Colour of residential architecture of classicism and neoclassicism in Russia

The works of classicism and neoclassicism constitute artistic heritage, which is an essential element in the life of a modern Russian city. Buildings and ensembles created in the late XVIII - early XIX century, and then in the middle of the XX century, clearly follow the law of architectural classics. This law is expressed in the art of self-restraint in the composite and decorative techniques, as well as combined the wise economy of artistic means and the practical savings. "Classic" - Renaissance uniformity was inherent to the early style of Russian classicism, a vivid example of which were the buildings projected by Giacomo Quarenghi. Two-color art becomes the norm in the architecture of late classicism, as in the neoclassicism of the XX century. This principle is organically linked with the compositional system. Two contrasting colors correspond to the combination of massive architectural elements and details with a large background planes of the walls. White columned portico, white relief moldings - masks, garlands, friezes - clearly stand out on the surface of the warm, ocher-yellow walls, and these two primary colors enrich each other. Two-tone facade is connected not only with the peculiarities of the composition, but also with the material - plastered brick and wood. Plaster serves as a carrier of independent plastic and color characteristics of the architectural work. Through the development of architecture, finishing techniques and artistic crafts plastered wood itself became a new material with new properties. Painted plaster is an essential element among the architectural features and expressive means of Russian classicism. Aristocratic mansions and manor houses, having in the constructive manner wooden house, were designed in a new way. White columns, organizing portico were created from simply logs, posed upright and sheathed with plywood, sometimes stretched over a canvas on which was deposited a layer of plaster. Basement rustication was composed of plaster planks; and "stone" surface of the walls got the opportunity thanks to the same plaster to be painted in intense color. Classicism was the leading style in the architecture of the Russian Empire, at that time the construction of new towns has become an unprecedented scale. This served as a model for urban development also in the Soviet Union. When borrowing typical model projects of residential buildings in Russian classicism, the color of architectural compositions was taken also, this corresponds to the spirit and forms of uniform style. These colors have given to all buildings of Russian classicism and neoclassicism, regardless of their size and nature, those cheerful traits that are inherent in Russian national architecture.