Red Gate
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Red Gates (Russian: Красные Ворота, Krasnye Vorota) in Moscow was a triumphal arch built in an exuberantly baroque design. Gates or arches of this type were common in 18th century Moscow, however, Red Gates were the only one that survived into 20th century. They were demolished in 1928; their name survives in an eponymous Moscow Metro station.
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[edit] National roots
Russian tradition of triumphant arches (or gates, as their were called in 18th-19th centuries) goes back to Petrine time, however, their specific Muscovite shape is a direct consequence of the Time of troubles of early 17th century. Civil war, foreign raiders and rampant crime of that period forced the landlords to fortify their town and country estates. Gates, cut through wooden palisade wall, in their simplest form were fortified with a small defensive platform perched above them. If money allowed, gates were fortified with a barbican tower, again with a raised wooden platform.[1]
In 18th century, this platform transformed into a raised structure above the main arch, thus early Russian triumphant arches have a triangular, tri-partite composition (two side pylons and a center piece, square or octagonal, raised above them). Contemporary 18th century engravings present different variations of the type (notably, Alexey Zubov's 1711 engraving showing troops marching through seven different gates). It is believed that these gates influenced traditional Moscow architects in favor of Petrine Baroque, producing masterpices like Church of St. John the Warrior. [2]
An extant example of private estate gates following the same layout belongs to the former Golitsyn estate on Volkhonka street (adjacent to Pushkin Museum).
[edit] Petrine tradition
First true triumphant gates in Russia were installed by Peter I of Russia, intended for his generals' and his own triumphant rides. The first ones are dated 1697 (Capture of Azov) and 1703 (for the early victories of Boris Sheremetev, Anikita Repnin and Jacob Bruce in Great Northern War). Three sets of gates were set in
- Kitai-gorod near Zaikonospassky monastery
- Ilyinka Gates of Bely Gorod
- Myasnitskaya Gates of Bely Gorod
The second round of triumphant construction, commemorating Battle of Poltava in 1709, resulted in 7 gates built in Moscow, notably the barbican gated on Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge. The third occasion, Battle of Gangut of 1714, was celebrated in Saint Petersburg only. Finally, the Treaty of Nystadt was celebrated in both Saint Petersburg and Moscow. Peter's successors (Anna I of Russia, Elizabeth of Russia, Catherine II of Russia) had built various gates, but Red Gates in Moscow were the only one that survived to 20th century.
[edit] History of Red Gates
Original arch on the site of Red Gates was built to commemorate Battle of Poltava in 1709. Catherine I replaced it with a new structure in order to commemorate her own coronation in 1724. This arch burnt down in 8 years later and was restored in 1742, for Elizabeth's coronation train, which proceeded from Moscow Kremlin to Lefortovo Palace through the edifice.
In 1753 the wooden arch was demolished and replaced with a stone one. The design by Prince Dmitry Ukhtomsky faithfully followed that of Catherine I's architects. This was a refined specimen of baroque sensilibility, with red-blood walls, snow-white reliefs, golden capitals, and 15 bright paintings representing "Tsardoms of Russian Empire", coats of arms of Russian provinces, etc. A large portrait of Empress Elizabeth, surrounded by a lambent halo, was replaced with a double-headed eagle for Nicholas I's coronation in 1825. The structure was crowned by a golden statue of trumpeting angel. Around the gates, a spacious square was laid out.
[edit] Demolition
Red Gates were demolished in 1928 to make way for Garden Ring expansion, despite protests from Ivan Fomin and other artists. Statue of an angel and other artifacts were preserved at the Museum of Moscow.
The square was still known as Krasnye Vorota (Red Gates), and in 1935 acquired Metro station of the same name, designed by Ivan Fomin (underground station) and Nikolai Ladovsky (surface vestibule). In 1953, one of the famous Stalin's skyscrapers was erected on the square to a design by Alexey Dushkin.
The square and station was renamed Lermontovskaya after Mikhail Lermontov in 1962 and was renamed back to Krasniye Vorota in 1986. Proposals to rebuild the arch were rejected, citing traffic congestion and disparity between modest size of the arch compared to present-day width of Garden ring.
