THE COLORFUL FACADE DECORATIONS OF THE SECESSION STYLE IN SOFIA. SOFIA MINERAL BATHS AND THE RECOVERING OF MISSING ELEMENTS

Blagovesta Ivanova

DOI Number
https://doi.org/10.2298/FUACE230630021I
First page
Last page

Abstract


The report presents the national specific of the Secession style in the colourful ceramic decoration of some buildings in Sofia. The most representative between them are the church of St “Nikolay Novi Sofiiski”, buildings of the Synodal Palace, the Central Mineral Baths, and the Higher Theological School at the Holy Synod, built and decorated between 1900 and 1922. They are the works of the architects Friedrich Grünanger, Yurdan Milanov and Petko Momchilov.

The accent of the research is the ceramic decoration of the facades of the Central Mineral Baths in Sofia, by the project of Haralampi Tachev. The details of the types of ornaments are presented and analysed. The graphic designs for the restoration of the missing elements were considered. The impact of colour in the design of the facades is analysed. The peculiarities in the decoration and the connection of this style with the medieval elements, were examined.

The connection of the facade solutions with the Bulgarian historical traditions of the early Middle Ages and Byzantium is explained through examples from Preslav, the capital of the First Bulgarian Kingdom. This way the coloured ceramic tiles of the facades of the Central Mineral Baths are represented as an expression of the Bulgarian medieval tradition in the Secession style in Sofia.

The colour facade interpretations of the buildings in Vienna, Paris and Prague of that period are presented for comparison and demonstration of the national differences, decisions and tasks of the Secession style.


Keywords

ceramic and mosaic facade decoration, Sofia, Mineral Baths, buildings, Prague, Vienna, Paris

Full Text:

PDF

References


Charles, Victoria, Klaus H. Carl: The Viennese Secession. Parkstone International, 2011.

Mallgrave, Harry, ed.: Otto Wagner: reflections on the raiment of modernity. Getty Publications, 1996.

Miller, Michael: The Bon Marche. Burgeois Culture and the Department Store 1865-1920. Princeton University Press, 1981.

Vayron, Olivier Dômes et signes spectaculaires dans les couronnements des grands magasins parisiens : Dufayel, Grand-Bazar de la rue de Rennes, Printemps, Samaritaine. Livraisons de l'Histoire de l'Architecture (in French) (29), (10 June 2015), 89–112. doi:10.4000/lha.478

Laura S. Strumingher: Le printemps de Paris, History of European Ideas, Taylor, 1990, 12,1, 149-151, DOI: 10.1016/0191-6599(90)90142-2

Knotková, Veronika, Svatošová Hana: The old town hall in Prague: an unresolved architectural challenge. City Halls and Civic Materialism. Routledge, 119-134, 2014.

Начев, Ивайло: Сецесионовата архитектура в българската столица София в началото на XX век: влияния, творци, рецепция, памет. Сецесион & Компаративистика. Сборник в чест на проф. Цветана Георгиева. Киев – София, 2019, 141-158. [Nachev, Ivaylo: Secession architecture in the Bulgarian capital Sofia at the beginning of the 20th century: influences, artists, reception, memory. Secession & Comparative Studies. Collection in honor of Prof. Tsvetana Georgieva. Kyiv - Sofia, 2019, 141-158.] The same article is published in: Nachev, Ivaylo: The secession architecture in the Bulgarian capital city of Sofia in the beginning of the 20th century: influences, architects, reception, memory. Dzialo, е-списание в областта на хуманитаристиката, Х-ХХI, 2019, № 13, https://www.abcdar.com (date of visit 10.06.2023).

Nachev, Ivaylo: The secession architecture in the Bulgarian capital city of Sofia in the beginning of the 20th century: influences, architects, reception, memory. Dzialo, е-списание в областта на хуманитаристиката, Х-ХХI 2019, № 13, https://www.abcdar.com (date of visit 10.06.2023).

Ковачев, Атанас, Ташева Стела: Болгаро-российские взаимодействия в архитектуре Болгарии в начале ХХ века: нео-византийская стилистика и национальный романтизм. - Academia. Архитектура и строительство 4, 27-31, 2019. [Kovachev, Atanas, Tasheva Stela: Bulgarian-Russian Interactions in Bulgarian Architecture in the Early 20th Century: Neo-Byzantine Stylistics and National Romanticism. - Academy. Architecture and Construction 4, 27-31,]DOI 10.22337/2077-9038-2019-4-27-31

Йокимов, Петър: Сецесионът и българската архитектура. София, 47, 2005.[ Yokimov, Petar: Secession and Bulgarian architecture. Sofia, 47, 2005.]

Темелски, Христо. Храмът Св. Николай Нови Софийски. София, 52-53, 2000. [Temelski, Christo. The temple of St. Nikolay Novi Sofia. Sofia, 52-53, 2000.]

Темелски, Христо: Синодалната палата. [Temelski, Hristo: The Synodal Palace.] https://draganbachev.com/2021/04/01/%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0/, 01.04.2021. (date of visit 06.06.2023).

Темелски, Христо: Паметник на Българската екзархия или Висше богословско училище. Двери на православието. [Temelski, Hristo: Monument of the Bulgarian Exarchy or Higher Theological School. Doors of Orthodoxy.] https://dveri.bg/component/com_content/Itemid,392/catid,145/id,7650/view,article/, 15.11.2008. (date of visit 10.06.2023).

Vasilchina, Violeta: The challenges of the decorative project. (Haralampi Tachev and the Sofia’s Mineral Baths Ceramics). Cultural heritage of Sofia. Problems and perspectives. Serdica-Sredec-Sofia. Vol. 5, 124-130, 2020,.

Георгиева, Милена: За облика на сецесиона в декоративната живопис на Харалампи Тачев (1875–1941). Изкуствоведски четения 2, 64-7, 2016. [Georgieva, Milena: On the appearance of the Secession in the decorative painting of Haralampi Tachev (1875–1941). Art Studies Readings 2, 64-7, 2016.]

Georgieva, Milena: Carrying out a Mediator’s Mission. The South Slavic Concept (1904-1912) in the Works of Bulgarian Artist Haralampy Tachev. Colloquia Comparativa Litterarum. Vol. 3, No. 1, 50-69, 2017.

Hajdu, Ada: Bulgarian versus Byzantine The Unrealized Museum of the Bulgarian Revival and National Style Debates in Architecture, ca. 1900. Periodization in the Art Historiographies of Central and Eastern Europe. New York, 2022. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003178415

Танчев Иван: Австро-унгарският принос в подготовката на българска интелигенция с европейско образование (1878–1912 г.)(Втора част). Исторически преглед, № 3-4, 165-209, 2012. [Tanchev, Ivan: The Austro-Hungarian contribution to the preparation of the Bulgarian intelligentsia with European education (1878–1912) (Part Two). Historical Review, No. 3-4, 165-209, 2012.]

Йокимов, Петър: Сецесионът и българската архитектура. София, 53, 2005. [Yokimov, Petar: Secession and Bulgarian architecture. Sofia, 53, 2005.]

Vasilchina, Violeta. The challenges of the decorative project. (Haralampi Tachev and the Sofia’s Mineral Baths Ceramics). - Cultural heritage of Sofia. Problems and perspectives. Serdica-Sredec-Sofia. Vol. 5, 126, 2020.

Централна минерална баня. ОП „Стара София“ със Софийски исторически музей. Архив, Sofia History Museum, ръкопис, 2000. [Central mineral bath. OP "Old Sofia" with Sofia Historical Museum. Archive, Sofia Museum of History, manuscript, 2000.]

Vasilchina, Violeta: The challenges of the decorative project. (Haralampi Tachev and the Sofia’s Mineral Baths Ceramics). - Cultural heritage of Sofia. Problems and perspectives. Serdica-Sredec-Sofia. Vol. 5, 126-127, 2020.

Централна минерална баня. ОП „Стара София“ със Софийски исторически музей. Архив, ръкопис, 2000. [Central mineral bath. OP "Old Sofia" with Sofia Historical Museum. Archive, Sofia Museum of History, manuscript, 2000.]

Мавродинов, Никола: Старобългарското изкуство. Изкуството на първото българско царство. София, 202, 209, 211, 2013. [Mavrodinov, Nikola: Old Bulgarian art. The art of the first Bulgarian kingdom. Sofia, 202, 209, 211, 2013.]


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


ISSN 0354-4605 (Print)
ISSN 2406-0860 (Online)
COBISS.SR-ID 98807559