Aesthetic judgments of Vasily Grigorovich-Barsky on the example of descriptions of architecture

Abstract

Describing his wanderings in famous travelogue, Vassiliy Grigorovich-Barskiy was paying special attention to architecture. As time went on, the descriptions became more specific, which makes it possible to articulate his aesthetic views. In the beginning of his wanderings, he just says that Italian architecture of palaces and churches is beautiful. Then, in Venice, he describes with piety the cathedral of St Marco, which was, to his mind, initially an Orthodox church. Thus, the confessional belonging, although in the past, could be a reason for Barskiy to pay it more attention. The similar situation repeats with the Umayyads’ mosque in Damascus – for Barskiy it is the church of John the Baptist, turned into mosque, that’s why he is risking his life to get inside and to describe it.The traveler appreciates the regularity of architecture and clarity of its forms, which is demonstrated in his judgement about St Mamas monastery in Morphou on Cyprus he founds the most beautiful one in the island. At the same time, he is fascinated with very fine Gothic architecture of ruined Abbey of Bella Pais (also on Cyprus). Barskiy makes no difference between styles of architecture. Barskiy says that some of the buildings including Orthodox churches are ugly. There are buildings which are not regular, not decorated, destroyed and being destroyes ones. Consequently, his judgements tend to be free from religious and confessional belonging and the author aims for being objective.