RUSSIA.
Russian industry is also undergoing a rcvolution in the matter
of form. The most varied elements are, indeed, still Crossing each
other in Russia, so that the total impression received from a sur-
vey of the industries of this country, in their present condition, is
far from being harmonious ; but upon closer investigation it will
be perceived that a Separation of the styles is gradually taking
place, and that well-defined principles are beginning to assert
themselves. Those who, at the last Paris Exhibition, were in-
clined to doubt the possibility of again reviving the old Slavonic
ornamentation, and of introducing it into art-industry, were proba-
bly compelled to admit, in view of the work of the Russian gold-
smiths and weavers exhibited at Vienna, that this style is not only
still full of vitality, but that, under the fostering care of art-
science, a great future even is in störe for it. The efforts so far
made, principally at Moscow and at St. Petersburg, to reinstate
the national forms which were displaced by French influence, have
been decidedly successful.
We will not investigate how much of Byzantine and of Greek
art there may be in this Russian national style, as that is a ques-
tion which is of small interest, even to the Russians themselves.
Whatever was peculiar in industry to the Slavonians of four hun
dred or five hundred years ago is applied to modern industry ; and,
being original, it interests, and is sure of the applause of the
public. By the efforts of science in the resuscitation of this style, it
has gained a strong hold already, especially upon jewelry. But it
does not contain elements sufficiently capable of development to
make it likely that it will find its way into all parts of the world.
It will therefore remain Russian ; and, when the foreign elements
(mostly antiquated French forms) shall have been completely doue