The Age of Turbulence: New and Old Culture in Eighteenth-Century Russia (Volume 4) (Russian History Translation Series)

At the beginning of the 18th century, Peter the Great, who can be called "the first person to lead Russia to modern civilization", implemented reforms and laid the foundation for Russia to enter the world of European powers. The Europeanization introduced by Peter's reforms was a source of vitality for the development of Russian cultural life and profoundly influenced the historical and cultural characteristics of Russian architecture, fine arts and decorative painting in the 18th century. The aristocratic art with humanism and enlightenment ideas as its core is the culmination of the empire's strength and records the great achievements of the tsar; the quiet and beautiful aristocratic manor is a unique existence in Russian culture, inspiring the creative enthusiasm of Russian greats such as Tolstoy and Turgenev; the rich urban life and ancient folk art are endless and timeless, and are the "shadowy side" of the Europeanization of Russian cultural life since the 18th century. The 18th century was not only an era when Russian culture and art embraced the European world, but also an era when traditional culture burst into life under the impact of new culture. It was a "turbulent age" for culture and art.