Architect Voronikhin Andrey Nikiforovich: biography, buildings

Outstanding Russian architect Andrey Nikiforovich Voronikhin made an impressive contribution to the development of Russian architecture. Its buildings create a unique look of St. Petersburg. And the life of the architect is worthy of admiration and astonishment, having gone from serf to court, he remained true to himself and his character.

Family and childhood

AN Voronikhin was born on October 17, 1759 in the village of Novoe Usolye, Perm Province. His father was a serf of the fortress of AS Stroganov. In later times, a rumor circulated in St. Petersburg that Andrei was the result of the extramarital affair between Stroganov and the serf Martha. But the architect himself never touched this topic, and all his relatives categorically refute this version. Alexander Stroganov for a long time was president of the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg, his estate was developed various art crafts, there were several workshops. In one of them, in the workshop of icon painting, and studied a little Andrew, who very early showed the ability to draw.

Vocation

Stroganov was sensitive to the talents of people and noticed early the boy's abilities in the serf family. So Andrew was in the studio of Gavrila Yushkov in the village of Ilyinsky, at the Tyskok monastery. In 1777, Stroganov sent a young man to continue his education in Moscow, where Andrei Nikiforovich Voronikhin studies painting. He gets the skills of a miniaturist, then learns perspective painting. But at this time, fate brings him together with the largest architects of Moscow - VI Bazhenov and MF Kazakov. Under their influence Voronikhin is fond of architecture. Painting remains a hobby for him and an additional opportunity to express his ideas in architecture. In 1778 he took part in the painting of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra in a team with other Moscow masters.

Years of study

In 1779, Count Stroganov transports Voronikhin to St. Petersburg, so that he could seriously study in the field of architecture. He lives in the Count's house, is friends with his son Pavel. Young men together make several trips across Russia, visit Moscow, the south of Russia, Ukraine, examine the Black Sea coast. In total, the journey lasted five years. The boys were extremely close to each other, feeling almost brothers. Their education is handled by a teacher, Gilbert Romm, who was discharged from France on the recommendation of Denis Diderot. Young people receive systematic knowledge of history, science, mathematics, languages. Such education was a common thing in Russia at that time.

In 1786, Count Stroganov gives the serf Voronikhin a free one, and he is almost like an equal with Paul Alexandrovich and Gilbert Romm on a large foreign tour, carried out with the funding of Count Stroganov. This way of obtaining knowledge about the world was also typical for the 18th century. Andrei Voronikhin, whose biography is closely connected with the Stroganov family, together with Paul visits Germany, Switzerland and France. There Voronikhin received the broadest knowledge of architecture, he carefully studied the buildings of Europe, in particular spent many hours researching the Pantheon in Paris, made many sketches.

Revolutionary youth

The future architect Voronikhin and Count Pavel Stroganov stayed for a long time in Paris, where they studied architecture, mechanics, history. There they were caught by the French Revolution. The teacher of young people Gilbert Romm was an active Republican and was able to infect Stroganov with his ideas, while Voronikhin was far from revolutionary events, he was more interested in art. He spends a lot of time in libraries, visits museums, is fond of empire and finally affirms his desire to become an architect. And Paul and Gilbert are actively involved in revolutionary action. Count N. N. Stroganov urgently demands young people to their homeland. Romm remains in Paris, becomes one of the leaders of the revolutionaries, even enters the Convention, is working on a new calendar of the Republic. Later, along with other revolutionaries, he was guillotined.

The first steps in the profession

In 1790, the architect returns to St. Petersburg, and his patron decides that he is ready for serious work, and trusts him to rebuild and finish his palace, which was badly damaged in the fire. At the head of the reconstruction stands Voronikhin. The works covered a huge area, he completes the library, the picture gallery, the dining room, decorates the lobby and the mineral cabinet. The former Baroque decoration, created by Rastrelli, the architect changes to a strict classical style. Stroganov is very pleased with his protege. Voronikhin, whose buildings are distinguished by their thoroughness and exquisite style, proved to be a serious and competent architect. This opened the way to his profession.

Becoming a Master

Having graduated from the Stroganov Palace, the architect Voronikhin proceeds to rebuild the Count's dacha on the Black River, then to finish the house in the Gorodnya Manor. These large projects allowed the architect to establish himself in his ideas about residential architecture, he acquires practical skills and gradually recruited professional strength and confidence.

For the project of colonnades for the imperial residence in Peterhof Voronikhin receives the title of academician of architecture. Earlier, in 1797, he had already received the title of academician of perspective painting for a series of urban landscapes, including the works "View of the Picture Gallery in Stroganov Palace", "Kind of Stroganov's Dacha", in which he harmoniously combined his two favorite crafts.

Stroganov's dacha in the New Village, created by Voronikhin, was the final construction of the initial period in the creativity of the architect. In this building, the scale and strength of the architect's talent is already fully appreciated.

Kazan Cathedral

In 1799 in St. Petersburg was announced a contest for the project of the Kazan Church on Nevsky Prospekt. Emperor Paul the First was very anxious to see in the Russian capital a structure similar in grandeur to St. Peter's in Rome. Many eminent architects submit their projects for consideration, but the little-known contest won by Andrei Voronikhin wins. Kazan Cathedral was founded in 1801 and was built for 10 years. The project organically continued the Palladian style, which was developed in Russia by Charles Cameron. Voronikhin collaborated with the English architect, and in the future he replaced him with imperial orders. The desired resemblance to the cathedral in Rome, the architect achieves with the help of a semicircular colonnade, which is revealed on Nevsky Prospekt. The grandiose construction became one of the most original buildings in Russia. While the work on its creation was complicated by the lack of space, as well as the shortage of funds, which required constant changes in the decoration of the cathedral. The temple was consecrated in 1811, at the same time the author of the project was awarded the Order of St. Anna and the right to receive a pension from the state treasury.

Mining Institute

In 1803, Voronikhin began work on the second most significant project in his life - the building of the Mining Institute. Alexander the First set before the architect a grandiose task - to create a structure by which foreigners would judge the greatness of the Russian state. AN Voronikhin designs a building in his favorite Greek style, but does not directly copy the ancient architecture, but creates a modern idea of it. The grandiose portico with columns gives the building special significance and greatness. The impression is reinforced by two large sculptural groups "Hercules and Antey" and "Abduction of Proserpine" by Russian sculptors. Russian Empire in this building was embodied in its best features. In addition to the exterior Voronikhin designs the interior of the Institute, attaching great importance to detail. The majestic building with Doric columns harmoniously completed the composition of the Vasileostrovskaya embankment and gave the desired scale to the view from the Winter Palace. The design of the portico is one of the most unusual architectural decisions of its time.

Petersburg addresses of Voronikhin

In parallel with the work on the Kazan Cathedral, architect Voronikhin has several projects in Pavlovsk, where he builds the famous Pink Pavilion, erects several bridges and buildings for various purposes. Voronikhin is the author of the Italian pavilion, several cascades and colonnades in Peterhof. He also performs private orders, in particular, he supervises the reconstruction of the house of the Minister of Lands on Dvortsovaya Embankment, works on the houses of the Stroganov family, and builds a house church in the Golitsyn mansion. The master took part in the creation of a mint in the Peter and Paul Fortress, designed a fountain on the Pulkovo mountain.

Palaces

In 1803 architect Voronikhin was involved in the reconstruction of the central building of the palace in Pavlovsk. Maria Feodorovna trusted the architect, he trimmed her chambers in the Winter Palace, so she relied on his taste and made him the chief architect of Pavlovsk. Voronikhin completely reshapes the buildings, creates ornaments for painting the ceilings. Almost simultaneously, the architect is working on the alteration of the Sheremetyev Palace on Fontanka. They wanted to create interiors in a fashionable classic style, and Voronikhin helped them in this. He created spacious rooms for a large number of people.

Another significant work of the architect is the Konstantinovsky Palace in Strelna. The building has decayed much since the time of Peter the Great, and the owner gave the order to preserve the external appearance, but to modernize the interiors. Voronikhin completely rescheduled the interior, developed interiors in Empire style and directed the work on the project. However, the fire of 1803 almost completely destroyed the finish, and the next reconstruction was entrusted to another architect.

Private life

Andrei Voronikhin (1759-1814) lived an interesting life, with a huge workload at work, he realized in the family life. As early as 1801, the architect married the daughter of the English pastor Mary Lond, or Maria Feodorovna in the Russian manner. She was first a governess in the house of Stroganovs, and then a draftsman and 10 years worked with the master. The bride refused to change her religion, and to get married, Voronikhin had to collect a lot of papers. After the wedding, the young people settled in their own house. The couple had six sons, but almost all of them lived short, today there are no direct descendants of Voronikhin. The architect worked hard and worked hard, in his free time he liked painting, he read a lot.

Ending the path and memory

The architect died on February 21, 1814. He was buried at the most prestigious cemetery of St. Petersburg, in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. On its monument the descendants depicted the silhouette of the Kazan Cathedral - the main architect's building.

Only a few Voronikhin buildings have survived to this day. But two of his main masterpieces still adorn Petersburg. Also, some of its interiors and many projects that give an idea of the power of his talent have been preserved. Paintings Voronikhin kept in the Hermitage and the Russian Museum, as well as in the collection of the Academy of Arts.

Disciples Voronikhin

Russian Empire found in the work of Voronikhin most complete embodiment. His disciples continued the work of the teacher, some in the literal sense. So, Andrei Mikhailov, instead of a mentor, supervised the construction of the Kazan Cathedral. In his author's buildings, Mikhailov follows the traditions of Voronikhin. The most successful of its construction is the church of St. Catherine on Vasilievsky Island. Simplicity and elegance of the plan are sustained in Voronikhin's style. Another student, Denis Filippov, remained in the history of architecture as the author of the House of the Academy of Sciences on Vasilievsky Island, which also has typical features of the Voronikhin Empire. The third significant follower and pupil of the architect - Pyotr Plavov - is known as the creator of the Obukhov Hospital on Zagorodny Prospekt and the stairs of the Guardianship Council. These projects are also sustained in the classical style, promoted by Voronikhin.