St. Isaac's Cathedral is one of the most beautiful buildings in St. Petersburg. How much inspiration, skill and labor has been invested in its creation! Its architecture is eye-catching, the interior is mesmerizing, a golden spire is visible from all over the city, and the colonnade offers stunning views of the city. It is impossible to ignore an inspirational masterpiece; it is a favorite place for tourists and residents of the city on the Neva. And many visitors have a question: "The architect who built St. Isaac's Cathedral - who was he?" We will find out the answer in this article.
Education and skill
The architect of St. Isaac's Cathedral was born not in Russia, but on the outskirts of Paris. His youth coincided with the Napoleonic wars of the late XVIII - early XIX centuries. The young man studied at the Royal Academy of Architecture in Paris (in those years it was called the Special School of Architecture). Twice he had to interrupt his teachings and go to the army, fight in Napoleon’s troops in Italy and Germany.
But, despite all these obstacles, the future architect of St. Isaac's Cathedral managed to learn his favorite work from the best French masters of that period. During military campaigns, he managed to see many examples of classical art, and after the surrender of Napoleon - to gain initial practical experience in Paris, where he supervised the construction work.
However, the talented and ambitious architect understood that in the post-war crisis of France he would have nowhere to apply his knowledge. So, you need to look for a more suitable place to realize your abilities. And then the future architect of St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg decided to try to use his potential. Why there? The young capital of the Russian Empire did not lack funds; it was actively built and needed talented specialists.
Arrival in Russia
In the summer of 1816, the Frenchman arrives in St. Petersburg, where he receives the position of a draftsman in the Committee for Construction and Hydraulic Works. Thanks to his abilities, diligence and independence, he soon gains new experience necessary for working in new conditions. Savvy and the ability to make a good impression on influential people help him move towards his goal.
Soon, a happy incident also comes up: the head of the Committee recommends a talented Frenchman to Emperor Alexander I as a specialist who is able to reconstruct the first St. Isaac's Cathedral, which turned out to be unsuccessful.
The architect, not even being widely known, easily walked around the other applicants. He managed to make a lasting impression on the emperor, presenting him with an elegantly designed album with 24 graphic miniatures, which were based on the most beautiful European temples. It was just that which could harmoniously fit into the majestic appearance of the city on the Neva. In December 1817, a year and a half after his arrival, the thirty-year-old Frenchman became a court architect. So begins a grandiose work lasting four decades - that is how much time the famous cathedral that we know now has been built.
Master style
His work combined two major movements: high classicism (otherwise called Russian Empire) and eclecticism - a combination of elements from various architectural trends. In this sense, the architect of St. Isaac's Cathedral was an innovator for his time. Especially often he used elements of medieval Gothic, which gave the buildings a special originality.
In 1840, the architect traveled to England, France, Italy and Germany in order to get acquainted with the features of the interior decoration of temple structures. The experience gained formed the basis of the project, which became the main brainchild of the French architect.
The beginning of the construction of the cathedral
Civil engineering work began in 1818. The construction took a long time and was suspended several times due to serious errors in the drawings. But thanks to the experience of a large group of experienced engineers, they managed to cope with difficulties.
The construction manager delved into all the details. Unique devices for lifting weights, strong steel bundles for brick and stone - these and other advanced engineering and construction solutions were used by the young architect of St. Isaac's Cathedral. In St. Petersburg, then the former capital of the empire, a lot of attention was paid to the reconstruction of this building. Even then, it was clear that he was destined to become one of the business cards of the city.
Completion of construction
In the early 1840s, the main works were completed, and the craftsmen were closely engaged in decorating the interiors of the temple. Inside was laid out Russia's largest stained glass window depicting Christ. The rest of the design was initially carried out with oil paints, but it was decided to abandon it due to high humidity in the room. As an alternative, the ceiling and walls of the cathedral were decorated with 150 panels and paintings laid out using the mosaic technique from a special material - smalt. Artists used more than 12 thousand of its shades, which made the images truly masterpieces.
The general design concept was developed by the architect of St. Isaac's Cathedral, but many talented artists of the time worked on creating paintings, mosaics, stained glass and sculptures: K. Bryullov, N. Pimenov, P. Klodt and many others. Gilded domes, which took 100 kg of gold, became one of the main highlights of the cathedral.
A gloomy prediction was connected with the creation of the St. Petersburg masterpiece: when the St. Isaac's Cathedral is completed, the architect will die. The prophecy came true quite accurately: on May 30, 1858, the cathedral was inaugurated and consecrated, and on June 28, the author of the project died at the age of 72.
Not only St. Isaac's Cathedral
For forty-one years, the architect lived in St. Petersburg, managed to build not only his famous masterpiece. In 1832, the Alexandria Column, created according to his design, was erected on Palace Square.
Also, the French architect has completed many private orders. Thanks to this, today palaces and mansions in the center of St. Petersburg are admired for their graceful architecture, which so harmoniously fits into the look of the city.
Now it is time to name the talented person to whom this article is dedicated. The architect of St. Isaac's Cathedral is Auguste Montferrand. Thanks to him, many famous structures of the Northern capital have just such an easily recognizable and stunning imagination.