Joseph Bové
Encyclopedia
Joseph Bové (November 4, 1784 — June 28, 1834, all n.s.) was a Russia
n neoclassical
architect
with Italian
roots who supervised reconstruction of Moscow
after the Fire of 1812
.
who settled in Russia in 1782. An oldest son in the family, he had two junior brothers, Michaele and Alessandro, who also trained in architecture and later became his associates. Soon after Joseph's birth, the family moved to Moscow.
In 1802–07 he attended the school of architecture at Expedition of Kremlin construction. Since 1807 he worked as an assistant to Matvei Kazakov and Carlo Rossi
in Moscow
and Tver
. As a full-time employee of the Expedition, he was involved in various Kremlin maintenance jobs.
In 1813, after the Fire of Moscow (1812)
that razed most of the city, Bove was hired by the Moscow Building Commission and assigned to lead the "Facade Department", responsible for approval of new facade designs and enforcing that new buildings are placed exactly at the new street lines according to the new master plan. The plan, however, was not finalized until 1817. Private builders were so numerous, Bove and the city failed to control them. Emperor Alexander
, visiting Moscow, was enraged to see buildings painted in all kinds of colors, especially deep red and dark green, and issued a decree that limited city palette to modest, pale colours.
While Giliardi Family
was rebuilding major public buildings like Moscow State University
, Bove was in charge of designing and rebuilding the new Central Squares of Moscow
and Red Square
. His best known project, Theatre Square
, was completed in 1825, however both Bolshoi Theater and Maly Theater were subsequently rebuilt, and the square lost its neoclassical symmetry. In fact, most of his buildings were demolished by accidents or real estate developers:
In 1824–25 he participated in reconstruction of Moscow Manege
. He designed numerous private mansion in Moscow, but his most famous work remains the Bolshoi Theatre
. Extant buildings include:
Bové died in Moscow and was interred at the Donskoy monastery
.
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 neoclassical
Neoclassicism
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...
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...
with Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
roots who supervised reconstruction of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
after the Fire of 1812
Fire of Moscow (1812)
The 1812 Fire of Moscow broke out on September 14, 1812 in Moscow on the day when Russian troops and most residents abandoned the city and Napoleon's vanguard troops entered the city following the Battle of Borodino...
.
Biography
Bove was born in St. Petersburg in the family of Vincenzo Giovanni Bova, a painter from NaplesNaples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
who settled in Russia in 1782. An oldest son in the family, he had two junior brothers, Michaele and Alessandro, who also trained in architecture and later became his associates. Soon after Joseph's birth, the family moved to Moscow.
In 1802–07 he attended the school of architecture at Expedition of Kremlin construction. Since 1807 he worked as an assistant to Matvei Kazakov and Carlo Rossi
Carlo Rossi (architect)
Carlo di Giovanni Rossi, was an Italian architect, who worked the major portion of his life in Russia. He was the author of many classical buildings and architectural ensembles in Saint Petersburg and its environments...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and Tver
Tver
Tver is a city and the administrative center of Tver Oblast, Russia. Population: 403,726 ; 408,903 ;...
. As a full-time employee of the Expedition, he was involved in various Kremlin maintenance jobs.
In 1813, after the Fire of Moscow (1812)
Fire of Moscow (1812)
The 1812 Fire of Moscow broke out on September 14, 1812 in Moscow on the day when Russian troops and most residents abandoned the city and Napoleon's vanguard troops entered the city following the Battle of Borodino...
that razed most of the city, Bove was hired by the Moscow Building Commission and assigned to lead the "Facade Department", responsible for approval of new facade designs and enforcing that new buildings are placed exactly at the new street lines according to the new master plan. The plan, however, was not finalized until 1817. Private builders were so numerous, Bove and the city failed to control them. Emperor Alexander
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....
, visiting Moscow, was enraged to see buildings painted in all kinds of colors, especially deep red and dark green, and issued a decree that limited city palette to modest, pale colours.
While Giliardi Family
Domenico Giliardi
Domenico Gilardi , was a Swiss architect who worked primarily in Moscow, Russia in Neoclassicist style. He was one of key architects charged with rebuilding the city after the Fire of 1812...
was rebuilding major public buildings like Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
, Bove was in charge of designing and rebuilding the new Central Squares of Moscow
Central Squares of Moscow
The Central Squares of Moscow consists of a chain of squares around the historical Moscow Kremlin and Kitai-gorod areas of central Moscow, Russia. These squares and avenues connecting them form the innermost ring road in Moscow open to regular traffic...
and Red Square
Red Square
Red Square is a city square in Moscow, Russia. The square separates the Kremlin, the former royal citadel and currently the official residence of the President of Russia, from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitai-gorod...
. His best known project, Theatre Square
Theatre Square
Theatre Square , known as Sverdlov Square between 1919 and 1991, is a city square in Tverskoy District of Moscow, Russia. It's located at the junction of Kuznetsky Bridge Street, Petrovka Street and Theatre Drive .The square is named after the three theatres situated there —...
, was completed in 1825, however both Bolshoi Theater and Maly Theater were subsequently rebuilt, and the square lost its neoclassical symmetry. In fact, most of his buildings were demolished by accidents or real estate developers:
- Trade Rows in Red SquareRed SquareRed Square is a city square in Moscow, Russia. The square separates the Kremlin, the former royal citadel and currently the official residence of the President of Russia, from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitai-gorod...
(1815), with a rotundaRotunda (architecture)A rotunda is any building with a circular ground plan, sometimes covered by a dome. It can also refer to a round room within a building . The Pantheon in Rome is a famous rotunda. A Band Rotunda is a circular bandstand, usually with a dome...
dome mirroring the dome of Kazakov's Kremlin SenateKremlin SenateThe Kremlin Senate is a building within the grounds of the Moscow Kremlin in Russia. Initially constructed from 1776-1787, it originally housed the Moscow branch of the Governing Senate, the highest judiciary and legislative office of Imperial Russia. Currently, it houses the Russian presidential...
, were demolished in 1880s to make way for the larger Upper Trading RowsState Universal StoreGUM is the name of the main department store in many cities of the former Soviet Union, known as State Department Store during the Soviet times. Similar-named stores were in some Soviet republics and post-Soviet states. The most famous GUM is a large store in the Kitai-gorod part of Moscow,...
. - Gagarin familyGagarin familythumb|right|250px|The Gagarin Coat of ArmsGagarin is a Rurikid princely family descending from sovereign rulers of Starodub-on-the-Klyazma.-Origins:...
mansion in Novinsky Boulevard was destroyed by an air raid in 1941. - Triumphal ArchTriumphal Arch of MoscowThe third and the oldest surviving Triumphal Arch in Moscow was built in 1829-34 on Tverskaya Gate Square to Joseph Bove's designs in order to commemorate Russia's victory over Napoleon. It replaced an earlier wooden structure built by the veterans of the Napoleonic Wars in 1814.The arch was built...
by Tverskaya Zastava (1827–1834) was demolished in 1938; a replica was built in 1960s in Dorogomilovo District - Listed memorial building at Tverskoy BoulevardTverskoy BoulevardTverskoy Boulevard is one of the main thoroughfares in central Moscow. It is a part of the Boulevard Ring and begins at the end of the Nikitsky Boulevard, at the crossing with Nikitsky Street. The boulevard ends at the Pushkin Square and Tverskaya Street, one of the busiest places in Moscow...
, 26 and nearby has been razed by Konstantin Ernst development company in 2003-2005
In 1824–25 he participated in reconstruction of Moscow Manege
Moscow Manege
Moscow Manege is a large oblong building which gives its name to the vast Manege Square, which was cleared in the 1930s, adjacent to the more famous Red Square...
. He designed numerous private mansion in Moscow, but his most famous work remains the Bolshoi Theatre
Bolshoi Theatre
The Bolshoi Theatre is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds performances of ballet and opera. The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are amongst the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world...
. Extant buildings include:
- 37, Myasnitskaya Street
- Catherine's Hospital in Strastnoy BoulevardStrastnoy BoulevardStrastnoy Boulevard, , is a major boulevard in Moscow. It begins in the Tverskoy District by Pushkin Square, Tverskaya Street and Tverskoy Boulevard. The boulevard ends at Petrovka Street, although east of Petrovka, it becomes Petrovsky Boulevard, where it heads to Clean Ponds. The Strastnoy...
- Military school and barracks in Lefortovo DistrictLefortovo DistrictLefortovo District is a district of South-Eastern Administrative Okrug of Moscow, Russia. Population: It is named after a close associate of Tsar Peter the Great Franz Lefort, whose troops were stationed nearby at the German Quarter. The district is considered to be founded in 1699. In the 18th...
- First City Hospital in present-day Leninsky Prospekt
- Two small mansions on the Garden RingGarden RingThe Garden Ring, also known as the "B" Ring , is a circular avenue around the central Moscow, its course corresponding to what used to be the city ramparts surrounding Zemlyanoy Gorod in the 17th century....
(15, Sadovo-Kudrinskaya) - Church of St.Nicholas in Kotelniki by Joseph Bové (on Kotelnicheskaya EmbankmentKotelnicheskaya EmbankmentKotelnicheskaya Embankment is a street on the northern bank of Moskva River in central Tagansky District of Moscow, Russia. It spans from the mouth of Yauza River to the point one block west from Bolshoy Krashokholmsky Bridge , where it changes name to Goncharnaya Embankment.-Kotelnicheskaya...
) - His last work, Church of Theotokos, "Joy of all who SorrowJoy of all who SorrowIn Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christianity, Joy of all who Sorrow is a title given to the Theotokos . The iconography is specifically Russian, without Byzantine precedent....
" in Bolshaya Ordynka Street (1831–1836)
Bové died in Moscow and was interred at the Donskoy monastery
Donskoy Monastery
Donskoy Monastery is a major monastery in Moscow, founded in 1591 in commemoration of Moscow's deliverance from an imminent threat of Khan Kazy-Girey’s invasion...
.