OSIP IVANOVICH BOVE

Bove has come a long career - from an unknown student Kremlin expedition to the "chief architect" of Moscow. He was a fine artist, capable of simplicity and usefulness of composite solutions combined with the elegance and beauty of architectural forms and decoration. Architect deep understanding of Russian architecture, creative attitude to the national tradition that has defined many of the advanced features of his work.

Osip Ivanovich Bove was born on November 4, 1784 in St. Petersburg, the son of the painter Vincenzo Giovanni Bove, who worked at the Hermitage. Osip was the eldest son, two younger brothers - Michael and Alexander - later also became an architect and his closest aides. Even as a child Osip moved with his family to Moscow where he began years of study.

In 1802 Bove goes to the architectural school at the Expedition of the Kremlin buildings, which was headed in the years IV Delete from. Among his first teachers Bove called the architect Franz Komporezi, from which he received the "initial knowledge in the architectural arts, and the great Russian architects Kazakova and Russia - he was their" assistant in practice according to this making art classes. "

Bove has successfully worked in the architectural school, rising gradually in the ranks, from the clerk and collegiate registrar in 1803 to the Provincial Secretary in 1806 and a collegiate secretary in 1809.

In the years 1809-1812 Bove has been on the number of assistants in the expedition of architect, participates in the restoration of the Kremlin, repair of buildings, improvement of the city.

To restore the burning and destruction of the ancient capital was organized by the Commission for the construction of Moscow. The city is divided into four sections, each headed by an architect with his assistants. In September 1813 the post of architect of the fourth sector comes back from the national militia Bove. Since that time, all the work of Osip Ivanovich related to the Commission in the conduct of Beauvais are the most significant, the central areas of the city - Urban, Tverskaya, Arbat, Presnensky and Novinskaya part. The architect and his assistants of projects for construction of residential houses, participating in their laying and watching them "in the production of precision prozhektirovannym lines, also issued plans and facades. He designs retail stores in various parts of the city. Special approval of its projects have the shops for the shopping center on Red Square and around the walls of China town, between Nikolsky, Ilyinsky and barbaric gate.

The Commission considered that the public and administrative buildings require special attention and decorum in the facades, and offered to monitor the construction of these buildings to request a "decent and ability" of the architects of the commission.

Photo — «Osip Ivanovich Bove»

In May 1814, this duty was assigned to the Bove "in order for it all with official, public and community buildings, under construction or leading to the same or better condition, had direct oversight. " He was also charged with "superintend and part fasadicheskuyu philistine for all buildings, especially of those who make up significant capital.

In February 1816 Council of the Academy of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg for the draft and made them practical for many buildings, Bove awarded the title of architect. By this time in Moscow and the Moscow region there are many significant buildings Bove. Particularly intensive activity unfolded after the approval of the architect in 1817 of a new master plan of Moscow, developed by the Commission for the structure. Together with the architects of the commission, he′ll go build houses in different parts of the city, designing hotels to "divide the White and Earthen cities.

The most significant of Beauvais were associated with the reconstruction of the center of Moscow, which was carried out by the Commission′s plan for the building. Participation in the creation of an ensemble of Beauvais center of Moscow - one of the most brilliant pages in the creative biography of the master.

The first work Bove were associated with the reconstruction of Red Square, one of the oldest areas of the city, the center of its commercial and social life. Built in the XVIII century shops, she was isolated from the Kremlin and St Basil′s Cathedral. During the fire of 1812 and the explosion of the Kremlin, Red Square has undergone major destruction. In the early 1814 Bove presented to the committee a draft restructuring Red Square. The ensemble of the square Bove including historical monuments - the Kremlin wall with Spassky and Nikolskaya Towers and the Cathedral of the Intercession (St. Basil).

Bove is a project to restore Nikolskaya towers, heavily damaged during the bombing of the Arsenal, restores old buildings on the north side of the square - the government offices, Iberian Gate, the city council and a magistrate who verticals of their towers blend with the architecture of the Kremlin.

Ensemble of the square was rebuilt to decorate the project Bove building trade rows, located along the square. Bove maintained in its draft nature of the old buildings, but gave it a great majesty. Especially parade decides Bove center of the building: it increased the amount of Twelve decorated with monumental portico and domed. Although this idea Bove was not entirely implemented, Red Square after the reconstruction has become the largest and most beautiful square in Moscow.

Ensemble, conceived Bove goes beyond the Red Square: supposed to build middle and lower ranks of the trade and that a uniform built-up whole neighborhoods to link the Red Square in China town.

Photo — «Osip Ivanovich Bove»

This idea Bove received its implementation only in the second half of the XIX century. However, the general idea of the ensemble, developed by Bove, preserved to this day.

In order to expand the historically the center of Moscow, the committee decided to create a new area, "the first: in the establishment and space" along the lines of regular plans of Russian classicism. Her intention was to create in front of the Petrovsky Theater. By designing the Theater Square Bove was involved in 1816. The final draft of the area, signed by Bove, was approved in St. Petersburg in 1821. The area had the appearance of a rectangle bounded by the longitudinal axis of the four symmetrically Buildings and divided passing into two equal parts. On the longitudinal axis of the square, in the depths of her building was located Petrovsky Theater. On the opposite side at an angle to Kitajgorodskoj wall, so as not to disturb the proper geometry area, was divided into square.

By 1819 Bove finished projects of new buildings, leaving at Theater Square, and handed them to the Commission for the construction of buildings. Buildings on the Theater Square were designed by Bove in a way that they restrict its space similar in appearance the facades, creating the perfect backdrop for the majestic building of the theater.

Construction of the Bolshoi Theater was one of the most important works Beauvais, which brought him fame and glory. Like many other large buildings that time, it was the result of a number of competitions and collective labor architects.

In 1821, Governor General of Moscow has approved the draft sent from St. Petersburg theater, created by Andrei Mikhailov, and at Beauvais was given and the implementation of finalization of the project construction. As an experienced builder and fine artist, Bovet creatively approached had been sent from St. Petersburg project: it reduced the volume of the building in accordance with the actual conditions of construction, made the project more perfect in the design, operation and artistically. As a result, the building became simpler and more expressive, to receive more amenities. Draft Bove was the "highest" adopted in St. Petersburg in November 1821. In this connection, governor general of Moscow, wrote that "some of the ideas of Professor Mikhailov many Moscow architect Bove helped to compile the project approved by the Emperor of the theater building. "

Great theater building height of thirty-seven meters dominated the area and surrounding buildings. The main facade it was resolved in the most expressive forms. Eight-ionic portico stood solemnly in the background of a dull surface of the walls, deprived of their openings. Special effects facade gives the plaster group of Apollo in his chariot over the portico.

Photo — «Osip Ivanovich Bove»

Auditorium stalls and five tiers of seats around three thousand spectators. "First of all, rushed into his eyes - a contemporary wrote, - the vastness and the height of the hall, though evident, however, the proportion of all parts, then - the wealth of decoration, which proved an elegant taste and subtle ability to know the midst thereof; Finally, the ease of architecture lies and galleries that seemed to be kept in the air without any supports. And again: "The internal decoration of the theater beautifully and tastefully, but the main advantage of it is that the scene is visible from all points almost uniformly, and even with the top places to get anywhere is rare to see well, nothing here is hidden. It must do justice to Bove: under the strictest investigation, you will see that there is no up in this theater seats, which would not have been thought out, it was inappropriate and inconvenient ".

Construction of the theater was completed in 1824, January 6, 1825 hosted the first performance in the new building. Moscow spectators attending the first performance of the Bolshoi Theater, expressed "encouragement and appreciation for the efforts and talents of the builder of this beautiful building, making the honor Russian talent: unanimous demand of Beauvais, who immediately introduced himself to the director′s box, and then a loud and prolonged applause to him" . So Moscow newspapers wrote about the opening on Jan. 6, 1825 the new building of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow.

Bolshoi Theater to embody the traditions of Russian theater building, the work of predecessors and contemporaries Bove; with Alexandrinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, he was the top Russian theater architecture and one of Europe′s finest theaters of its time.

Little came to us from the Bolshoi Theater Mikhailova - Bove. Grand fire in 1853, destroying all the interiors of the building, and rebuilding the theater architect A. Kavos distorted classically rigorous architecture theater Bove. But now the Bolshoi remains one of the great and majestic buildings of the capital.

Simultaneously with the establishment of the Theater Square project and the construction of the Bolshoi Theater Alexander Bove worked the device, or as if it was called, the Kremlin, the garden. This garden was conceived as Bove cleverly planned park, with romantic ruins and architecture of small forms. Particular causes the admiration of contemporaries on the project Bove cave has been preserved to our days. Four Doric columns as it grows out of the ground inside the grotto. Strong, heavy-weight forms of this construction is well combined with a heap of stones, reproducing the ancient Cyclopean masonry. This was a characteristic of Russian art of that time a romantic desire to combine the classics with the old.

Photo — «Osip Ivanovich Bove»

As chief architect of "fasadicheskoy part of the" Commission for the structure Bove greatly influenced the character development of post-Moscow, and most are referred to the housing development.

Bove served many private bookings - built houses for the rich, noble families, merchants, officials, townspeople and others of the middle class, whose role in the social structure of cities has increased considerably. He has developed a new type of merchant apartment building dual-purpose - residential and commercial. Usually located on the ground floor retail shops, and at the top - residential apartment owners and those that hire out. Such houses in two three-story Bove built in China town.

Merit Bove is to create a new type of house - town house, which was widely distributed in the building of post-fire Moscow. Among the many mansions built by the project Bove, one of the most perfect house was NS Gagarin on Novinsky Boulevard. Gagarin mansion was built by one of the first postfire Moscow. In his appearance there have been features that are characteristic for the subsequent creation Bove and are typical of the Moscow architecture of this time.

Bove - the famed master of urban houses - designed the homes of various types, including simple building for mass building. A strong sense of ensemble, town-planning approach that makes each house, designed by Bove, part of a city building other than unique originality, simplicity and expressiveness.

But the main role in the ensembles of the city, of course, played a public building. Among the public buildings constructed Bove, one of the most significant is Gradskaya Hospital on the Big Kaluga street. This was the first public hospital of the city, in which the supposed "to take the enjoyment of people of every state. "

The idea of creating such a city hospital has arisen for the first time in 1821. However, the project, the work of Beauvais, was only adopted in 1828, when it began construction work. The hospital was opened only in 1833. Her ensemble includes several buildings.

Bove, even more than in neighboring Kazakov Golitsyn Hospital, opened the building to the street. It reduced the depth of the front yard, pulled the building along the street. The wide main staircase emphasized social purpose of this building. The monumental, richly decorated portico attached to it a representative character. Artistic merit, comfortable layout, spacious rooms, use of the latest technical achievements of his time in hospital equipment can include it among the most significant buildings in Moscow at that time.

Along with the construction Gradskaya hospitals in 1825-1828 years Bove is restructuring under Yekaterininsky hospital Gagarin House of Peter at the gate. The opening of this hospital was held in 1833.

Photo — «Osip Ivanovich Bove»

Bove has never been confined to drawing up projects, which now delight us with subtlety and virtuosity. He is always himself supervised the construction work and was a great connoisseur of the construction business. Bove has worked with world-class engineers, artists and sculptors, and as a result of this creative collaboration created masterpieces of having wonderful art, design and operational features Bove repeatedly drawn as an expert in engineering and technical issues.

Theme of patriotism and the glorification of the homeland permeates all creation Bove. The most vivid expression of this theme was the Triumphal Arch at Tverskaya Zastava built Beauvais to celebrate the victory over Napoleon. Above the gate project Bove worked in 1826-1828, respectively, in 1834 held their opening. Bove has created a bright, expressive image, symbolizing the military power, the glory and greatness of Russia, the heroism of its soldiers - the winners of Napoleon. Single-bay white stone arch with six pairs of Corinthian columns, cast iron, was crowned by a sculptural group "Glory" on a chariot, as it were met approaching Moscow on the Petersburg road.

Among the religious buildings Bove preserved church of St. Nicholas in Kotelniki (1821). In 1822, Beauvais built a church in the village of Archangel - the name of his wife, Princess AS Troubetzkoy. The most significant construction Bove of this kind is the rotunda of the church of All Who Sorrow at Big Ordynka. Composition of the church is close to the earlier religious buildings of the architect. The architect is organically linked with the new building has already finished its western part - the refectory and bell tower of the Bazhenov. Large semicircular arches with windows its upscaling attach monumental throughout the building. Magnificent, finely traced ornamental arches and a wide band of the frieze in contrast to the smooth surface of the walls and so reinforces the ceremonial face of the structure.

Church of All Who Sorrow at Ordynka Street - one of the last important works Bove. She finish building after the death of the master - perhaps his brother - and was opened in 1836.

Bove died June 28, 1834 at the height of his powers. The architect was buried in a cemetery in Moscow Donskoy Monastery.

The atmosphere of Nicholas reaction has affected the work of Bove. Such harmonious and perfect constructions, as the home of Gagarin on Novinsky Boulevard, the major public buildings such as the Bolshoi Theater, such a large construction works that have marked the previous decade, he could not create in the last years of his life.