Ivan Foletti — Margarita Khakhanova

Visualizing Russian Imperialism: Neo-medieval Churches in the 19th-Century South Caucasus

In the 19th century, the Russian Empire increasingly employed a medieval visual vocabulary in its church architecture. This phenomenon can be observed throughout the empire — from the main cities of Moscow and Saint Petersburg to its peripheral regions, such as the South Caucasus. The revival of medieval forms thus became one of the instruments through which the empire asserted and legitimized its political and ideological ambitions. The Caucasus — the region of particular interest for the Russian Empire — was among the regions richest in the construction of churches in neo-medieval styles, particularly neo-Byzantine and Old Russian. Their visual language stood in marked contrast to the region’s longstanding architectural traditions, prompting the question of why these specific styles were chosen. Indeed, such churches functioned as a deliberate visualization of imperial authority. This article, therefore, explores how architecture served as a powerful medium of propaganda, articulating various ideologies to the peoples of the Caucasus. Furthermore, it aims to demonstrate how specific neo-medieval styles were employed to convey different facets of imperial ideology.

Author's email:

foletti@phil.muni.cz, 499807@mail.muni.cz

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54759/ART-2025-0308



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