the Church of our Saviour. 1152. About it practically it is not known, and N.N. Voronin believed that it was a chapel to Monomachus⁹;

- Vladimir, the Church of St. George in the court of Yuri Dolgoruky. 1152. The white stone, ornamental decor type. Collapsed during a fire in 1778 (burned down the wooden ties¹⁰);

- Polsky, St. George's Cathedral. 1152. A white stone, about the decor is not known. Dismantled in connection with the construction of a new Cathedral in the beginning of XIII century.

Construction of Andrei Yurievich Bogolyubsky (Grand Duke in 1157-1174):

- Bogolyubovo. The Church of the Nativity of the virgin, a Palace and fortress walls. 1158-1165 years, the white stone, zooantropomorfnogo type. The Church collapsed in 1722, the Palace survived stairwell;

- Vladimir assumption Cathedral 1158-1160. The white stone, zooantropomorfnogo type. After the fire of 1185 built high galleries;

- Rostov, the assumption Cathedral 1161-1162 period. The white stone, zooantropomorfnogo type¹¹. Fell in 1204, 1213-1231 years re-built on the same plan of white stone (type of decoration is unknown), in 1409 again collapsed, rebuilt in white stone, stood up to the XVI century, when it was replaced by a new Cathedral - brick;

- Vladimir, the Golden gate and the Church of deposition of the robe on them. 1164, a white stone, the type of decoration is unknown. The Church lost during reorganizations top of the gate;

- Vladimir, the Church of the Transfiguration on Monomach yard. 1164, a white stone, decor, probably zooantropomorfnogo type¹². Collapsed during a fire in 1778;

- the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl. 1165, a white stone, zooantropomorfnogo type. Survived.

Built Vsevolod Yurievich Big Nest (Grand Duke in 1176-1212):

- Vladimir, the radical renewal of the assumption Cathedral. 1185-1189 years, the white stone, zooantropomorfnogo type. The Cathedral has preserved;

- Vladimir, Dmitrievsky Cathedral. 1192-1197 years, the white stone, zooantropomorfnogo type. Preserved;

- Vladimir Cathedral of the Nativity monastery. 1192-1196 years, a white stone, zooantropomorfnogo type¹³. Dismantled because of its dilapidated condition in the middle of the XIX century, in its place built a new temple;

- Vladimir, strengthening the Kremlin. 1194 year, a white stone, tuff. Ceased to exist before the XVII century;

- Vladimir, the Church of Joachim and Anna at the gates of the citadel. in 1196, a white stone, ornamental decor or zooantropomorfnogo type (found too little debris for the exact definition). Ceased to exist together with citadel;

- Vladimir assumption Cathedral of the Knyaginin monastery. 1200-1205 years. Brick or "opus mixtum" (as we will see in paragraph 6 of the main 5, probable and the white stone). The white-stone decor ornamented or zooantropomorfnogo type (found several fragments of ornamental decor¹⁴ but it is not possible to say with confidence that did not meet the elements zooantropomorfnogo type). Rebuilt at the turn of the XV and XVI centuries.

The buildings Yuri Vsevolodovich (the Grand Duke in 1212-1216 and 1218-1238):

- Suzdal, the virgin Nativity Cathedral. 1222-1225 years, a white stone, partly tuff. Instead of backing used brickwork¹⁵. Zooantropomorfnogo type. Fell in 1445, completed the top of brick in 1528;

- Nizhniy Novgorod, the Savior Cathedral. in 1225, a white stone, zooantropomorfnogo type. Stood until 1670-ies, dismantled and rebuilt;

- Nizhniy Novgorod, the Church of Archangel Michael. 1227-1229 years, the white stone, zooantropomorfnogo type. Stood up in 1359 and completely rebuilt (probably due to the weak foundations¹⁶);

- Polsky (inheritance of Prince Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich). St. George's Cathedral. 1230-1234 years, the white stone, zooantropomorfnogo type. Collapsed in the early to mid XV century, compiled in 1471 VD Yermolin and in this form has reached our days.

Construction Konstantin Vsevolodovich (Grand Duke in 1216-1218), received at his father's will Rostov who's there in 1212-1216 years:

- Rostov, the Church of Boris and Gleb. 1214, brick, the type of decoration is unknown. Stood up in 1287 and rebuilt in the technique of "opus mixtum"¹⁷;

- Yaroslavl, the assumption Cathedral. 1215, brick, zooantropomorfnogo type¹⁸. Collapsed during a fire in 1501;

- Yaroslavl, the Savior Cathedral, built by Konstantin Vsevolodovich and finished in 1224 Vsevolod Konstantinovich. Brick, ornamental decor or zooantropomorfnogo type¹⁹. Collapsed during a fire in 1501;

- Yaroslavl, entry into Jerusalem Church. the year 1218²⁰, brick, ornamental decor or zooantropomorfnogo type²¹. Survived until the XVII century²².

III

We need statistics and on the main post-Mongol capital buildings. The word "post-Mongol" we mean "posleputinsky" - after the invasion of winter 1237-1238 period:

- Tver, the Savior Cathedral. in 1290, a white stone, ornamental decor or zooantropomorfnogo type (found several fragments of ornamental decor, N.N. Voronin suggested that he could be zooantropomorfnogo²³. Cathedral rebuilt in XVII century;

- Kolomna, the Church at the Settlement. According to research Kavelmahera, belongs to the first half of XIV century²⁴. White rock (rough), zooantropomorfnogo type. Partially preserved;

- Moscow, the Dormition Cathedral 1326-1327 years. The white stone, ornamental decor type. Dismantled in the early 1470-ies in connection with construction of a new Cathedral of the assumption;

- Moscow, the Church of the Saviour on the Bor. 1330 year, the white stone, ornamental decor type. Rebuilt in 1527, then in the XVIII century²⁵;

- Moscow, the Church-belfry of St. John Climacus. 1329 year, the white stone, ornamental decor type. Stood until 1505²⁶;

- Moscow, the Cathedral of the Archangel. 1333, a white stone, ornamental decor type. In 1505 dismantled;

- Moscow, the Cathedral of the Epiphany monastery countryside for "Mart". 1340 year, the white stone. Destroyed after a fire in 1684, in its place built a new temple;

- Moscow, the Cathedral of the Chudov monastery. 1365, the white stone, ornamental decor type. In 1431 "from the very dilapidated collapsed²⁷. Rebuilt in 1501, dismantled in the twentieth century;

- Moscow, Kremlin walls. 1367 year, the white stone. Dismantled under Ivan III;

- Moscow, the Cathedral of the Simonov monastery. 1379-1405 years, the white stone decor ornamented type. In 1476 flopped top, a year later the Cathedral was restored. Rebuilt in 1540-ies, blown up in the twentieth century;

- Kolomna, the assumption Cathedral. From 1379-1382 years, the white stone decor ornamented type. Collapsed during construction, soon recovered and stood until 1672²⁸, when his place was built a new Church. Probably, at this place was, and still earlier the white-stone Church²⁹;

- Nizhniy Novgorod, the Church of Archangel Michael. 1359. Disappeared after the fire in 1378³⁰;

- Nizhniy Novgorod, unfinished construction of the white-stone Kremlin. 1372 year;

- Moscow, the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos at the Kremlin. 1393, a white stone, ornamental decor type. The top collapsed in 1479. In the beginning of XVI century the temple was rebuilt;

- Moscow, the Cathedral of the Annunciation. N.N. Voronin dated it by the end of XIV century³¹. The white stone, ornamental decor type. In 1482 his "pochasha pulls, top snyasha lubem nakryla"³². Rebuilt in 1484-1489 respectively;

- Mozhaisk, Staro-Nikolsky Cathedral. The end of the XIV - beginning of XV century, the white stone decor ornamented type. Rebuilt in the XIX century;

- Mozhaisk, the Church of Joachim and Anna. Beginning of the XV century, a white stone, ornamental decor type. Rebuilt in the XIX century;

- Zvenigorod, the assumption Cathedral "on the Town". Around 1400, the white stone, ornamental decor type. Preserved;

- Zvenigorod, the Cathedral of the Savvino-Storozhevsky monastery. Beginning of the XV century, a white stone, ornamental decor type. Preserved;

- Bayou. The Cathedral of the Archangel and the Church of St. Nicholas. Beginning of the XV century, a white stone, ornamental decor type. Destroyed in the time of Troubles;

- the village of Gorodnya Tver region, the Church of the Nativity. N.N. Voronin believed that the Church was built in the end of XIV century, then in 1412, it burned down, and in 1440 years of its upper part was completely rebuilt³³. Rough white-stone masonry, decor ornamented type. In General, preserved;

- Moscow, the Cathedral of the ascension monastery, 1407-1467 years, the white stone decor ornamented type. Dismantled in 1516 "for the sake of disrepair"³⁴. In its place built a new temple, destroyed in the twentieth century;

- Sergiev Posad, Trinity Cathedral. 1422-1427 years, decor ornamented type. Preserved;

- Kamenka village Naro-Fominsk district of the Moscow region, St. Nicholas Church. Dating Voronin - the first half of the XV century³⁵. A white stone, a type of decoration is unknown. In General, preserved;

- Moscow, the Cathedral of the Andronikov monastery. Previously 1427. The white stone, ornamental decor type. The top hit in the fire of 1812, renovated in 1960-1961,³⁶.

At the end of the reign of Basil II (1425-1462) and the reign of Ivan III (1462-1505) begins widespread and fast - within 15-20 years is the transition to a brick building:

- Moscow, the Church of the exaltation of the yard boyar Khovrina³⁷. 1450, equipment "opus mixtum";

- Moscow, the Church of the Introduction to Simonovsky monastery in the Kremlin. 1458, brick;

- The Trinity-Sergiev monastery refectory. in 1469, the technique mostly brick;

- Uglich, Cathedral of Paisievo-Pokrovsky monastery. 1471, brick;

- Holy Trinity, the Church of Holy spirit. 1476, the technique mostly brick.

In parallel with these temples, until the turn of the XV and XVI centuries, were carried out occasional white-stone building, but in the future, a brick was in Moscow dominant type of building material.

IV

So, since Yuri Dolgoruky up to the invasion of Batu in the Vladimir-Suzdal white stone were erected 22 large buildings from a brick - 5, with 4 of them were built by Konstantin Vsevolodovich actually outside the Grand estates.

Therefore, in the Grand estates of white stone built:

(22-1) : 22 x 100 = 95 % of the buildings.

In the post-Mongolian time until mid XV century, all capital construction in Moscow were built in white technique.

Therefore, the question arises - why addiction to white stone at the Vladimir-Suzdal and Moscow princes was so stable, despite the wide brick building in the neighboring Russian land? Nowhere in Kiev or in Chernigov, nor in the southern Pereyaslavl, nor in Ryazan, not in Smolensk, nor Novgorod-Seversky, nor in Volhynia none of the temple was not built of white stone or its local counterparts, everywhere we see only a brick or "opus mixtum", though often decorated with white-stone details. Technology "opus mixtum" built in Novgorod, and Pskov.

The only Russian Principality, where he was carried white-stone building, is Galicia, but about her and about her relationship with the Suzdal region we will talk later.

Now let us ask ourselves the following question: maybe it was not important, what to build? It is known that brick, and the more "opus mixtum", cheaper and more white stone³⁸but much?

V

The answer to the question of how the white-stone architecture of expensive brick on the surface, do not lie, and we have to delve into the area of settlements.

White rock (organic sediments "carbon" - Carboniferous period of the Paleozoic era), as it is known, is mined in quarries. The latter are not everywhere, but the stone was "ready to use".

Brick should burn in the furnaces, but the clay you can get almost anywhere. For example, in the city of Suzdal yields were good clay, and in the beginning of the XII century there was a large kiln bricks (capacity of about 5000 bricks per cycle), which was used for the construction of Monomachus temple³⁹.

What is lost and gained anything in the economic and technologically Yuri Dolgoruky, began building of white stone, not brick?

N.N. Voronin, referring to the results of the analysis, argued that the stone for the construction Dolgoruky had to haul distance - known developments Myachkovo⁴⁰. PA Rappoport specified that he meant the area of Podolsk, where they found the old quarry⁴¹.

Indeed, the stone temples Yury all signs refers to "myachkovsky the horizon" (see geologic map in Fig. 4). But far from afar had to carry in Vladimir?

Fig. 4. Geological map of the European part of the former USSR.

The numbers on the map:

1 - Vladimir;

2 - Halych;

3 - "myachkovsky horizon" coal deposits;

4 - quarries near Staritsa;

5 - quarries in the area Myachkovo and Podolsk;

6 - quarries in the area Kasimov;

7 - quarries in the area of Kovrov.

Letters on the map:

Cenozoic group: Q - Quaternary system; N - Neogene; Pg - Paleogene; Tr - non tertiary system.

Mesozoic group: Cr - Cretaceous system; (J - Jurassic system; T - Triassic system.

Paleozoic group: P - Permian; C - Cambrian system; Pz - upper Paleozoic system; (D - Devonian system; S - Silurian system; O - Ordovician system; Cm - Cambrian system.

Pt - Proterozoic.

Ar - archaea.

G - granitoid intrusions.

PA Rappoport determined the distance (the"leverage") the supply of stone from Podolsk to Vladimir 200 km⁴².

We do not know how to calculate Rappoport crept so annoying inaccuracy, but actually it's not even a straight-line distance from Podolsk to Vladimir, it is 230 km. And rivers, respectively, much more.

It is unclear how PA Rappoport could make a route of transportation of stone across the river Vorya⁴³ it flows through the far North. Theoretically, a possible way to Pekhorka, but they could not use it - Pekhorka too shallow, and its upper reaches of the swamp.

Stone, probably drove the regular trade routes, which arose Moscow⁴⁴: Moscow-river Yauza - Volok - Klyazma.

The measurement of this road on a topographic map (scale 1:200000) using the odometer gives the distance from Myachkovo to Vladimir, equal 380 km. Plus from Myachkovo to Podolsk on Pakhra - 50 km plus from Vladimir to Pereslavl or Rostov - about 200 km.

Consequently, an average of Vladimir-Suzdal shoulder transport stone was approximately 500 km.

In the end of XIII century in Tver was built from new quarries near Staritsa, Torzhok and Zubtsov⁴⁵. It is relatively close to Tver, and the stone was easy to carry - down-stream of the Volga.

And in Moscow (in the XIV-XV centuries), built of white stone was relatively easy - from myachkovsky quarries shoulder haul was "only" 50 km.

But it's a different time, but now we are talking about Yuri Dolgoruky, Andrew Bogoliubsky and other Vladimir-Suzdal princes of the pre-Mongol epoch. Nothing is closer Myachkovo they were not. To Staritsa, zubtsova and Torzhok from Vladimir further - 400 km in a straight line, i.e. the rivers - not less than 800. The distance to the quarries in the Volga Bulgaria even more - more 1000 km.

Quarries in the area Kasimov was developed much later, most likely, already in post-Mongolian time, to the same and are no closer to Vladimir - on the way (straight - about 170 km) are impassable swamps Meshchersky. It means to carry the stone had through Moscow or through the mouth of the Klyazma river, and the path was even longer than that from Podolsk.

The geological map (Fig. 4) shows that the theoretical and closer to Vladimir quality limestone could not be. The deposits of the Carboniferous period, surrounded by a semicircle of Moscow from the South and West, never going to Vladimir closer than 200-250 km in a straight line.

And around Vladimir - deposits only Jurassic and Cretaceous bit, i.e. not the Paleozoic and Mesozoic era. As a rule, the quality of the limestone, the lower is, the smaller is its geological age - for example, the "stone" Jurassic period is not a stone in the full sense of the word, has a gray-green color, and so soft that make nothing can.

On the map (Fig. 4) seen a narrow layer of coal deposits in the South-East of Vladimir (going to the city of Kovrov, Vladimir region). This Deposit tuff⁴⁶ (strictly speaking, tuff-like limestone, also belonging to the Carboniferous period, but much lower quality than the white stone).

Tuff usually used in masonry arches and domes. Exceptions - Vladimir Detinets 1164 and the Cathedral in Suzdal 1222-1225, partially made of tuff⁴⁷.

It is likely that there, in the area of Kovrov, were and quarries, where together with the tuff was produced low-quality white stone used in the construction of the assumption Cathedral in Rostov and paving the Cathedral square in Rostov when Andrei Bogolyubsky⁴⁸. But from carpet to Rostov on rivers too far away - about 250 km (and up to Vladimir about 100 km).

A high-quality stone was used for facing of the temples Dolgoruky and most of the buildings of his descendants, all signs refers to "myachkovsky the horizon and, consequently, it had to carry for 500 km.

VI

The calculation of the conditional value in units of labour input (man-days) for construction of white stone and brick I propose to spend on the example of the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl - the complexity of its construction are given in Voronin⁴⁹.

N.N. Voronin for this temple were calculated only the costs of the transformation and processing of white stone, so to determine the cost of construction work we can use other, less detailed and well-grounded calculations of the same researcher on the construction of the white-stone Moscow Kremlin⁵⁰by applying correction factors for lower volume of construction and their increased complexity of masonry walls and vaults of the temple compared to the walls and towers of the fortress.

A complete calculation is given in the Appendix, but here we will focus only on the most important intermediate results.

Conditional costs of transporting the stone from myachkovsky-Podilsky quarries to the construction site on the Nerl make summer 48020 person-days, in winter 51150 people-DN.. on average - 49585 people-DN.

Treatment of white stone for masonry includes the transformation and processing - rough and clean. By NN Voronin, this work is 4746 people-DN.⁵¹

Processing elements figured stone, typical white stone building, still leaves about 2000 people-DN. Include blacksmith work on the mandrel tool for stone⁵² received input processing of white stone, equal 7001 person-days, and taking into account delivery - 56586 people-DN.

The notional value of the building regardless of the material, excluding interior decoration and paintings, equal 1623 people-DN. Adding a device roofs, floors, doors, window-sill, other details and graphic elements common to brick and white stone building, one obtains the labor content of building works with any material, equal 3723 people-DN.

In the hypothetical case where the temple was built of brick, the total complexity of its construction would consist of the cost of the building regardless of the material (3723 person-days), plus the cost of production and processing of brick, equal 2272 people-DN.

The total estimated cost of conventional (labor), the white-stone building of the temple of the protection of:

56586 + 3723 = 60309 people-DN.

The total estimated cost of conventional (labor) brick building similar to the temple:

2272 + 3723 = 5995 people-DN.

Calculate the ratio:

60309 : 5995 = 10,1.

Therefore, the temple of white stone is more expensive such as brick in more than 10 (ten) times.

VII

It may seem that the notional value (in units of labour input) does not reflect the real value, as a skilled worker is paid above the low-skilled and the peasants, "driven" by the Prince on serving a feudal obligations, can not gain money - only tools and food.

This is true, but let's not forget that in the huge difference between the complexity of white stone and brick building the dominant role of a transport component, and the work of the Transporter (in our case - the boatman or the driver) in all ages has been highly qualified and, accordingly, well-paid.

Even if he had been serving a feudal obligations, the farmer with horse cart or a big boat is not a poor handyman, and a very wealthy man, requiring respect and fair pay. Otherwise, the horse "sick" and will not go anywhere, but the boat "accidentally run aground". Supervisors at each kilometer of the route will not put any Transporter is always left to myself.

However, let's calculate the value notional value of the building of white stone and brick in the hypothetical case of finding the Cathedral is so close to the quarries that we can ignore the transport component.

We have just seen that for the Church of the scale of the Intercession on the Nerl, the relative value processing the white stone is 7001 people-DN. The notional value of manufacturing bricks - 2272 people-DN. The volume of construction work regardless of construction machinery is 3723 people-DN.

Then the ratio of estimates "white stone and brick building is:

(7001 + 3723) : (2272 + 3723) = 1,78.

Consequently, "estimates" building of white stone, even with complete exclusion from the calculation of the transport component is still almost twice exceeds the "estimates" of the construction of brick.

Not surprisingly, all of the pre-Mongolian churches in Ryazan (assumption, STS and the Savior Cathedral, the Church Olgova town) constructed entirely of brick⁵³despite the proximity of the quarries "myachkovsky horizon".

Another "stroke to the portrait of the" white stone. Kavelmaher, in the fifties of the XX century worked belokamenschikom, talked about the enormous complexity of the transformation and processing of this material. In the quarries alternate hard and soft layers, and the search for good grades is very heavy work. Too hard stone not sawn and broken, and too soft you could cut it with a knife. It happens so porous stone that water flowing through it - this is also not suitable for construction⁵⁴.

N.N. Voronin on the same occasion recalled a saying of "Words" Daniel the exile: "Lepse is the stone of Dolomiti than evil wife teaches"⁵⁵.

Anyway, the stone Cathedral is not household items that can be bought for ten times higher price on the basis of any personal bias. In the XII century capital construction required effort and mobilization of all Principality, and it turns out, for example, that instead of four white stone churches Yuri Dolgoruky in the same labor and financial costs could build forty brick.

VIII

And yet, consider another option, personal preferences Dolgoruky. In the end, Printing record under 1152 said, "Then George Duke in Suzdal be, and otvryl him God razumniy eyes on the Church building, and many churches, postavila in Suzdal country..."⁵⁶ - so, perhaps, there was some purely volitional action that is economically unreasonable, but took the form of "divine revelation"?

Of course, the term "divine revelation" we are not entitled to operate, but still can not ignore the possibility exceptionally strong-willed decisions Dolgoruky, the Prince of Vladimir-Suzdal land with 1113 (perhaps even from infancy - 1096⁵⁷) years, i.e. to 1152 ruled several decades and, undoubtedly, has practically unlimited "administrative resource".

We can even suppose that after a brief occupation in 1149 Yuri Dolgoruky Kiev⁵⁸ (during the struggle with Izyaslav Mstislavich for the Grand buffet) he got heavily that he found it necessary to spend on the temples.

But, speaking about the theoretical possibility exceptionally strong-willed decision of Suzdal Prince to white-stone building, let's not forget that Andrew, and Vsevolod, and grandchildren, and more distant descendants of George continued to build temples as Dolgoruky - from the white stone.

And Yuri Dolgoruky - no-Vladimir Red Sun, not Yaroslav the Wise and not Vladimir Monomakh.

Kiev Yuri hated Kiev chronicle is his inveterate perjurer and staiman⁵⁹that allowed Vntatischev call him the "Prince of lovers of pleasures more"sensual, and Shcherbatov thought that Yuri was nicknamed Dolgoruky like the Persian king Ahasuerus - for the greed to acquire "⁶⁰. Even modern Russian encyclopedic dictionary more tactfully, but also not quite flattering reports that the hands of Yuri stretched from Suzdal to Kiev, and for this he received his nickname⁶¹.

But it is characteristic that, although this mode of Suzdal Prince drew the Kiev chronicle, the court Chronicles of Andrew and Vsevolod not bothered to refute the censure, erected on Dolgoruky. Even more significant that "in the summer of 6663 (1155 - SZ) will come from Kiev to hail volodimer Grand Prince Andrew without despair command"⁶². In other words, Bogolyubsky took Vladimir table against the will of the father.

Therefore, we can not speak about any credibility it poses Yuri, made his descendants to white-stone building for three hundred years.

Then suppose (though this is less likely)that Andrei Bogolyubsky also had a resolute decision - building of white stone, despite the enormous cost.

Image Bogolyubsky in the annals of a far more attractive than his father, which allowed the Church a few centuries to canonize him. But praise the court chroniclers⁶³ it is one thing, but reality is another. And the facts are as follows: when Andrey was killed by conspirators, his body lay under the wall of the Palace - and this despite the fact that squad, and the townspeople knew about his death. Then the priests were not allowed to make his body the Church, and it is wrapped in a carpet, two days lay in the vestibule⁶⁴.

Can we assume that the credibility of George and Andrew in the immediate progeny was so great that "legitimized" their white stone building technique has been around for centuries, despite the non-technological and economic reasons? Of course not.

And to stretch the chain of arbitrary decisions to Vsevolod the Big Nest is impossible - it just derogate from the white technics (the assumption Cathedral of the Knyaginin monastery, Vladimir Detinets).

Hence, the beginning of white stone building with Yuri Dolgoruky had character is not volitional action, and a serious strategic decisions, and so serious that this technique hovered more than 300 years. Therefore, any attempt to look for "tough" rooted in the Vladimir-Suzdal white stone architecture (as well as to explain the beginning of building of white stone, any other random factors) is doomed to failure.

IX

There is another possible explanation of transition Dolgoruky on a stone building - the beauty of white stone. This argument is most often found in tourist guidebooks and popular books, but he indirect tribute to the professionals - the beauty of white stone said many⁶⁵.

In addition, the white stone is sometimes associated with the temple of Solomon (3 kings, the main 6), white garments (Rev. 7:13) and even the Heavenly Jerusalem (Rev., mainly 21). "General history of architecture adds that white stone churches were very noticeable from afar⁶⁶. And if you compare the Suzdal white stone walls of buildings with gray cobblestone - Novgorod and Pskov, then this argument may seem quite wealthy.

Indeed, the beauty of the temples, built of white stone, it is difficult to deny, and I must admit that at the time and the author of the study tended to "aesthetic" arguments. And to be quite Frank, it is disappointing in such a motivation transition to a white stone, and prompted the author to a more profound study of the issues raised in this book.

Unfortunately, the objections to the "aesthetic" arguments go to white stone building is too much.

First, even assuming Yuri Dolgoruky subtle aesthetic taste, the stability of the flavor of the set of his descendants - of Andrew Bogolyubsky to Vasily the Dark is extremely unlikely.

Secondly, as we have said, the temple is not the subject of articles, and overpay. Large-scale capital construction required the mobilization of all resources of the territory, and even a small rise could cause negative macroeconomic consequences. And here we are talking about tenfold.

Third, any non-alternative choice between the spectacular white-stone masonry and sloppy "opus mixtum" was not - it was possible to build temples in Kiev and Chernigov, brick tsemyanochnom solution, getting quite uniform and aesthetically attractive red-pink color.

With the brick allowed to build temples much their increased size than the white stone. Compare, for example, the dome of space (we define them on the side of the dome of squares) several churches: St. Sophia Cathedral 7,8 m, Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral in Chernigov 6.5 m, Monomakh Cathedral in Suzdal - 8.6 m⁶⁷and Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral in Pereslavl - 5,1 m. Even in the brick cathedrals modest and poor Ryazan side of the dome of squares were greater than in the Vladimir-Suzdal Principality⁶⁸.

And if Dolgoruky competed with Kiev, why does he not built in Kiev, brick that would surpass the tenure Izyaslav Mstislavich, and the number of temples, and their size?

Fourth, the heavenly Jerusalem was gold (Rev. 21:18), the stone temple of Solomon - yellow, like the rest of the limestone in the Holy Land, and such particulars as the white clothing saints (Rev. 7:13), was unlikely to influence the choice of such a road construction equipment.

Fifth, with regard to "significant" white stone churches in the distance, the red, according to the laws of physics, visible from afar much better - he has more length of light waves and, consequently, faster dissemination. White, though a combination of all colors, has a small red component and perceived weaker. Not for nothing prohibiting and warning signs are usually red.

And in the presence of snow cover, which is in North-Eastern Russia is present in almost six months, to speak about a special "visibility" white stone churches generally unlawful. Red brick would be much more noticeable in summer and more in winter.

Sixth, in the Russian language is always a "red" meant "beautiful" is not by chance there were red banner with the Saviour, and ceremonial cloaks princes, and shields warriors⁶⁹, and the coats of arms of cities of the Vladimir-Suzdal land.

Seventh, the white-stone ornaments on the red brick look much brighter and more striking, therefore, an indirect argument that the white stone churches were built for the opportunity to decorate their sculptural decor⁷⁰also untenable. Moreover, the decoration on the temples Dolgoruky quite modest.

Eighth, white churches Yuri very conditional is not in vain in the literature generally praised white Church of Intercession on the Nerl, where the stone was chosen and adapted much better. And the temples of Pereslavl and Kideksha can be called white-yellow, yellow can, but you spotted the number of inclusions of low - quality stone is very large.

Ninth, in a few decades (or even years) after the construction of the temples were not white and not yellow, and dirty-gray from soot furnaces and frequent fires, and the practice of cleaning them appeared only in the XIX century.

Tenth, in the case of any particular addiction Yuri Dolgorukiy and his descendants to the white color could be to build temples of brick or even cheaper technology "opus mixtum", and then grout them.

For example, the grout solution is one of the forms of plastering - took place in the churches of Novgorod⁷¹ and Pskov⁷². It was erased solution tuff masonry Suzdal Cathedral of the beginning of the XIII century⁷³. Tuff vaults of the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl and Vladimir assumption Cathedral were aligned coating⁷⁴. In a number of pre-Mongol Suzdal churches were plastered fragments of walls, intended for the frescoes⁷⁵. Bishop John in 1194 whiten Monomakh Cathedral in Suzdal⁷⁶.

Therefore, in the XII century plastering was not something out of the ordinary. Russia was not only plastered fortifications (until the second half of the XVII century⁷⁷). And Dolgoruky with plastering and painting could achieve much greater smoothness of the walls, white and color uniformity at much lower cost.

From all the above it follows that the "aesthetic argument" was unable to explain the transition in the middle of the XII century from brick with white stone.

Chapter II. Galich, Caucasus and Volga Bulgaria

.

© Sergey Zagraevsky

Introduction

Chapter I. White stone and brick

Chapter II. Galich, Caucasus and Volga Bulgaria

Chapter III. Suzdal masters and Romanesque

Chapter IV. “The limit of reliability”

Chapter V. Sculpture decoration

Conclusion

Applications, notes

To the page “Scientific works”

To the main page