Zholtovsky Ivan Vladislavovich occupies a fundamental place in Russian architecture. During his long life, varied in events and impressions, he managed to build many noble estates, industrial buildings and large-panel houses. As you can see, the architect's talent was truly versatile, professional and virtuoso.
What is the secret of his success and flexibility? How could this gifted and skilled craftsman achieve universal recognition and popularity at the turn of the two empires? What is remarkable about his work for our modern generation? Let's find out.
Ordinary childhood
The biography of Ivan Zholtovsky dates back to 1867, when a son was born in the family of a poor Catholic landowner. This bright event took place in late autumn, in the small Belarusian village of Pinsk, famous for its shipyards.
The young heir-landowner from early childhood loved to draw and devoted a lot of time and effort to this occupation. He grasped the shapes and volumes of objects well, miraculously conveying them on paper.
True to his abilities, young Ivan Zholtovsky immediately after completing his studies at the gymnasium (which, by the way, he graduated with a gold medal) moved to St. Petersburg and entered the Academy of Arts. At that time, the young talent was twenty years old.
Teaching principle
Training at the Academy was completed after eleven years. Why did it take so long? The fact is that the parents of a young student could not support him in the capital, so young Ivan himself had to earn his living by participating in various designs and constructions. By the way, this practice did not at all drown out the extraordinary architectural talent of the Belarusian, but, on the contrary, strengthened it, developed and improved it.
Thanks to the acquired practical skills, the novice architect Zholtovsky was able to get to know the construction site from the inside, get acquainted with all the intricacies of creative work, see in action what he knew until then only on paper. Now, with the further construction and erection of buildings, the young man could use the knowledge gained and create his own projects, relying on all sorts of details and particularities of the construction business. And it did not go unnoticed.
First works
The early works of Ivan Vladislavovich Zholtovsky were sketches of an apartment building, various industrial structures and railway stations, the reconstruction and decoration of the Yusupov Palace in St. Petersburg, projects of monuments to the homeopath Hahnemann and the architect Ton.
All the creations of a novice architect who was still studying inThe academies were distinguished by deep insight, seriousness of performance and unprecedented creative skill. For some of them, he received distinguished diplomas and incentive awards.
Pedagogical activity
After completing his studies, Zholtovsky moved to Moscow, where he was offered a teaching position at the Stroganov Art School.
In the process of teaching, Ivan Vladislavovich encouraged his students not just to draw on paper, but to delve into all the subtleties of the construction business, from foundation laying to stucco work. He believed that only practice and meticulous attention to detail would bring up a real, skillful architect.
However, teaching did not distract the architect from his true calling. He was actively involved in urban design.
Early work in Moscow
One of the first buildings erected by the architect Zholtovsky in the capital was the house of the Race Society.
The original plan of the structure was designed as required in the Gothic style. However, in the process of construction itself, the young architect changed his own project and erected a stunningly spectacular building, in which he brightly and uncommonly combined the Russian Empire style with the Italian Renaissance. The house harmoniously accommodated such diverse premises as stables, restaurants, service rooms, multi-tiered stands and the hippodrome itself.
Other outstanding projects of Ivan Vladislavovich were elegant mansions erected onVvedenskaya Square and in Dead Lane, as well as industrial and public buildings built for the Konovalov factory in the village of Bonyachki.
For his considerable contribution to the construction business of the capital, architect Zholtovsky was awarded the title of academician.
Italian style
The creative activity of the architect Zholtovsky was greatly influenced by his acquaintance with classical architecture, the model of which the Russian architect considered the Italian Andrea Palladio.
Imitating him, he created many beautiful and delightful structures, based not only on Palladian motifs, but also on his own research and interpretation. One of these buildings is Tarasov's house, built in 1910.
At first glance, the mansion seems to be an exact copy of the Palazzo Thiene in Venice, erected by Palladio several centuries ago. However, this is not the case.
Ivan Vladislavovich presented his work in a different way: Tarasov's house, in contrast to a medieval mansion, is airy and weightless. Its proportions are not weighted towards the top, but lightened. They are in harmony with the ideas and requirements of the time.
Passion for the Renaissance was reflected in almost all of Zholtovsky's works. During his life, he visited Italy more than twenty times, where he observed and explored many of his favorite architectural monuments. Thanks to his numerous sketches, measurements and watercolors, the Russian architect was able to develop and improve the classical style, creating his own, modernized handwriting.
Revolution and emigration
The architect Zholtovsky reacted calmly to the events of 1917. He continued to create his masterpieces, was introduced to Lenin, discussed with him issues of reconstruction and construction several times, and was engaged in pedagogical activities.
At the age of forty-six, Ivan Vladislavovich went to Italy, as they said, on a special mission. However, most likely, this trip was an attempt at emigration, which lasted only three years. Then the architect returned. At home, his drawings and plans were still in demand and desired.
First work in the Union
Immediately after returning, Zholtovsky is entrusted with three important projects. He rebuilds the State Bank on Neglinnaya Street (in the design of which he uses order facades and pilasters), builds the MOGES boiler house (built in the avant-garde style, with glass facade walls) and the Government House in the Republic of Makhachkala (embodied the classical ideas of the Renaissance along with medieval Muslim motifs).
Residential areas
The subsequent projects of Ivan Vladislavovich were residential buildings. The architect Zholtovsky, creating real residential areas, introduced elegant elements of Venetian palaces into them. A striking example of this is the seven-story building on Mokhovaya Street.
The house is decorated with a semi-colonnade of eight units, decorated with capitals and fusts. The upper two floors are planned in the form of a loose entablature and end with a protruding cornice.
It was interesting and multifacetedthe design of the rooms in the building was submitted - the ceilings were decorated with decorative paintings, and each door had its own pattern.
Among other apartment buildings built by Zholtovsky, residential buildings on Bolshaya Kaluga and Smolenskaya squares stand out, the layout of residential areas in Sochi is also the work of the architect.
Reconstruction of the Moscow Hippodrome
The next task of the Soviet architect was the reconstruction of the building and stands of the Moscow hippodrome, which were damaged during the fire of 1949. The reconstruction lasted for five years, and this is what was achieved.
According to the anti-religious policy of that time, all mythological decorations in the form of pagan nymphs and goddesses were removed from the outer facade of the building. Only sculptures remained, bearing the zoological and sporting idea.
Other innovations in the design of the hippodrome were a massive colonnade, as well as various stucco moldings of the Soviet and horse themes.
Public buildings
Among other public buildings of Ivan Vladislavovich, the Slava cinema, opened in 1958, a year before the death of the architect, stands out.
There were two auditoriums in the beautifully decorated building, three stories high and with a capacity of about nine hundred people. The four columns of the Slava cinema, connected in pairs, ended with a triangular pediment with a carved arch, which was effectively emphasized by the through relief.
End of lifeway
As you can see, Ivan Vladislavovich Zholtovsky worked until his death, which overtook him in the ninety-second year of his life. The most recent works of the unsurpassed master were the House of the Supreme Economic Council and the building of the Stroganov State Academy, as well as the Livadia sanatorium "Gorny" (Crimea), built according to the project of a talented architect after his death.
Awards and memories
The man who created a huge number of industrial and public buildings in the style of classicism, who became one of the founders of the impressive Stalinist architecture, was awarded several honorary titles, prizes and orders. He is still remembered for his considerable contribution to the development of the capital and Russian art, which he made throughout his long career.
Yes, he is Ivan Zholtovsky, whose memory is still kept in the hearts of grateful descendants. An avenue in Belarusian Pinsk was named after the talented architect, as well as a street in Prokopyevsk, a city in the Kemerovo region. In honor of Zholtovsky, the medal "For outstanding contribution to architectural education" was established in 2008.
