Since the 17th century, in many cities of Europe, instead of simple trading shops, large shopping centers began to be built, which were modernized over time - gostiny yards. The 19th century gave technical opportunities to build more modern commercial buildings - passages, one of the oldest is the gallery of Victor Emmanuel II. The stores that are located here belong to the most famous brands.
Passage - a new type of shopping facilities
Arcades have appeared in the architecture of many large European cities in connection with the development of building technologies. These commercial buildings usually connect two urban spaces - streets or squares - they are a covered gallery. On both sides of the central alley there are various shops: grocery, haberdashery, jewelry, clothes, shoes,bags.
Seats in arcades tend to be very expensive. Therefore, opening a store here is not available to everyone. Usually eminent trading houses and firms with a brand name can afford this pleasure. In addition to light, spacious and comfortable rooms, the passage has other advantages. It is located in the very center of the city, in its most passable place, where there are always a lot of rich buyers, and buyers in general. In addition, the rich decoration makes the passage building look like a most beautiful palace. And that also attracts people.
This is how the gallery of Victor Emmanuel II in Milan is arranged. The most famous trading houses of Italy and other European countries rented shops here, and one of the main cafeterias of the Italian capital was located.
Passage in Milan
Where was the famous gallery built? Address of the Gallery of Victor Emmanuel II in Milan: Piazza del Duomo. The passage connects two famous squares: Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Scala. And it is located just between il Duomo and the famous theater la Scala. It took only twelve years to build.
The author of the gallery of Victor Emmanuel II in Milan, named after one of the most revered kings of Italy, was Giuseppe Mengoni. His fate is tragic. On the eve of the openingamazing structure, the architect died - fell from the scaffolding. What caused this incident is unclear. In memory of the author of the Passage and the square, a memorial plaque was installed near the main city church on the facade facing the basilica.
Floor mosaics
The Victor Emmanuel II Gallery in Milan has a rich decor. It is based on the use of mosaics. The crosshair of the main gallery and the "transept" has a stone mosaic octagonal platform, in the center of which in a round field in a flower with four petals of azure color is the coat of arms of the famous dynasty of the rulers of Milan - the Dukes of Savoy. The coat of arms depicts a shield of the Spanish heraldic form, the purple field of which is divided into four parts by a white Latin cross. The top of the shield is crowned with a ducal crown. And on the sides there is an outline in the form of carved green-red-yellow leaves. The round area is surrounded by a brown-yellow border with floral ornaments.
From the four sides of the Savoy, there are four more coats of arms of the major trading cities of Italy (including Milan - on a somewhat smaller, but also round white field in a green frame of elongated leaves - a French white heraldic shield, the field of which is on four parts are divided by a red Latin cross).
In the other circle is the coat of arms of Rome: a French-shaped shield, somewhat decoratively altered, which depicts the Capitoline she-wolf feeding Romulus and Remus with milk. Above the shield is a crown.
In the third circle - the coat of arms of Florence withred-white lily in the center of the same as the Roman shield.
In the fourth - the coat of arms of Turin: a beige bull in the center of a similar shield shape, but azure.
Red-blue floral rosettes are placed between the emblems.
Decorative decoration of walls and interiors
In addition to the floor mosaics, the decor of the Victor Emmanuel II gallery also includes wall mosaics that decorate the ends of each of the "basilica" crosspieces and are located at the base of the glass vault in semicircular fields. Here are symbolic images of Agriculture and Industry, Art and Science, made by the greatest masters from different parts of Italy.
Panel "Africa"
Against the background of a greenish sky and golden sands, a young girl is depicted in the center of the panel, her hair and attire reminiscent of an Egyptian. Her head is adorned with a diadem with a uraeus. She is dressed in white fabrics. The naked torso is adorned with a double red string of beads wrapped around the neck.
In her right hand, the girl holds a cornucopia turned up. Flowers grow from it. The left hand is stretched forward, towards the kneeling black slave in front of her. The slave holds a bunch of ears of corn in his hands. Like the cornucopia, golden ears symbolize fertility.
To the left of the girl is a peacefully lying lion, looking at what is happening. On the one hand, the lion can be regarded as a symbol of fertility. On the other hand, it may remind us of the ancient Egyptian goddess of fertility Sokhmet, who easily took the form of a lioness.
In the background behind the lion is a palace. We only seethe lower levels of the walls. They are richly decorated with bright fresco paintings - symbols of prosperity and we alth. This panel can be called in another way - "Agriculture", which is quite due to its artistic images.
Panel "Asia"
On the throne in a free position is a beautiful woman in rich clothes. In front of her is a Chinese man in a traditional ethnic costume. He brought his gifts to Asia.
Panel "America"
Against the background of nature (sands, palm trees, flowers) sit two figures - male and female. At their feet is a round disc with relief images of their faces in profile, reminiscent of a gem or a coin.
On the woman's head is a feather headdress. Similar headwear was worn by the indigenous inhabitants of the continent - the Indians. Native Americans themselves and slaves settled down at the feet of the main characters. Perhaps this speaks to the role of Europe in the conquest of America.
Panel "Europe"
Against the background of the blue sky, just above the snow-white clouds, a beautiful goddess sits on her throne. Her head is adorned with a golden crown. The goddess is dressed in white clothes. Her legs are covered with a loosely thrown red veil. A golden cloth is thrown over the back of the throne. At the woman's feet lies a thick book with a tassel bookmark. A creature resembling an angel sits at the feet, which is quite reasonable, because Christianity was the most common religion in European territories.
Overheadan angel's light, similar to the flame of a candle - the torch of Knowledge or Truth. Nearby is a globe - a symbol of knowledge. To the left of the goddess, on a high stylobate of a fragment of an ancient temple or palace, there is an owl - a symbol of Wisdom. The metope of the stylobate is decorated with a relief image of a horse - a symbol of freedom and nobility. The images of this panel may well serve as the personification of science.
Decorate the gallery and sculptures depicting famous representatives of the Renaissance: Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei and others. They are located in the galleries on the upper tier. Above each of the four entrances in the arches there are allegorical images: "Industry", "Science", "Art", "Agriculture".
