Alexey Gornostaev
Encyclopedia
Alexey Maksimovich Gornostaev was a Russia
n architect
, notable as a pioneer in Russian Revival
, the builder of Valaam Monastery
hermit
ages, Trinity-Sergius Convent in Saint Petersburg
and Uspenski Cathedral
in Helsinki
. He is credited with the rebirth of traditional tented roof
architecture of Russian North.
He should not be confused with two other Gornostaev
architects (not related), also Russian Revival
practitioners and preservationist
s:
manager in Nizhny Novgorod
region. He joined state service as a junior clerk in 1823 in his home town of Ardatov
, relocated to Saint Petersburg
in 1826, retired in 1827 and lived by drawing advertising boards and later illustrations for Svinyin publishing house. Svinyin
financed his study tour of Russia; in 1829, Gornostaev applied into the class of Alessandro Brullo at the Imperial Academy of Arts
and served as his apprentice on construction of Mikhailovsky Theater (1831). In 1834–1838, he travelled on his own account in Europe, earning highest credits for his artwork of Pompeii
. He returned in 1838, the year when Nicholas I
announced to the Academy that "To retain the spirit of ancient Byzantine architecture
in church designs, architects should follow the drafts of Konstantin Thon
" ("Государь император повелеть соизволил, дабы при составлении проектов церквей сохранить вкус древневизантийского зодчества, руководствоваться чертежами К. Тона"). Gornostaev received a state architect's license, Academy membership, and was employed as a Ministry of Interior architect since 1843 until his death. His practical career is clearly divided into two periods.
of Alexandrine
era with the Pompeii
taste of upper classes. One of his clients, M.V.Shishmaryov, would later finance Gornostaev's reconstruction of Trinity-Sergius Convent.
Gornostaev's life changed when he received an invitation from Damaskin (1795–1881, born Demyan Kononov), Hegumen
of Valaam Monastery
to rebuilt the monastery and it's numerous hermitages. As critic Vladimir Stasov put it, "He was already 45, a professor, well established among unanimous copying and mimicking of classical European, Greek and Roman styles, when suddenly, influenced by educated or independently-speaking clergy, took a sharp turn... Gornostaev despised official, fake Russian, Thon's style" ("Он уже был профессор,
человек 45 лет, давно подвизавшийся на поприще всеобщего копирования и
переобезьяничанья классических европейских стилей, греческих и римских,
когда вдруг, под влиянием знакомства с образованным или самостоятельным
нашим духовенством, круто поворотил на другую дорогу... Горностаеву был тошен официальный, лже-русский, тоновский стиль").
Instead of following Thon's Byzantine five-dome canon, Gornostaev chose to reincarnate the tented roof
s of traditional northern Russia. At the same time, feeling limitations of this narrow approach, he augmented Russian tents with Romanesque
vaults and arches. His input to Valaam reconstruction include:
The main Transfiguration
Cathedral was built much later, in 1887, by Ivan Silin.
In 1858, Gornostaev designed Dormition Cathedral (photo) for the Sviatohirsk Lavra
(now in the Donetsk Oblast
of Ukraine
), this time a traditional Byzantine tower. Shortly before his death, he designed and built improvements to Trinity-Sergius Convent in Strelna (near Saint Petersburg) – entrance gates, a chapel and two residential buildings. His last work, Orthodox Uspenski Cathedral
in Helsinki
, was completed after his death.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, notable as a pioneer in Russian Revival
Russian Revival
The Russian Revival style is the generic term for a number of different movements within Russian architecture that arose in second quarter of the 19th century and was an eclectic melding of pre-Peterine Russian architecture and elements of Byzantine architecture.The Russian Revival style arose...
, the builder of Valaam Monastery
Valaam Monastery
The Valaam Monastery, or Valamo Monastery is a stauropegic Orthodox monastery in Russian Karelia, located on Valaam, the largest island in Lake Ladoga, the largest lake in Europe.-History:...
hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
ages, Trinity-Sergius Convent in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
and Uspenski Cathedral
Uspenski Cathedral
Uspenski Cathedral is an Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Helsinki, Finland, dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos . Its name comes from the Old Church Slavonic word uspenie, which denotes the Dormition...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
. He is credited with the rebirth of traditional tented roof
Tented roof
A tented roof is a type of roof widely used in 16th and 17th century Russian architecture for churches. It is like a polygonal spire but differs in purpose in that it is typically used to roof the main internal space of a church, rather than an auxiliary structure...
architecture of Russian North.
He should not be confused with two other Gornostaev
Gornostaev
Gornostaev , also spelled as Gornostayev, is a common Russian male surname and may refer to:In particular, there were three Gornostaev architects, engaged in Russian Revival style and preservation of historical landmarks:*Alexey Maksimovich Gornostaev , Russian Revival pioneer, noted for Valaam...
architects (not related), also Russian Revival
Russian Revival
The Russian Revival style is the generic term for a number of different movements within Russian architecture that arose in second quarter of the 19th century and was an eclectic melding of pre-Peterine Russian architecture and elements of Byzantine architecture.The Russian Revival style arose...
practitioners and preservationist
Preservationist
Preservationist is generally understood to mean historic preservationist: one who advocates to preserve architecturally or historically significant buildings, structures, objects or sites from demolition or degradation...
s:
- Ivan Ivanovich Gornostaev (1821–1874), chief architect of Saint PetersburgSaint PetersburgSaint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
Public Library and University - Fyodor Fyodorovich GornostaevFyodor GornostaevFyodor Fyodorovich Gornostaev was a Russian architect and preservationist, notable for his folk interpretation of Russian Revival and restoration of landmark buildings in Suzdal, Kursk and Moscow Kremlin....
(1867–1915), notable for Rogozhskoye CemeteryRogozhskoye CemeteryRogozhskoe cemetery in Moscow, Russia, is the spiritual and administrative center of the largest Old Believers denomination, called the Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church. Historically, the name cemetery was applied to the whole Old Believer community, with living quarters, cathedral, almshouses,...
belltower (1908–1913) and restorationBuilding restorationBuilding restoration describes a particular treatment approach and philosophy within the field of architectural conservation. According the U.S...
of landmark buildings in SuzdalSuzdalSuzdal is a town in Vladimir Oblast, Russia, situated northeast of Moscow, from the city of Vladimir, on the Kamenka River. Population: -History:...
, KurskKurskKursk is a city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur, Tuskar, and Seym Rivers. The area around Kursk was site of a turning point in the Russian-German struggle during World War II and the site of the largest tank battle in history...
and Moscow.
Biography
This section is based on Gornostaev's biography in Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic DictionaryBrockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary
The Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary is, in its scope and style, the Russian counterpart to the Encyclopædia Britannica. It contains 121,240 articles, 7,800 images, and 235 maps...
Education
Alexey Maksimovich Gornostaev was a son of foundryFoundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
manager in Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod , colloquially shortened to Nizhny, is, with the population of 1,250,615, the fifth largest city in Russia, ranking after Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg...
region. He joined state service as a junior clerk in 1823 in his home town of Ardatov
Ardatov
Ardatov may refer to:*Ardatov, Republic of Mordovia, a town in the Republic of Mordovia, Russia*Ardatov, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, an urban-type settlement in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia...
, relocated to Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
in 1826, retired in 1827 and lived by drawing advertising boards and later illustrations for Svinyin publishing house. Svinyin
Pavel Svinyin
Pavel Petrovich Svinyin or Svinin was a prolific Russian writer, painter, and editor known as a "Russian Munchausen" for many exaggerated accounts of his travels....
financed his study tour of Russia; in 1829, Gornostaev applied into the class of Alessandro Brullo at the Imperial Academy of Arts
Imperial Academy of Arts
The Russian Academy of Arts, informally known as the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, was founded in 1757 by Ivan Shuvalov under the name Academy of the Three Noblest Arts. Catherine the Great renamed it the Imperial Academy of Arts and commissioned a new building, completed 25 years later in 1789...
and served as his apprentice on construction of Mikhailovsky Theater (1831). In 1834–1838, he travelled on his own account in Europe, earning highest credits for his artwork of Pompeii
Pompeii
The city of Pompeii is a partially buried Roman town-city near modern Naples in the Italian region of Campania, in the territory of the comune of Pompei. Along with Herculaneum, Pompeii was destroyed and completely buried during a long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning...
. He returned in 1838, the year when Nicholas I
Nicholas I of Russia
Nicholas I , was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. On the eve of his death, the Russian Empire reached its historical zenith spanning over 20 million square kilometers...
announced to the Academy that "To retain the spirit of ancient Byzantine architecture
Byzantine architecture
Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire. The empire gradually emerged as a distinct artistic and cultural entity from what is today referred to as the Roman Empire after AD 330, when the Roman Emperor Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire east from Rome to...
in church designs, architects should follow the drafts of Konstantin Thon
Konstantin Thon
Konstantin Andreyevich Thon, also spelled Ton was an official architect of Imperial Russia during the reign of Nicholas I. His major works include the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Grand Kremlin Palace and the Kremlin Armoury in Moscow....
" ("Государь император повелеть соизволил, дабы при составлении проектов церквей сохранить вкус древневизантийского зодчества, руководствоваться чертежами К. Тона"). Gornostaev received a state architect's license, Academy membership, and was employed as a Ministry of Interior architect since 1843 until his death. His practical career is clearly divided into two periods.
Neoclassicist period (1838–1848)
Gornostaev's work prior to 1848 followed the tradition of this time, combining the declinining neoclassicismNeoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
of Alexandrine
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
era with the Pompeii
Pompeii
The city of Pompeii is a partially buried Roman town-city near modern Naples in the Italian region of Campania, in the territory of the comune of Pompei. Along with Herculaneum, Pompeii was destroyed and completely buried during a long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning...
taste of upper classes. One of his clients, M.V.Shishmaryov, would later finance Gornostaev's reconstruction of Trinity-Sergius Convent.
Russian Revival (1848–1862)
Hegumen
Hegumen, hegumenos, igumen, or ihumen is the title for the head of a monastery of the Eastern Orthodox Church or Eastern Catholic Churches, similar to the one of abbot. The head of a convent of nuns is called hegumenia or ihumenia . The term means "the one who is in charge", "the leader" in...
of Valaam Monastery
Valaam Monastery
The Valaam Monastery, or Valamo Monastery is a stauropegic Orthodox monastery in Russian Karelia, located on Valaam, the largest island in Lake Ladoga, the largest lake in Europe.-History:...
to rebuilt the monastery and it's numerous hermitages. As critic Vladimir Stasov put it, "He was already 45, a professor, well established among unanimous copying and mimicking of classical European, Greek and Roman styles, when suddenly, influenced by educated or independently-speaking clergy, took a sharp turn... Gornostaev despised official, fake Russian, Thon's style" ("Он уже был профессор,
человек 45 лет, давно подвизавшийся на поприще всеобщего копирования и
переобезьяничанья классических европейских стилей, греческих и римских,
когда вдруг, под влиянием знакомства с образованным или самостоятельным
нашим духовенством, круто поворотил на другую дорогу... Горностаеву был тошен официальный, лже-русский, тоновский стиль").
Instead of following Thon's Byzantine five-dome canon, Gornostaev chose to reincarnate the tented roof
Tented roof
A tented roof is a type of roof widely used in 16th and 17th century Russian architecture for churches. It is like a polygonal spire but differs in purpose in that it is typically used to roof the main internal space of a church, rather than an auxiliary structure...
s of traditional northern Russia. At the same time, feeling limitations of this narrow approach, he augmented Russian tents with Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
vaults and arches. His input to Valaam reconstruction include:
- Vsekhsvyatsky (All Saints) hermitage, church and living quarters (Всехсвятский скит и церковь во имя всех святых, 1850 photo)
- Monastery Inn (Монастырская гостиница, 1851–1856)
- Mechanical Building (Машинный дом, 1860–1863) and water supply system
- Nikolsky (St.Nicholas) hermitage, church, memorial cross and living quarters (Никольский скит и церковь, 1853 photos)
- Predtechensky (St.John the Baptist hermitage, church and living quarters (Предтеченский скит и церковь Св. Иоанна Крестителя, 1858–1861, photo)
- Znamenskaya Chapel (Знаменская часовня, 1856)
.jpg){kind=link}
The main Transfiguration
Transfiguration of Jesus
The Transfiguration of Jesus is an event reported in the New Testament in which Jesus is transfigured and becomes radiant upon a mountain. The Synoptic Gospels describe it, and 2 Peter 1:16-18 refers to it....
Cathedral was built much later, in 1887, by Ivan Silin.
In 1858, Gornostaev designed Dormition Cathedral (photo) for the Sviatohirsk Lavra
Sviatohirsk Lavra
The Sviatohirsk Lavra or the Sviatohirsk Cave Monastery is a historic Orthodox Christian monastery near the city of Sviatohirsk in Donetsk Oblast of eastern Ukraine. The lavra is located on the right bank of the Seversky Donets River...
(now in the Donetsk Oblast
Donetsk Oblast
Donetsk Oblast is an oblast of eastern Ukraine. Its administrative center is Donetsk. Historically, the province is an important part of the Donbas region...
of Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
), this time a traditional Byzantine tower. Shortly before his death, he designed and built improvements to Trinity-Sergius Convent in Strelna (near Saint Petersburg) – entrance gates, a chapel and two residential buildings. His last work, Orthodox Uspenski Cathedral
Uspenski Cathedral
Uspenski Cathedral is an Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Helsinki, Finland, dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos . Its name comes from the Old Church Slavonic word uspenie, which denotes the Dormition...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, was completed after his death.