Stasov Vasily Petrovich (July 24 / August 4, 1769, Moscow — August 24 / September 5, 1848, Saint Petersburg) was a Russian architect, one of the foremost representatives of late Classicism and the Russian Empire style. He worked as court architect of the Cabinet of His Imperial Majesty and designed buildings in Saint Petersburg, Moscow, and many other cities of the empire. Stasov's connection with the Nizhny Novgorod area is through his projects for military settlements in the Novgorod Governorate, including buildings in Selishchi and Korostyn, as well as the reconstruction of the Travel Palace in Novgorod.[1][2]

Biography and Career

Stasov was born into the family of a poor nobleman and civil servant. His father, Pyotr Fyodorovich, served as an assistant clerk in a chancery; his mother, Anna Antipyevna, came from the Priklonsky family. The family owned a small ancestral village, Sokolovo, near Serpukhov.[3] Until 1783 Vasily studied at the gymnasium attached to Moscow University; after his father's death he entered service in the Expedition of Architectural Affairs with the rank of "architecture corporal," and by 1790 he had become an assistant architect.[3][2]

In 1794 Stasov came to Saint Petersburg to perform military service in the Preobrazhensky Regiment, then returned to Moscow and from 1797 worked as architect of the Main Salt Office.[2] In 1801–1802 he took part in designing the coronation festivities of Alexander I in Sokolniki, after which, by personal decree of the emperor, he was sent to France, Italy, Austria, and Poland "to perfect his knowledge."[1][3] In Rome he was admitted to the Academy of Saint Luke, and upon his return in 1808 he received a diploma from that academy and the post of architect of the Imperial Cabinet.[1][3] In 1811 he won the competition for the design of a monument over the grave of those killed in the Battle of Poltava and was awarded the title of academician of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Arts.[3] From 1812 he settled permanently in Saint Petersburg, and from 1816 he was a member of the "Committee for Bringing into Better Condition All Buildings and Hydraulic Works in Saint Petersburg."[2]

Major Works

In Saint Petersburg, Stasov built the barracks of the Pavlovsky Regiment on the Field of Mars (1817–1820), the Stables Department complex (1817–1823), the Preobrazhensky (1827–1829) and Trinity-Izmaylovsky (1828–1835) cathedrals, and the Narva (1833) and cast-iron Moscow (1834–1838) triumphal gates.[2] After the fire of 1837, together with A.P. Bryullov, he headed the restoration of the Winter Palace, recreating the state interiors and employing advanced metal structures.[4][2] Outside the capital, he built the trading arcade in Kostroma (1812–1820), the Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky in Saratov (1815–1826, demolished in the 1930s), the Provisions Warehouses in Moscow (with the participation of F.M. Shestakov; 1821–1835), and the Church of Alexander Nevsky in Potsdam (together with K.F. Schinkel, 1826–1829).[2][4] In the 1810s, he drew up more than 100 model designs for residential and utility buildings.[2]

Buildings in Novgorod Governorate

A substantial part of Stasov's work was connected with the organization of military settlements in Novgorod Governorate, which began to be established in 1815 on the initiative of Count Arakcheyev. The settlements encompassed six regiments: at Selishchi, Muravyi, Krechevitsy, Novoselitsy, Medved, and on the shore of Lake Ilmen near Staraya Russa.[1]

At Selishchi, a model complex was built to Stasov's design, including a riding hall, two barracks buildings (a hospital, a school, and the barracks of the reserve battalion), and the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit (1818–1825) attached to the riding hall. Construction was supervised by the architect A. Minut. The complex was reduced to ruins in 1942–1943, when the headquarters of the 59th Army of the Volkhov Front was located here.[1][4]

At Korostyn, on the shore of Lake Ilmen, Stasov built a small wooden travel palace in the Petersburg Empire style (to a design of 1825) for the emperor's visits to the Sixth District of military settlements, home of the Barclay de Tolly Carabinier Regiment. It is the only surviving building of that district.[1] In Staraya Russa, the Cathedral of the Resurrection was rebuilt to his design (1828–1833); at Medved, together with L.A. Dubuy, he built the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in the barracks of the Carabinier Regiments (1824–1830); and in Bronnitsy, the Church of the Presentation of the Most Holy Mother of God in the Temple (1828–1832).[4] In addition, Stasov rebuilt the Travel Palace in Novgorod (1824–1828), and at the Gruzino estate, together with F.I. Demertsov, he worked on the Cathedral of Andrew the First-Called (1805–1822, lost).[2][4]

Awards and recognition

Stasov was awarded the title of academician of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Arts (1811), served as an actual state councillor and professor of architecture at the Academy of Arts, and was a knight of the Order of Saint Vladimir, 3rd class (1824).[1][3] He is buried in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in Saint Petersburg.[1]

Sources

  1. biblrussa.ru — Stasov Vasily Petrovich, F. M. Dostoevsky Central City Library
  2. peoples.ru — About Vasily Stasov, Biography
  3. spravochnick.ru — Vasily Petrovich Stasov
  4. sobory.ru — Architect Stasov, Vasily Petrovich