How it began, part 1

How it began, part 2

Painters were chosen in competition and winners were masters from all over the Russia. Studying of the lost fragments helped Vladimir Boytsov to find color and decoration decision for painting, ornaments and texture of the painting of interior walls and archs.

• How it began, part 1
• How it began, part 2

Golden laces of paintings restored by Vladimir Boytsov and his team go well with heraldic themes that glorify victory of Russian army over Napoleon collected and restored in ornaments.

Vladimir Boytsov tells:

«The Temple of Christ the Savior is dedicated to the great feet of the Russian people in struggle with Napoleon's army which in 1812 invaded in the Russian Empire territory. The Temple of Christ the Savior was founded right after the victory of the Russian army in foreign campaign while Alexander I governed. Construction was continued at Alexander II, and the Temple was consecrated at Alexander III.

All interior decoration of the Temple seems to absorb the heroic spirit of those grand days when Russian people struggled in incredible efforts with French army that has invaded from all over the Europe conquered by Napoleon. On the walls we can see a real history of the time that literally respire gunpowder, smoke, fire. And all the decoration: gilding, ceilings and walls painting absorbed ornaments concerned with heroic days of the war of 1812.

While doing drawings and choosing colors we were guided by details of reward ornaments and George bands that were finely interlaced with ornament by architect Leon Dal.

In our hands we had in general black and white photos, and in elaboration of colors we first were guided by location of gilding and after that in innumerable drawings we found final colors of walls, ceilings of gallery dedicated to the heroic feat of the Russian people. On the walls of the gallery there are marble plates with pictures of all battles of the war of 1812, participants are enumerated by name: dead, wounded, rewarded.

We would like also to note that when the first Temple was opened, in lists were not all participants and relatives came and made lists of non enumerated participants of that battles. The Lists were not lost but by different reasons they stayed not incarnated. Fortunately those lists are intact until now and within the restoration and reconstruction of new marble plates they were considered. And now relatives that came into the Temple can find their ancestors, participants of the war of 1812.

In the process of creation of the decoration of bypass gallery dedicated to the participants of the war of 1812 there were a lot of moments when we had to invent and create a part of lost ornament and its elements.

I would like to note small fragment with which worked Vladimir Pavlov and me. In the process of creation of elements of ceilings and pilasters we confronted with one moment: on the black and white photos that we had there were no many positions and one of them we considered lost. Vladimir Pavlov saw it in old newsreel of 30th years. That was very bad shot taken with big perspective, it needed to be increased on computer. As a result it was very degraded black and white shot. But nevertheless we saw that it was ornamental image of George the Victorious order framed with George band that gave us strong impulse in pilasters and ceilings design.

To find out exact description of the order we had to consult with specialists and so we found out that it is George the Victorious order of the 1st degree. And that element of ornament is repeated often on pilasters of the bypass gallery. I was very glad that this element enclosed the full composition of ceilings, pilasters, wall paintings and marble plates all over the gallery.

On the other walls of that gallery there are rescripts to the Prince Saltykov and imperial manifesto dated 18 June 1812 where Alexander I addresses to all Russian people, to nobles, tells that war with Napoleon France begins, and all forces of the country must be aimed to the victory».

Rebuilding of Temple of Christ the Savior

How it began: «In our hands we had in general black and white photos...»