Page:A History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 2.djvu/512

496 496 RUSSIAN ARCHITECTURE. Pakt II. others either more magnificent or more beautiful still remain un- described. This being the case, it is safe to assert that Russia contains nothing that can at all compare with the cathedrals, or even the parish churches, of Western Europe, either in dimensions or in beauty of detail. Every chapter in the history of architecture must contain something to interest the student ; but there is none less worthy of attention' than that which describes the architecture of Russia, espe- cially wlien we take into account the extent of territory occupied by its people, and the enormous amount of time and w^ealth which has been lavished on the multitude of insignificant buildings to be found in every corner of the empire.