Savva Chevakinsky
Encyclopedia
Savva Ivanovich Chevakinsky (1709 – aft. 1774) was a Russian architect of the Baroque
school. He worked in St. Petersburg and Tsarskoe Selo.
Chevakinsky was born into a noble family in the village of Veshki in the Novotorzhsk district of Tver province.
In 1729 Chevakinsky entered the Naval Academy in St. Petersburg, from whence he was assigned to the Izmaylovsky Life Guards Regiment
in 1734. At the request of the Admiralty board he was discharged for unauthorized absence from the Academy and apprenticed to the architectural company of Ivan Korobov, under whose direction he worked for seven years.
In 1739 Chevakinsky began his independent career. From 1741 to 1767 he was chief architect for the Admiralty Board. From 1745 to 1760 he was an architect at Tsarskoe Selo, supervising the reconstruction of the palace
and surrounding park. Here Chevakinsky erected two buildings (a church and a hall) connected by galleries to the central part of the palace, erected the "Monbizhu" pavilion (which housed palace officials), and participated in the creation of the "Hermitage" pavilion".
Chevakinsky's largest building in St. Petersburg was the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral
(1753–1762) with a separate tiered bell tower (1756–1758). He also rebuilt the Kunstkamera
, the museum of anthropology and ethnography established by Peter the Great.
Chevakinsky also designed large private homes. For the Sheremetev family
, he built the Fountain House (1750–1755) on the Fontanka
Embankment, which building now houses the Anna Akhmatova Literary and Memorial Museum
. For the Shuvalov family
, he built a mansion at the corner of Malaya Sadovaya Street
and Italyanskaya Street (1749–1756, rebuilt in the 19th century), which building later housed the Imperial Ministry of Justice (1802 to 1917) and is today home to the Museum of Hygiene.
From 1755 to 1758 Chevakinsky was an architect for the Imperial Academy of Sciences. During those years he taught Vasili Bazhenov
and Ivan Starov
.
According to some sources, Chevakinsky died between 1774 and 1780; according to other sources, he died in 1783.
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
school. He worked in St. Petersburg and Tsarskoe Selo.
Chevakinsky was born into a noble family in the village of Veshki in the Novotorzhsk district of Tver province.
In 1729 Chevakinsky entered the Naval Academy in St. Petersburg, from whence he was assigned to the Izmaylovsky Life Guards Regiment
Izmaylovsky Regiment
Izmaylovsky Regiment was one of the oldest regiments of the Russian army, a subdivision of the 1st Guards Infantry Division of the Imperial Russian Guard. It was formed in Moscow on 22 September 1730. The first colonel of the regiment was appointed Adjutant general Count Karl Gustav von Löwenwolde...
in 1734. At the request of the Admiralty board he was discharged for unauthorized absence from the Academy and apprenticed to the architectural company of Ivan Korobov, under whose direction he worked for seven years.
In 1739 Chevakinsky began his independent career. From 1741 to 1767 he was chief architect for the Admiralty Board. From 1745 to 1760 he was an architect at Tsarskoe Selo, supervising the reconstruction of the palace
Catherine Palace
The Catherine Palace was the Rococo summer residence of the Russian tsars, located in the town of Tsarskoye Selo , 25 km south-east of St. Petersburg, Russia.- History :...
and surrounding park. Here Chevakinsky erected two buildings (a church and a hall) connected by galleries to the central part of the palace, erected the "Monbizhu" pavilion (which housed palace officials), and participated in the creation of the "Hermitage" pavilion".
Chevakinsky's largest building in St. Petersburg was the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral
St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral
St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral is a large Orthodox church in the style of the Elizabeth Baroque, located in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It belongs to the St. Petersburg diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church...
(1753–1762) with a separate tiered bell tower (1756–1758). He also rebuilt the Kunstkamera
Kunstkamera
The Kunstkamera was the first museum in Russia. Established by Peter the Great and completed in 1727, the Kunstkammer Building hosts the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, with a collection of almost 2,000,000 items...
, the museum of anthropology and ethnography established by Peter the Great.
Chevakinsky also designed large private homes. For the Sheremetev family
Sheremetev
The Sheremetev family was one of the wealthiest and most influential noble families of Russia.The family held many high commanding ranks in the Russian military, governorships and eventually the rank of Count of the Russian Empire...
, he built the Fountain House (1750–1755) on the Fontanka
Fontanka
Fontanka is a left branch of the river Neva, which flows through the whole of Central Saint Petersburg, Russia. Its length is 6,700 meters, its width is up to 70 meters, and its depth is up to 3,5 meters. The Fontanka Embankment is lined with the former private residences of Russian nobility.This...
Embankment, which building now houses the Anna Akhmatova Literary and Memorial Museum
Anna Akhmatova Literary and Memorial Museum
The Anna Akhmatova Literary and Memorial Museum is a literary museum in St Petersburg, Russia.It is located at 34 Fontanka River Embankment, and was opened in 1989 in Fountain House as a branch of the Dostoevsky Literary and Memorial Museum....
. For the Shuvalov family
Shuvalov
Shuvalov is a Russian noble family which, although documented since the 16th century, rose to distinction during the reign of Empress Elizabeth and was elevated to counts on 5 September 1746.-Members of Shuvalov noble family:The notable Shuvalovs include:...
, he built a mansion at the corner of Malaya Sadovaya Street
Malaya Sadovaya Street
Malaya Sadovaya Street is a pedestrian street of cafes, terraces, and fountains in the heart of St. Petersburg. It runs between Italyanskaya Street and the Nevsky Prospect. At about , it is St...
and Italyanskaya Street (1749–1756, rebuilt in the 19th century), which building later housed the Imperial Ministry of Justice (1802 to 1917) and is today home to the Museum of Hygiene.
From 1755 to 1758 Chevakinsky was an architect for the Imperial Academy of Sciences. During those years he taught Vasili Bazhenov
Vasili Bazhenov
Vasily Ivanovich Bazhenov was a Russian neoclassical architect, graphic artist, architectural theorist and educator...
and Ivan Starov
Ivan Starov
Ivan Yegorovich Starov was a Russian architect from St. Petersburg who devised the master plans for Yaroslavl, Voronezh, Pskov, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, and many other towns in Russia and Ukraine...
.
According to some sources, Chevakinsky died between 1774 and 1780; according to other sources, he died in 1783.