Architecture of Anna’s Period: The Birth of the Image of the Empire

The article is devoted to the problems of the Russian architecture of the 1730s, the era of Empress Anna Ioannovna’s reign. That period has not attracted much attention of researchers until recently, the reasons being poor preservation of the monuments of the 1730s and the lack of notable achievements, especially compared with the magnificent architecture of the Elizabeth’s 20-yearlong reign. In recent historical research, both the years of Empress Anna Ioannovna’s rule in the history of Russia of the 18th century and the figure of the Empress herself have undergone a noticeable revision. Anna’s decade appears to have been a period of stabilization and consolidation of the country’s transformations that took place during Peter the Great’s time. Research into the architecture of that time show that it was under Empress Anna Ioannovna that Petersburg acquired the characteristics of a capital city and began to be considered an imperial residence. In the 1730s, the most significant buildings initiated by Peter the Great were completed: the building of the Twelve Collegia, the Kunstkamera, and the Peter and Paul Cathedral. The new construction of palaces and public buildings over that time, as well as the transfer of former palace buildings to a number of institutions, testified to the desire for a visual articulation of the ruling elite. The article attempts to re-examine the indifference towards the architectural achievements of the period under consideration and suggests taking a closer look at it.