Implemented projects of Vasily Ivanovich Bazhenov. On the role of vodka in urban planning

Biography

Vasily Bazhenov, the son of the sexton of one of the court Kremlin churches, Ivan Fedorovich Bazhenov (1711-after 1773), discovered his natural talent for art in childhood, when he sketched all kinds of buildings in the ancient capital. This passion for drawing attracted the attention of architect D.V. Ukhtomsky to Bazhenov, who accepted him into his school.

From the Ukhtomsky school, Bazhenov - at the request of I. I. Shuvalov - moved to the Academy of Arts; there his abilities for architecture were revealed to such an extent that architecture teacher S. I. Chevakinsky made a talented young man his assistant during the construction of the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral.

In September 1759, Bazhenov was sent to Paris to develop his talent (becoming the first pensioner of the Academy of Arts to be sent abroad).

Having become an apprentice to Professor Charles Devailly, Bazhenov began making models of architectural parts from wood and cork and completed several models of famous buildings. In Paris, observing strict proportionality of the parts, he made a model of the Louvre Gallery, and in Rome, a model of St. Peter's Cathedral, and studied engraving.

Following J. -J. Soufflot, K. -N. Ledoux and other masters of French classicism of that time, Bazhenov acquired a “taste for the grandiose scale of designed structures, whose composition, plan and decor contained complex, often Masonic symbolism” and were not always feasible in reality.

Upon returning to Russia, living in Moscow, Bazhenov participated in the publication of the work of Vitruvius (translation by F.V. Karzhavin).

Bazhenov was one of the best practical builders of his time, distinguished by both the art of planning and the grace of the form of the designed buildings (which he fully demonstrated after returning to his homeland). He was one of the conductors of the so-called. French taste (style) in Russian architecture, a striking monument of which is the Pashkov House. He showed his skills in the academic program for the degree of professor of a complex of entertainment facilities for Catherine; However, Bazhenov did not receive the expected position and took a leave of absence from the academic service, after which Prince G. G. Orlov assigned him to his Artillery Department as chief architect with the rank of captain.

Photoglob AG, Zürich, Public Domain

In this position, Bazhenov allegedly built the Pashkov house in Moscow, and in the vicinity of the capital - a palace complex in Tsaritsyn.

In the Moscow Kremlin, instead of walls serving as enclosures for shrines and palaces, Bazhenov designed a continuous row of buildings, which were ceremoniously laid. "Forum great empire"on Borovitsky Hill was designed as a grandiose community center, to which all the streets of Moscow were supposed to converge. Historical context at the same time, it was practically not taken into account: many pre-Petrine buildings of the Kremlin were supposed to be demolished, at the same time blocking the view of the temples from the river, which would inevitably distort the historical appearance of the stronghold. they had already begun to dismantle it (by demolishing part of the section of the wall with six towers facing the Moscow River), but by the will of the empress the structure was postponed and then abandoned completely; the demolished part of the Kremlin walls was later restored.

Korzun Andrey, CC BY-SA 3.0

The same fate befell Bazhenov’s Tsaritsyn ensemble, which was an innovative fusion of elements of the Naryshkin baroque late XVII V. and Western European Gothic decor. Bazhenov first tried this combination in 1775, working together with M.F. Kazakov on the temporary entertainment pavilions of the Khodynsky field, where the conclusion of the Kyuchuk-Kainardzhi peace with the Turks was celebrated. In the summer of 1785, Catherine came to the Mother See for three days, visited the work on the construction of palaces in Tsaritsyn (her own and the Grand Duke’s) and, indignant at them equal sizes, ordered both to be demolished; the architect was removed from the project.

At the same time, in Moscow, Bazhenov made an attempt to organize a “particular” (private) academy and recruit students. Apparently, the idea was not a success, since, according to Bazhenov, “there are many obstacles to my intention.”

Unknown, GNU 1.2

Until now, Bazhenov is credited with the lost monument of St. Petersburg, the Old Arsenal on Liteinaya Street (in the 19th century it was occupied by the District Court, burned in 1917, dismantled in the late 1920s); but, most likely, the architect has nothing to do with him. Construction of the building began under the leadership of the architect of the Artillery Department V. T. von Diederichstein in the spring of 1766 and was carried out by the architect of the Engineering Corps K. I. Shpekle.

Bazhenov joined the Artillery at the end of 1766, but soon left for Moscow. Large quantity documents on this topic are preserved in the funds Historical archive VIMAIViVS (“Archive of the Artillery Museum”) in St. Petersburg. The Big Bridge across the ravine in the Tsaritsyno estate is one of the few surviving buildings for which Bazhenov’s authorship has been accurately established.

Korzun Andrey, CC BY-SA 3.0

Left without any means of subsistence, Bazhenov opened an art institution and began building private buildings. The change in his career and Catherine’s disfavor are explained by his complex, proud disposition, as well as his connection with the circle of N.I. Novikov, who instructed him to report to the heir Paul I about the latter’s choice by the Moscow Freemasons as Supreme Master. In these relations with the Tsarevich, Catherine suspected the presence of political goals, and her anger fell on Bazhenov earlier than on others; but things did not go further than exclusion from service, and in 1792 he was re-employed by the Admiralty Collegium and moved his activities to St. Petersburg.

Without any reason, the Kamennoostrovsky Palace was attributed to him - the palace of Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich on Kamennoy Island and works in Gatchina Palace. His participation in the development of one of the projects of the Mikhailovsky Castle is only documented. As St. Petersburg researchers have established, the authorship of this grandiose structure cannot be attributed to Bazhenov alone. The work began long before construction and was carried out “under the dictation” of Pavel Petrovich, who personally sketched out sketches of the plan, first by the architect of the Small Court, A. Francois. Violier, then in the 1790s. - Bazhenov also got involved in the matter, but the final project was drawn up by V. Brenna; it was this that was realized.

After his accession to the throne, Paul I, who generally brought closer to himself all those persecuted by his mother, appointed Bazhenov vice-president of the Academy of Arts and instructed him to prepare a collection of drawings of Russian buildings for historical research domestic architecture, and also provide an explanation on the question: what should be done to give the proper course to the development of the talents of Russian artists at the Academy of Arts. Bazhenov eagerly began to carry out the gracious instructions of the monarch, who had shown himself to be a patron Russian art; Much, no doubt, he could have done if death had not completely unexpectedly cut short his life.

Bazhenov was buried in St. Petersburg, but later, in 1800, his remains were transported to the Bazhenov estate in the village of Glazovo (now Tula region).

(1737-03-12 ) Place of birth Date of death Works and achievements Worked in cities Architectural style Major buildings

Mikhailovsky Castle project,
Vladimir Church in Bykovo

Scientific works

Complete translation of all 10 books of Vitruvius's architecture

Vasily Ivanovich Bazhenov on Wikimedia Commons

Vasily Ivanovich Bazhenov(March 1 or, Moscow, according to other sources, the village of Dolskoye near Maloyaroslavets - August 2, St. Petersburg) - Russian architect, artist, architectural theorist and teacher, representative of classicism, freemason. Member of the Russian Academy (1784).

Biography

The son of the sexton of one of the court Kremlin churches, Ivan Fedorovich Bazhenov (1711-1774). He discovered a natural talent for art as a child, sketching all kinds of buildings in the ancient capital. This passion for drawing brought Bazhenov to the attention of the architect Dimitry Ukhtomsky, who accepted him into his school. From the Ukhtomsky school, Bazhenov moved to the Academy of Arts at the request of I. I. Shuvalov. Here he showed his abilities for architecture to such an extent that architecture teacher S.I. Chevakinsky made the talented young man his assistant in the construction of the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral. In September 1759, Bazhenov was sent to Paris to develop his talent, becoming the first pensioner of the Academy of Arts to be sent abroad.

Having become an apprentice to Professor Devaii, Bazhenov began making models of architectural parts from wood and cork and completed several models of famous buildings. In Paris he made, with strict proportionality of parts, a model of the Louvre Gallery, and in Rome - a model of St. Peter's Cathedral, and studied engraving.

Upon returning to Russia, living in Moscow, Bazhenov participated in the publication of the work of Vitruvius (translation by Karzhavin). Bazhenov was one of the best practical builders of his time, distinguished as much by the art of planning as by the grace of the form of the designed buildings, which he showed upon his very return to his fatherland. He was one of the conductors of the so-called. French taste (style) in Russian architecture, a striking monument of which is the Pashkov House. He showed his skills in the academic program for the degree of professor of a complex of entertainment facilities for Catherine. However, he did not receive the expected position, took a leave of absence from the academic service, and Prince Orlov assigned him to his Artillery Department as chief architect with the rank of captain.

In this position, Bazhenov built the Pashkov House in Moscow, and in the vicinity of the capital - the palace complex in Tsaritsyno (palace and park ensemble) and the Petrovsky Travel Palace, built by Matvey Fedorovich Kazakov, his assistant. In the Moscow Kremlin, instead of walls serving as enclosures for shrines and palaces, Bazhenov designed a continuous row of buildings, which were ceremoniously laid, at the behest of Catherine II, who in fact, however, did not even think of implementing the masterful architect’s idea. To the Empress at the end Russian-Turkish War(1768-1774) it was necessary to give food for speculation about the expenditure of tens of millions on a grandiose palace, and the artist was given a theme that he developed with great talent on the model of an idiot. The effect was proper, but the construction was postponed and then abandoned completely. The same fate befell Bazhenov’s Tsaritsyn Ensemble. Catherine, in the summer of 1785, came to ancient capital, visited the construction work of the palace in Tsaritsyn and, finding it gloomy, ordered the palaces to be rebuilt. The architect was removed from the project.

At the same time, in Moscow, Bazhenov is making an attempt to organize a “particular” (private) academy and is recruiting students. Apparently, the idea was not a success, since, according to Bazhenov, “there are many obstacles to my intention.” Until now, Bazhenov is credited with the lost monument of St. Petersburg, the Old Arsenal on Liteinaya Street (in the 19th century it was occupied by the District Court, burned in 1917, dismantled in the late 1920s), but most likely the architect has no connection with it relationship. Construction of the building began under the direction of the architect of the Artillery Department, W. T. von Diederichstein, in the spring of 1766 and was carried out by the architect of the Speckle Corps of Engineers, Karl Johann. Bazhenov entered the Artillery at the end of 1766, but soon left for Moscow. A large number of documents on this topic have been preserved in the funds of the Historical Archive VIMAIViVS (“Archive of the Artillery Museum”) in St. Petersburg. “The Big Bridge across the ravine in Tsaritsyno (palace and park ensemble) is one of the few surviving buildings for which Bazhenov’s authorship has been accurately established. Bazhenov, left without any means of subsistence, opened an art institution and began working on private buildings. Changes in his career and Catherine’s disfavor is explained by his complex, proud disposition, as well as by relations with the circle of Nikolai Ivanovich Novikov, who instructed him to report to the heir Paul I about his election by the Moscow Freemasons to the Supreme Master. Catherine suspected political goals in these relations with the Tsarevich, and her anger fell on Bazhenov. earlier than others, but things did not go further than exclusion from service, and in 1792 he was re-admitted to the service by the Admiralty Collegium and moved his activities to St. Petersburg.

Without any reason, he is credited with the Kamennoostrovsky Palace - the palace of Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich on Kamenny Island and work in the Gatchina Palace. His participation in the development of one of the projects of the Mikhailovsky Castle is only documented. But, as St. Petersburg researchers have established, it is impossible to attribute the authorship of this grandiose structure only to Bazhenov. The work began long before construction and was carried out “under the dictation” of Pavel Petrovich, who personally sketched out sketches of the plan, first by the architect of the Petit Violier Court, Henri Francois Gabriel, then, in the 1790s, V. Bazhenov got involved in the matter, but the final project was drawn up by Brenn Vincenzo and it was implemented.

Upon his accession to the throne, Paul I appointed him vice-president of the Academy of Arts and instructed him to prepare a collection of drawings of Russian buildings for the historical study of Russian architecture and, finally, to provide an explanation on the question: what should be done to inform the proper development of the talents of Russian artists at the Academy arts Bazhenov eagerly began to carry out the gracious instructions of the monarch, the patron of Russian art, and, without a doubt, could have done a lot if death had not completely unexpectedly cut short his life.

Memory

Bazhenova Street (Kazan)
Bazhenova Street (Kaluga)
Bazhenova Street (Zhukovsky)
Postage stamps of the USSR, 1949.

Gallery

Tsaritsyn Museum-Reserve

Notes

Literature

Chernov E. G., Shishko A. V. Bazhenov: 1799-1949 / E. G. Chernov, A. V. Shishko. - M.: Publishing house Acad. architecture of the USSR, 1949. - 160 p. - 5,000 copies.(in lane, superreg.)
Mikhailov A. I. Bazhenov / Dust jacket, binding, endpaper, title and headpieces by artist E. B. Bernstein. - M.: State. publishing house of literature on construction and architecture, 1951. - 372 p. - 6,000 copies.(in lane, superreg.)
Unknown and suspected buildings of V.I. Bazhenov: Collection. - M., 1951.
Pigalev V. A. Bazhenov / Vadim Pigalev; Serial cover by J. Arndt. - M.: Young Guard, 1980. - 224, p. - (Life of remarkable people. Series of biographies. Issue 5 (601)). - 100,000 copies.(in translation)
Razgonov S. N. Bazhenov. - M.: Art, 1985. - (Life in art).
Puchkov V.V. V. I. Bazhenov and Mikhailovsky Castle in St. Petersburg: New materials // Tsaritsyn Scientific Bulletin.
Vasily Ivanovich Bazhenov: Letters. Explanations for projects. Evidence from contemporaries. Biographical documents / Comp., intro. Art. and approx. Yu. Ya. Gerchuk. - M.: Publishing house“Art”, 2001. - (The World of the Artist) - 304 p.

Links

Vasily Bazhenov and the construction of the Palace complex in Tsaritsyno

Categories:

Personalities in alphabetical order
Born on March 12
Born in 1737
Died on August 13
Died in 1799
Died in St. Petersburg
Architects by alphabet
Architects of Moscow
Architects of St. Petersburg
Translators of Russia
Architects of Gatchina
Members of the Russian Academy
Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve
Architects of the Russian Empire
Masons of Russia
Pensioners Imperial Academy Arts
Architects of the Lipetsk region

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

See what “Bazhenov, Vasily Ivanovich” is in other dictionaries:

- (1737/1738 1799), Russian architect, graphic artist, architectural theorist. Representative of classicism. He was a painter in the architectural team of D. V. Ukhtomsky; studied at Moscow University (from 1755), in St. Petersburg with S. I. Chevakinsky (from 1756) ... Art encyclopedia

Bazhenov Vasily Ivanovich- (1737/1738 1799), architect; representative of classicism. From 1756 he lived in St. Petersburg, where he studied with S. I. Chevakinsky, and from 1758 at the Academy of Arts with A. F. Kokorinov and J. B. Wallen Delamot. In 176062 he studied at the Paris Academy of Arts; in 176264 visited... ... Encyclopedic reference book "St. Petersburg"

Bazhenov (Vasily Ivanovich) is an artist-architect, the son of a clergyman of one of the Kremlin court churches, a graduate of the Imperial Academy of Arts from its founding and its first pensioner sent abroad. Born on March 1, 1737 in Moscow... Biographical Dictionary

Russian architect, draftsman, architectural theorist and teacher; representative of classicism. Born into a sexton's family. Studied: in Moscow... ... Big Soviet encyclopedia

- (1737 or 1738 1799) Russian architect, one of the founders of Russian classicism. The Kremlin reconstruction project (palace, founded in 1773, not implemented), the romantic palace and park ensemble of Tsaritsyno, Pashkov’s house (1784-86, now old... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (1737 or 1738 1799), architect; representative of classicism. From 1756 he lived in St. Petersburg, where he studied with S. I. Chevakinsky, and from 1758 at the Academy of Arts with A. F. Kokorinov and J. B. Wallen Delamot. In 1760 62 he studied at the Paris Academy of Arts; in 1762 64 visited Italy. WITH… … St. Petersburg (encyclopedia)

Academician of architecture and first vice president of the Imperial Academy of Arts, b. March 1, 1737 in Maloyaroslavsky district of Kaluga province, d. August 2, 1799 in St. Petersburg, from paralysis. The son of the sexton of the palace church, he received... ... Big biographical encyclopedia

- (1737/1738 1799), architect, one of the founders of Russian classicism. The Kremlin reconstruction project (palace, founded in 1773, not implemented), the romantic palace and park ensemble of Tsaritsyno, Pashkov’s house (1784-1786, now an old building... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary

Bazhenov, Vasily Ivanovich- V.I. Bazhenov. Pashkov's house in Moscow. BAZHENOV Vasily Ivanovich (1737 or 1738 1799), architect, one of the founders of Russian classicism. Project of the Moscow Kremlin Palace (1767-1775, not implemented), a romantic palace and park ensemble in ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary Read more

Vasily Ivanovich Bazhenov (1738-1799) - Russian architect, draftsman, teacher, representative of classicism, architectural theorist. Since 1784, member of the Russian Academy.

Born into a clerk's family. Most Bazhenov's life was spent in Moscow, he studied at the gymnasium at Moscow University, and from 1756 he studied in St. Petersburg. First, he attended classes by S. Chevakinsky at the Academy of Sciences, and then by A. Kokorinov and J. Vallin-Delamot at the Academy of Arts. Having received for studying gold medal, was sent to Paris, to the Academy of Arts. From 1762 to 1764 he spent in Italy. During his years abroad, he showed interest in classicism, baroque and gothic.

Bazhenov's plans

Bazhenov conceived the project of the Kremlin Palace with the simultaneous reconstruction of the Kremlin and Red Square. Before Bazhenov, no one had imagined the building as a three-dimensional composition that would organize the space of the city. With this project the Kremlin became a gigantic public forum with main square in the form of an oval, to which the main radial streets of the capital should converge.

Catherine II stopped the work, but the system itself had a tremendous influence on the thought of Russian architects, directing it in the spirit of classicism. The Museum of Architecture houses a unique wooden model made by the author, which gives an idea of the grandeur of the artist’s plan.

Equally unfinished, but indicative was the project of the palace at the residence of the Tsaritsyno emperors. In this complex, Bazhenov for the first time used neo-Gothic motifs, combined with the techniques of the so-called “Naryshkin” baroque. But Catherine II again interrupted construction work. She was unhappy a large number Masonic elements in decor. The construction was never completed. Such failures forced Bazhenov to switch to private orders.

Bazhenov was able to implement some of his urban planning ideas during the construction of Pashkov’s house in Moscow. This is the old building of the Lenin Library. In other buildings located in Moscow, for example, the Dolgov house, which is on Mira Avenue, the bell tower and refectory of the Church of All Who Sorrow, located on Bolshaya Ordynka and the Yushkov house on the street. Kirov, where, thanks to the thoughtful use of color and texture of stone, plaster and plaster, a sophisticated picturesqueness arises, difficult game light and shadow.

By the will of Paul I, Bazhenov created the Mikhailovsky Castle complex. The architect was able to connect the castle, surrounded by canals, with the city St. Petersburg by moving the pavilions to the direction of Inzhenernaya Street.

After ascending to the throne, Paul I began to bring closer everyone whom his mother did not love. He appointed Bazhenov vice-president of the Academy of Arts. The Emperor instructed the architect to prepare drawings of Russian buildings, which could be used to conduct research into Russian architecture and other assignments. Bazhenov, without hesitation, began to carry out this assignment, but death interrupted his life.

V.I. Bazhenov was buried in St. Petersburg, but in 1800 his remains were transported to the Bazhenovs’ estate, located in the village of Glazovo, today in the Tula region.

Major buildings

Biography

The son of a sexton of one of the Kremlin court churches. He discovered a natural talent for art as a child, sketching all kinds of buildings in the ancient capital. This passion for drawing brought Bazhenov to the attention of the architect Dimitry Ukhtomsky, who accepted him into his school. From the Ukhtomsky school, Bazhenov moved to the Academy of Arts. Here he showed his abilities for architecture to such an extent that architecture teacher S.I. Chevakinsky made the talented young man his assistant in the construction of the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral. In September 1759, Bazhenov was sent to Paris to develop his talent, becoming the first pensioner of the Academy of Arts to be sent abroad.

Having become an apprentice to Professor Duval, Bazhenov began making models of architectural parts from wood and cork and completed several models of famous buildings. In Paris he made, with strict proportionality of parts, a model of the Louvre Gallery, and in Rome - a model of the Cathedral of St. Petra.

Upon returning to Russia, living in Moscow, Bazhenov compiled full translation all 10 books of Vitruvius's architecture. Bazhenov was one of the best practical builders of his time, distinguished as much by the art of planning as by the grace of the form of the designed buildings, which he showed upon his very return to his fatherland. He owned the decoration of the main facade of the building from the Neva. The project for the building of the current palace in Ekateringofsky Park, with greenhouses, a menagerie, carousels and other luxury projects of that time, was composed by Bazhenov for an academic program, for the degree of professor. This injustice forced Bazhenov to take a leave of absence from academic service, and Prince G. G. Orlov assigned him to his artillery department as chief architect, with the rank of captain.

In this position, Bazhenov built an arsenal building in St. Petersburg on Liteinaya Street. (now the building judicial institutions), and in Moscow, in the Kremlin, the building of the arsenal and senate along Znamenka, the Pashkov house (Moscow Rumyantsev Museum), and in the vicinity of the capital - the palace complex in Tsaritsyn and the Petrovsky Palace, built by Kazakov, his assistant. In the Kremlin, instead of walls serving as fencing for shrines and palaces, Bazhenov designed a continuous row of buildings, which were ceremoniously laid, at the behest of Catherine II, who in fact, however, did not even think of implementing the masterful architect’s idea. To the Empress at the end Turkish War it was necessary to give food for speculation about the expenditure of tens of millions on a grandiose palace, and the artist was given a theme, which he developed with great talent on the model. The effect was proper, but the construction was postponed and then abandoned completely. The same fate befell Bazhenov’s Tsaritsyn Ensemble. In the summer of 1785, Catherine arrived in the ancient capital for three days, visited the construction work of the palace in Tsaritsyn and, finding it gloomy, ordered the palaces to be rebuilt. The architect was removed from the project.

Sketch of theatrical scenery in classical style

Bazhenov did not receive another appointment, and, left without any means of subsistence, opened an art institution and began working on private buildings. The change in his career and Catherine’s disfavor is explained by his relations with Novikov’s circle, which instructed him to report to the heir to the crown prince about his election by the Moscow Freemasons as Supreme Master. In these relations with the Tsarevich, Catherine suspected political goals, and her anger fell on Bazhenov earlier than on others, but the matter did not go further than expulsion from the service, and in 1792 he was again accepted into the service by the Admiralty Collegium and transferred his activities to St. Petersburg. Bazhenov built a palace and a church for the heir on Kamenny Island and designed various special buildings for the fleet in Kronstadt. Upon his accession to the throne, Paul I appointed him vice-president of the Academy of Arts and instructed him to draw up a project for the Mikhailovsky Castle, prepare a collection of drawings of Russian buildings for the historical study of Russian architecture and, finally, provide an explanation on the question: what should be done to communicate the proper course development of the talents of Russian artists at the Academy of Arts. Bazhenov eagerly began to carry out the gracious instructions of the monarch, the patron of Russian art, and, without a doubt, could have done a lot if death had not completely unexpectedly cut short his life.

Memory

Links

Vasily Bazhenov and the construction of the Palace complex in Tsaritsyno

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Vasily Afanasyevich Ippolitov
Vasily Badanov

See what “Vasily Bazhenov” is in other dictionaries:

Bazhenov, Vasily Ivanovich- Vasily Ivanovich Bazhenov Architect V.I. Bazhenov. Fragment family portrait. 1770s From the collection of GNIMA named after. A.V. Shchuseva ... Wikipedia

Vasily Ivanovich Bazhenov- Architect V.I. Bazhenov. Fragment of a family portrait. 1770s Years of life Date of birth March 1 (12), 1737 or 1738 Place of birth Moscow, according to other sources ... Wikipedia

BAZHENOV- Vasily Ivanovich (1737 or 1738 1799), architect. One of the founders of Russian classicism. Grandiose project reconstruction of the Kremlin (started in 1773, not completed), the romantic neo-Gothic palace and park ensemble of Tsaritsyno, Pashkov’s house ... Russian history

Bazhenov Vasily Ivanovich- (1737/1738 1799), Russian architect, graphic artist, architectural theorist. Representative of classicism. He was a painter in the architectural team of D. V. Ukhtomsky; studied at Moscow University (from 1755), in St. Petersburg with S. I. Chevakinsky (from 1756) ... Art encyclopedia

Bazhenov Vasily Ivanovich- Bazhenov (Vasily Ivanovich) is an artist-architect, the son of a clergyman of one of the Kremlin court churches, a graduate of the Imperial Academy of Arts from its founding and its first pensioner sent abroad. Born on March 1, 1737 in Moscow... Biographical Dictionary

BAZHENOV Vasily Ivanovich- Vasily Ivanovich (03/12/1737 or 1738, village of Dolskoye, Maloyaroslavets district, Kaluga province, 08/13/1799, St. Petersburg), Russian. architect He spent his childhood within the walls of the Moscow Kremlin, where his father served as a psalm-reader in one of the court churches. Since 1751 he was... Orthodox Encyclopedia

Bazhenov Vasily Ivanovich- , Russian architect, draftsman, architectural theorist and teacher; representative of classicism. Born into a sexton's family. Studied: in Moscow... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Bazhenov- Vasily Ivanovich (1737 1799) great Russian architect, founder of Russian architectural classics. A student of the architectural team of D.V. Ukhtomsky, Bazhenov then studied at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, where his teacher was S.I.... ... Architectural Dictionary

Bazhenov- (Vasily Ivan.) artist-architect, son of a clergyman of one of the Kremlin court churches, a student of I.A.Kh. from its founding and its first pensioner sent abroad. Genus. and March 1737 in Moscow and died in St. Petersburg. Aug 2 1799, in office... ... Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron

Vasily Bazhenov born in 1738, in the family of a sexton of one of the Kremlin court churches. A passion for architecture manifested itself very early: little Vasya loved to draw buildings and invent his own. A talented boy was noticed by a famous architect Dmitry Ukhtomsky, who accepted him into his school, where Bazhenov’s gift was fully revealed. Soon the student was already working with the teacher on various projects in the capital, and then developed his own style.

After graduating from the Ukhtomsky school, Bazhenov moved to the Academy of Arts, where, together with his teacher, Savva Chevakinsky worked on the project for the construction of the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral. In 1759, at state expense, he was sent to study in Paris, becoming the first member of the Academy of Arts to be sent abroad. In Paris, Bazhenov began making models of buildings from wood and cork. He created exact copies of the Louvre Gallery, and later, in Rome, a model of St. Peter's Cathedral. His models were not just sketchy designs, but works of art. They reflected the spirit and artistic content architecture.

In Europe, Bazhenov fell in love with the fantastic grandeur of buildings, and became one of the first Russian architects who took into account the features of the landscape when creating a project. He was among the best practical builders of his time, one of the main “conductors” of the European style in Russian architecture, who nevertheless did not simply copy it, but adapted it to Russian realities.

Bread house in Tsaritsyn near Moscow. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

Dreams and reality

There are not many buildings left created by Bazhenov, but we know this architect from those projects that were not implemented. The most important of them is the project Great Empire Forum on the site of the Moscow Kremlin, to which Bazhenov devoted several years of his life. Instead of Kremlin walls, serving as a fence for temples and shrines, the architect designed a continuous row of buildings. He saw the Kremlin not as a fortress, but as a grandiose social center to which all the streets of Moscow were supposed to converge. It is interesting that the safety historical buildings Bazhenov was of little interest: for the new project it was planned to demolish many pre-Petrine buildings. The architect created a huge 17-meter model of the forum, in which all the smallest details of the future palace were taken into account. The solemnly begun construction was interrupted first by the plague epidemic in 1771, and then the empress lost interest in the project. Bazhenov refused to supervise the filling of the pit, saying: “I leave it to the one who will be chosen for the good.” A model of the palace can be seen in the Moscow Museum of Architecture.

Bazhenov participated in the creation entertainment complex in honor of the conclusion of peace between Russia and Turkey on Khodynka field. The field was laid out as coastline Black Sea. Where they were located Turkish fortresses, the architect built various entertainment establishments: theaters, booths, snack bars, etc. Each building had its own special architectural style - medieval Russian, Gothic and classical. Bright colors red and white buildings combined beautifully with the greenery of summer nature and different colors uniforms, which added unique beauty to the festive celebrations.

Documents showing that Pashkov's house It was Vasily Bazhenov who designed it, there are none left. This is only stated by popular rumor and the fact that this building is one of the best examples of the French style in Russian architecture, which was characteristic of Vasily Bazhenov. This house, built on Vagankovsky Hill, for a long time was the only point in Moscow from where one could look at Kremlin towers"from above"

Pashkov's house. Photo: AiF / Eduard Kudryavitsky

World of Tsaritsyno

Palace and park ensemble of Tsaritsyno - one of the few projects for which Bazhenov’s authorship is documented. But he failed to fully implement this project. Catherine II invited the architect to create a project and supervise the construction of a new residence in Tsaritsyno and gave him complete freedom of action. Bazhenov was inspired and eagerly set to work. The architect planned this estate as a single whole, as the whole world, where nothing will stand out, everything will be equal: even the Empress’s palace is not a dominant feature here, organically fitting into the ensemble. When construction was almost completed, Catherine paid a surprise visit. The Empress stated that the palace was too dark, that it was impossible to live in it, and demanded that some of the buildings be demolished. Soon, however, she moderated her ardor and demanded less radical changes. Bazhenov’s student supervised the “finishing” of the estate Matvey Kazakov, which especially humiliated the architect.

Vasily Bazhenov. "View of Tsaritsyn village." Design drawing. 1776 Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

It is difficult to say to what extent the estate, which has been restored in our time, corresponds to the original plan of the architect: much of what Bazhenov conceived was redone during his lifetime. Many architects advocated for the estate to remain in ruins: they saw it as a symbol of the idealism that Vasily Bazhenov preached. However, a decision was made to restore the estate. Today we can say that even bits of Bazhenov’s plan attract thousands of tourists and Moscow residents to the estate.

After his removal from work in Tsaritsino, Bazhenov was left without a livelihood. For some time he was engaged in small private orders, but things were not going well. After his accession to the throne, Paul I, who brought those persecuted by his mother closer to him, appointed Bazhenov vice-president of the Academy of Arts and entrusted him with a large-scale study of Russian architecture. The architect happily set to work and would have been able to do a lot if his life had not been cut short completely unexpectedly for everyone.

Living in other people's buildings

The romantic fame of an unrecognized genius haunted Bazhenov during his lifetime, and after his death many buildings to which he had nothing to do were attributed to him. This trend has especially intensified in Soviet era, when in order to save this or that ancient house it was enough to assume that Bazhenov designed it. As a result, almost all pseudo-Gothic buildings of the 18th century in the Moscow region, regarding the authorship of which no documents have been preserved, are attributed to Vasily Bazhenov.