Interior of St. Nicholas Church in St. Petersburg — engraving

Interior of St. Nicholas Church in St. Petersburg.

"INNERES DER NIKOLSKOI KIRCHE".

Техника, Материал: Гравюра на стали / Бумага
Художник: , Гравёр:
Дата, Издатель: "Meyers Universum",  "Aus d. kunstanst. d. Bibliogr. Instit. in Hildbh", Joseph Meyer, Gotha, Germany, 1833–1861.
Размер: лист 26x18 , изображение 9,5x13,7  cm.

This engraving depicts the interior of the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral (Nikolskoi Kirche) in St. Petersburg, one of the finest examples of Elizabethan Baroque architecture in Russia. The view captures the magnificent iconostasis, the gilded columns, and the ornate decoration that made this church one of the most revered in the Russian capital.

The St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral (officially the St. Nicholas Cathedral of the Epiphany) was built between 1753 and 1762 by architect Savva Chevakinsky by order of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. It was erected "in recognition of the glorious deeds of the Russian Navy" and from its foundation served as the main shrine of the Russian Imperial Fleet. The cathedral never closed during Soviet times and remained an active place of worship throughout the 20th century.

The interior, depicted in this engraving, is renowned for its lavish Baroque decoration. The magnificent gilded iconostasis, the carved columns, and the rich ornamental details created an atmosphere of imperial splendor and deep spirituality. The cathedral houses a revered copy of the St. Nicholas icon and numerous naval memorials, including captured banners and keys from cities taken by the Russian army.

This engraving comes from the celebrated German illustrated publication "Meyers Universum" (full title: Meyer's Universum, oder Abbildung und Beschreibung des Sehenswerthesten und Merkwürdigsten der Natur und Kunst auf der ganzen Erde — "Meyer's Universe, or Illustration and Description of the Most Noteworthy and Remarkable Phenomena of Nature and Art Throughout the Earth"). Published by the Bibliographisches Institut in Hildburghausen, this monumental work appeared in multiple volumes between 1833 and 1861 and was translated into numerous languages, achieving enormous popularity across Europe.

According to the digitized edition on Wikisource, this particular view of the interior of the St. Nicholas Church in St. Petersburg appeared in the fourth volume of "Meyers Universum," published in 1837. 

This engraving represents the high quality of steel engraving that made "Meyers Universum" famous. The fine detail captures not only the architectural elements of the cathedral's interior but also the play of light and shadow, giving viewers a sense of the spiritual atmosphere within this sacred space. For 19th-century European readers, such images provided a rare glimpse into the opulence and grandeur of Russian Orthodox churches, which were largely unknown to Western audiences. Today, this print serves as both a work of art and a valuable historical document, preserving the appearance of the cathedral's interior as it was nearly two centuries ago.