Volume 1

Travels in various countries of Europe, Asia and Africa / By Edward Daniel Clarke.

  • Clarke, Edward Daniel, 1769-1822.
Date:
1810-1823
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Travels in various countries of Europe, Asia and Africa / By Edward Daniel Clarke. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    189/984 (page 101)
    and I narrowly escaped punishment, for having strings in my shoes. The Convent of the Trinity, distant forty miles from Moscow, is deemed particularly worth seeing, on account of its immense riches. Rather more than two miles further is another convent, less known, but more remarkable: it con¬ tains within its walls a Gothic church, erected over a mount, supposed to typify The mountain of the ascension of Jesus Christ. At the foot of the mount, and within it, is a small chapel, containing figures executed in wax, to represent the resurrection of Lazarus. This extraordinary work has been planned by Plato archbishop of Moscow, who resides there, and under whose inspection the whole was executed. The place is called Vifanij. But the most remarkable edifice, as it affords a striking monument of national manners, is the Church of St. Basil, near the Kremlin. It is a complete specimen of the Tartar taste in building; and was erected by Ivan Basilovich the Second, in 1538. To add to the singularity of its history, it was the workmanship of Italian architects. Its numerous and heavy cupolas, surmounted by gilded crucifixes, exhibit a striking contrast of colour and ornament. The annexed engraving, though taken from a drawing coloured on the spot, is confined to a small scale, and does not afford idea$ adequate to its extraordinary appearance; the colours not being so forcibly opposed, as they appear upon the original building. Pious individuals bequeath legacies towards the perpetual gilding or painting of this or that dome, according to their various fancies; so that it is likely to remain a splendid piece CHAP. VI. Convent of the Trinity. Church of St. Basil.