Since the 17th century, in many European cities, instead of simple trading shops, large shopping centers began to be built, which over time were modernized - guest houses. The 19th century provided technical opportunities to erect more modern trade structures - passages, one of the oldest is the gallery of Victor Emmanuel II. Shops that are located here belong to the most famous brands.
Passage - a new type of shopping facility
Passages appeared in the architecture of many large cities in Europe in connection with the development of building technologies. These commercial buildings usually connect two urban spaces — streets or squares — as a covered gallery. A variety of shops are located on both sides of the central alley: grocery, haberdashery, jewelry, clothes, shoes, bags.
Seats in the passages are usually very expensive. Therefore, not everyone can open a store here. Usually eminent trading houses and companies with a brand name can afford this pleasure. In addition to bright, 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 many wealthy buyers, and indeed buyers in general. In addition, rich decorative design makes the passage building look like a beautiful palace. And it also attracts people.
Well, and going into the store “just to gawk”, the visitor will leave a “penny” anyway, if not in one of the shops, then in the fragrant-smelling space of a cozy cafe offering delicious pastries and excellent drinks. This is how the gallery of Victor Emanuel II in Milan works. Here the most famous trading houses of Italy and other European countries rented shops, and there was also one of the main cafeterias of the Italian capital.
Passage in Milan
Where was the famous gallery built? Address of the gallery of Victor Emanuel 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 erect it.
The author of the gallery of Victor Emanuel 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 opening of an amazing building, the architect died - fell from scaffolding. What caused this incident is not clear. In memory of the author of the Passage and the square near the main city church, a memorial plaque is installed on the facade facing the basilica.
Floor mosaics
The Victor Emanuel II Gallery in Milan has rich décor. It is based on the use of mosaics. The crossroads 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 represented 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 shield is crowned with a ducal crown. And on the sides is depicted an outline in the form of carved green-red-yellow leaves. The round platform is surrounded by a brown-yellow border with floral ornaments.
On the four sides of the Savoy there are four coats of arms of major trading cities in Italy (including Milan - on a slightly smaller but also round field of white color in a green frame of elongated leaves - a French white heraldic shield, the field of which is divided into four parts by red Latin cross).
The coat of arms of Rome is placed in another circle: a shield of the French form, somewhat decoratively modified, which depicts the Capitoline she-wolf feeding milk of Romulus and Remus. Above the shield is the crown.
In the third circle - the coat of arms of Florence with a red and white lily in the center of the same shield as the Roman one.
In the fourth - the emblem of Turin: a beige bull in the center of a similar shape of the shield, but azure.
Between the coats of arms are red-blue floral sockets.
Decorative design of walls and interiors
In addition to floor mosaics, there is also a wall decor in the gallery gallery of Victor Emanuel II, which decorates the ends of each of the crosses of the “basilica” and is 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 the greenish sky and golden sands in the center of the panel is a young girl depicting an Egyptian haircut and robe. Her head is decorated with a diadem with urea. She is dressed in white cloth. The naked torso is decorated with double red thread beads wrapping around the neck.
In her right hand, the girl holds a cornucopia, turned up. Flowers grow out of it. The left hand is stretched forward, towards the black slave kneeling in front of her. The slave holds in his hands an armful of ears of corn. Like the cornucopia, golden ears of corn symbolize fertility.
To the left of the girl is a peacefully lying lion, looking at what is happening. On the one hand, a lion can be regarded as a symbol of fertility. On the other hand, it can remind us of the ancient Egyptian fertility goddess Sohmet, who easily assumed the form of a lioness.
In the background behind the lion is a palace. We see only the lower tiers of the walls. They are richly decorated with bright fresco paintings - symbols of wealth and wealth. This panel can be called in another way - "Agriculture", which is entirely due to its artistic images.
Panel "Asia"
On the throne in a free pose 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), two figures are seated - male and female. At their feet there is a round disk with relief images of their faces in profile, reminiscent of a gem or coin.
On the woman’s head is a feather headdress. Similar clothes were worn by the indigenous inhabitants of the continent - the Indians. Native Americans and slaves themselves are located at the feet of the main characters. Perhaps this speaks of the role of Europe in the conquest of America.
Panel "Europe"
Against the blue sky just above the white clouds, a beautiful goddess sits on her throne. Her head is decorated with a golden crown. The goddess is dressed in white robes. Her legs are covered by a freely thrown red cover. A golden cloth is thrown over the back of the throne. At the feet of the woman lies a thick book with a bookmark-brush set. At the feet sits a creature resembling an angel, which is quite justified, because Christianity was the most common religion of European territories.
Above the head of the angel, a light that resembles a candle flame - a lamp of Knowledge or Truth. Nearby is a globe - a symbol of knowledge. To the left of the goddess on the high stylobate of a fragment of an ancient temple or palace is an owl - a symbol of Wisdom. The stylobate metope 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 embodiment of science.
The gallery and sculptures depicting famous representatives of the Renaissance: Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei and others decorate them. They are housed in galleries along the upper tier. Allegorical images are placed above each of the four entrances in the arches: "Industry", "Science", "Art", "Agriculture".