Architecture
Although frequently hailed as a central piece of the Muscovite Revival, Chichagov's design is in reality a hybrid of two styles favoured by the Muscovite bourgeoisie of the 1880s — Russian Revival and Neo-Renaissance.
In keeping with their tastes, the building retains the forms of Muscovite antiquity required to prepare a passerby for the medieval solemnity of the Kremlin and Red Square. The roof is reminiscent of the Terem Palace, an early 17th-century structure which may be found in the nearby Kremlin, whereas the exuberant form of ornamentation used in abundance for the façade suggests certain motifs from the adjacent State Historical Museum and the Iberian Gate.
Despite all these references to the Russian Middle Ages, the principal hall and other interiors used to be liberally seasoned with Italianate elements. The strictly symmetrical ground plan of Chichagov's building is also typical of Western architecture, as is the ornamental monotony of the façade, which fronts the Hotel Moskva, sprawling on the opposite side of Revolution Square.
Coordinates: 55°45′22″N 37°37′07″E / 55.75611°N 37.61861°E / 55.75611; 37.61861
Read more about this topic: V. I. Lenin Museum
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