Kazakov Matvey Fedorovich is an outstanding Russian architect, one of the founders of Russian classicism. Born in 1738 in the Moscow family of the sub-office clerk of the Main Commissariat, Fyodor Kazakov, who came from serfdom. The Kazakov family lived near the Kremlin, in the area of Borovitsky Bridge. When the head of the family died in 1750, his mother, Fedosya Semyonovna, decided to send her son to the architectural school of the famous architect D. V. Ukhtomsky. The boy so impressed the teachers with his talent that he was immediately taken to a class where young people much older than him were studying. Ukhtomsky’s school was famous for the fact that, along with the theory of studying the principles of classical architecture, students had the opportunity to engage in live practice, as well as master the basics of classics using examples of monuments of ancient Russian architecture. This is where the characteristic feature of Matvey Kazakov’s work originates: a synthesis of the classics and traditions of Russian architecture, coupled with enormous talent.
Kazakov's first independent work was the restoration of Tver after a terrible fire in 1763. Matvey Fedorovich practically designed the new city: grocery stores, facades of government buildings. Senior colleagues closely watched the young talent, and very soon he was invited as 
co-author for the design of the Grand Kremlin Palace. By that time, Kazakov’s name was already becoming world famous, he acts as an established architect with his own style, way of thinking and unique embodiment of classic images. Matvey Fedorovich knows what Moscow should be like... He is closely involved in the projects of the Petrovsky Palace, the Petrovskoye Alabino estate, the Philip Church on 2nd Meshchanskaya. It must be understood that Kazakov was not only a brilliant imperial architect and artist, but also an outstanding builder who owned perfectly mastered the technique of this matter. He had a great understanding of the material, personally visiting to select stone or wood.
The architect understood perfectly well that the architectural business requires not only constant development and continuation, 
but also preserving the traditions of Russian classical forms, therefore he devoted a lot of time and effort to his teaching activities. During the Kremlin expedition of 1789, Kazakov organized an architectural art school. In a petition to Catherine II for the creation of this lyceum of construction masters, Matvey Fedorovich wrote that it was needed in order to “have perfect Russian masters... and therefore there will be no need for foreigners who are not versed either in the goodness of local materials or in what Russian land can produce! O. Bove, I. Egotov, R. Kazakov and other famous artists subsequently emerged from the walls of the school and made a significant contribution to the cultural heritage of Russia.
Matvey Fedorovich worked for many years on drawing up a “facade” plan for Moscow. Him and him 
assistants developed designs for the best buildings in the city and prepared plans for its individual parts. “A statesman in spirit and a patriot with a warm heart” - this is how compatriots characterized the qualities of an outstanding architect of Russia. Matvey Kazakov developed a number of types of architectural structures of various purposes, nature and scale, ranging from huge government and public buildings, palaces and estates to small residential buildings and rotunda churches. He solved the problem of creating a new type of urban residential building that would meet the economic, social and artistic needs of his time. He also developed a new type of “income” building for the era, where there were retail premises and apartments for rent. Kazakov also became famous as a brilliant interior designer. He created the Columned Hall of the Noble Assembly with skillful use of columns, pilasters, and cornices. He built palaces and merchant mansions (Demidov's house-estate in Gorokhov Lane, Gubin's house on Petrovka), numerous churches (the Church of Kozma and Damian on Maroseyka, etc.), and the house of the Moscow Governor-General.
Matvey Kazakov forever entered the history of Russia as an architect who developed types of urban 
residential buildings and public buildings organizing large urban spaces: the Senate in the Kremlin, Moscow University (later rebuilt after the fire of 1812 by the architect D. Gilardi), Golitsyn (1st City) Hospital, Petrovsky Palace (1775-1782) and other historical and iconic monuments architecture of Russia.
The clear and monumental forms of Matvey Kazakov’s numerous buildings predetermined the new, classic look of Moscow architecture, created its mood, tone, and recognizable features over the centuries.
During the Patriotic War of 1812, Kazakov’s relatives, having learned about the approach of the French army, took Matvey Fedorovich from Moscow to Ryazan. When the architect heard the terrible news about burning Moscow, the heart of the great artist, architect and patriot of Russia could not stand it...
According to his son, “I could not imagine without a shudder that his many years of labor had turned to ashes.” He was buried in the cemetery of the Ryazan Trinity Monastery. Unfortunately, the graveyard of Matvey Fedorovich Kazakov itself has not survived...
. .Portrait of R.R. Kazakov (?)
My article about him, published under the title “Known only to specialists” (for which special thanks to the editors!) in the newspaper “History” (publishing house “First of September”). 2007. No. 24. http://his.1september.ru/2007/24/20.htm
It was written, naturally, not for them, but for the academic journal of the history of literary art. I haven’t published the newspaper itself yet, so I’m giving the text in the version in which it was sent to it, except for the links, they will be in the newspaper version, but they were killed in the life version. The same goes for the pictures: probably not all of them were included in the newspaper version. In the "Bulletin" the old black and white pictures will be in the article itself, and the color ones will be in the inserts.
“The name of the outstanding architect Rodion Kazakov is known mainly only to specialists in the history of architecture. The fame of his great teacher and senior comrade Matvey Kazakov is incomparably greater, although Rodion Kazakov turned out to be worthy of his teacher. Having started his creative career as an architectural student of the “Kremlin Building Expedition”, he studied from Vasily Bazhenov and Matvey Kazakov, successfully continued their activities, and then headed the Moscow architectural school, which raised many masters of classicism. Because of his surname (there could not be two Kazakovs at once in the Soviet architectural “pantheon”), R.R. Kazakov turned out to be less known. and his work has not been studied in such detail, although, of course, he was a leading architect, a very bright and talented master who had his own creative individuality, who created buildings that for a long time defined the image of Moscow.
The bibliography about R.R. Kazakov is very scarce. Although P.V. Panukhin’s dissertation “The Work of Rodion Kazakov and His Place in the Architecture of Moscow Classicism” was defended on his work, but, unfortunately, it was never published in the form of a monograph. Even a reliable portrait of R.R. Kazakov has not survived to us. The copy image, located in the Museum of Russian Estate Culture in Kuzminki, and passed off as a portrait of R.R. Kazakov is unlikely to be such...
Rodion Rodionovich Kazakov (1758–1803), born twenty years later than Matvey Kazakov and died nine years earlier, was a hereditary Muscovite. He came from the family of a small nobleman, an ensign of architecture in the “architectural team” of Prince D.V. Ukhtomsky. From his father R.R. Kazakov received initial knowledge about architecture. R.R. Kazakov spent his childhood and youth in his parents’ house not far from the Kremlin in Starovagankovsky Lane (later his own house was located in the German settlement on Gorokhovoye Pole).
In 1770, at the age of sixteen, R.R. Kazakov passed the exams and entered the Architectural School of the Kremlin Building Expedition of the Moscow Branch of the Senate, which at that time was headed by V.I. Bazhenov, participated in the creation of the model of the Grand Kremlin Palace, designed by V.I. Bazhenov. As a student (Gesel), he was sent to M.F. Kazakov in 1774; under his leadership, as part of an architectural team, he was engaged in dismantling the dilapidated buildings of the Kremlin, drawing up their measurement drawings in 1770-1773. As a sculptor, R.R. Kazakov worked on the construction of the Prechistensky Palace of Catherine II in Moscow, designed by M.F. Kazakov, and for this work he received the rank of sergeant.
In 1776, he created his first independent architectural project for the classic Novovorobyovsky Palace - the palace of the Empress on the Sparrow Hills, built using logs from the Prechistensky Palace. For this project, which brought him fame, R.R. Kazakov received the title of architect, and became one of the recognized Moscow architects.
From that time on, he began to receive many orders: in 1781-1782. took part in the construction of the Catherine Palace in Lefortovo (at first it was built by the architect Prince P.V. Makulov, but due to miscalculations during the construction it had to be started anew; in addition to R.R. Kazakov, V.S. Yakovlev took part in the construction of the Lefortovo Palace, A. Rinaldi, and from the 1780s D. Quarenghi, who created the portico on the garden side and the famous multi-columned loggia on the facade).
Lefortovo Palace. Photo con. 19-beg. 20 in Private collection (Moscow)
In Moscow and the Moscow region, intensive construction of private mansions was carried out according to the designs of R.R. Kazakov. In 1782-1792 together with other architects of the Kremlin Expedition, R.R. Kazakov worked on orders from the governor of the Novorossiysk region and favorite of Catherine II, Prince G.A. Potemkin (it is assumed that R.R. Kazakov was invited to design and build the gates of the fortress in Kherson). Religious architecture also occupies a special place in the work of R.R. Kazakov. All religious buildings designed by him are decorative and have pronounced secular features. Typical elements are the rotunda-belvedere and the use of the Doric order. In almost all of his works, R.R. Kazakov appears as a talented representative of mature (“strict”) Moscow classicism. A major stage in the life of R.R. Kazakov was his long work in 1778-1803. in the estate of Princess A.A. Golitsyna Kuzminka near Moscow, which has now long been located within the city limits. Having replaced I.P. Zherebtsov as the architect of Kuzminok, without basically changing the already established layout of Kuzminok, R.R. Kazakov gave it a new life by rebuilding its individual elements. During his work in Kuzminki, R.R. Kazakova reconstructed the manor house and outbuildings, the church, Slobodka - a complex for courtyard people, another economic complex was built - Gardening with greenhouses and houses for gardeners and the Chinese (Pike) pond, a canal was dug, connecting the Chinese pond with the Nizhny or Melnichny pond (currently Nizhny Kuzminsky) located on the Churilikha (Goledyanka) river.
The master's house in the Kuzminki estate (above is the northern façade, below is the southern one). Photo beginning 20th century (from the ed.: Poretsky N.A. The village of Vlakhernskoye, the estate of Prince S. M. Golitsyn. M., 1913).
The abundance of work required the involvement of other architects; in 1783, R.R. Kazakov, who was also busy with other architectural orders, attracted his sister’s husband, architect Ivan Vasilyevich Egotov (1756-1814), to work in Kuzminki, who at first carried out the functions supervision of construction (he was immediately entrusted with supervision of the reconstruction of the manor house), i.e. involved in the implementation of Cossack projects. Subsequently, I.V. Egotov had to finish a lot of things started or designed in Kuzminki by R.R. Kazakov, but only after his death I.V. Egotov began independent activities in Kuzminki. Despite the significant scale of R.R. Kazakov’s activities in Kuzminki, this part of his architectural heritage was not lucky. During the restoration of the estate after the Patriotic War of 1812, many of the buildings he constructed were replaced with new ones designed by D.I. and A.O. Gilardi. In 1916, a fire destroyed the Kuzminki manor house, reconstructed in 1783-1789. according to the project of R.R. Kazakov (architectural supervision was led by I.V. Egotov). Then it was built on mezzanine floors, the main rooms: bedroom, office, hall were decorated with paintings, and other rooms were remodeled. At the same time, the outbuildings were also reconstructed, of which there were not two as now, but four - small one-story wooden buildings designed in classic forms.
It is quite difficult to judge the work of R.R. Kazakov even from old images of this ensemble, which has not survived to this day; the earliest of them date back to 1828 and 1841, and after the death of R.R. Kazakov the house was rebuilt in 1804-1808. I.V. Egotov, simultaneously reconstructing the outbuildings and planning the territory of the Main Courtyard. The ensemble was rebuilt later. After the Patriotic War of 1812, the Kuzminki manor house was restored and newly furnished, but the outbuildings, which had become very dilapidated by that time, were replaced by new ones, built in 1814-1815. according to the project of D.I. Gilardi. In 1830-1835 the manor house, outbuildings and galleries were reconstructed, but the changes mainly affected the internal layout of these buildings. This work was started by D.I. Gilardi, and after her departure abroad was continued by his cousin A.O. Gilardi. This is how the appearance, according to Yu.I. Shamurin’s definition, of this most rustic of all the landowner’s houses near Moscow was finally formed. In its place, according to the design of S.A. Toropov, a new main building of the Institute of Experimental Veterinary Medicine was built in 1927, significantly larger than it in size, but simpler in silhouette.
Currently, the only architectural monument in Kuzminki associated with the name of R.R. Kazakov is the Church of the Blachernae Icon of the Mother of God, which relatively recently returned to its former dominant role in the ensemble of the estate. It was built in two stages. In 1759-1762 The following were built: a church building, which originally had a Baroque decor (finally decorated and consecrated only in 1774), as well as a separate wooden bell tower. Based on indirect evidence, it can be assumed that the authorship of the church project belonged to the St. Petersburg architect S.I. Chevakinsky, according to whose design at that time the construction of the “Prechistensky House” by M.M. Golitsyn (now Volkhonka, 14) was underway. The author of the bell tower project, completed in the spring of 1760, was I.P. Zherebtsov. Although the name of R.R. Kazakov is not directly indicated in the documents, the authorship of the church project undoubtedly belongs to him: at that time he was the only major design architect on the estate, and I.V. Egotov’s functions were of a technical nature. The church was reconstructed in 1784-1785. in the forms of mature classicism. A new bell tower was also built to replace the old one. During the reconstruction, the church received a new finish - a round drum with lucarnes, topped with a dome. Porticoes and porches were added on four sides. In front of the church, a round stone two-tier bell tower with an orderly division of the facades was erected. It is curious that V.I. Bazhenov took some part in these works: his name appears in the estimate drawn up for the purchase of the necessary building material.
Church of the Blachernae Icon of the Mother of God in the Kuzminki estate. At the top of the photo is the beginning. 20th century (from the ed.: Poretsky N.A. The village of Vlakhernskoe, the estate of Prince S. M. Golitsyn. M., 1913), below is a photo of M.Yu. KOrobko 2005
Unfortunately, this interesting monument was badly damaged during Soviet times. The church was closed in 1929 and beheaded, and in 1936-1938. as a result of reconstruction into the Holiday House of the Central Committee of the Automobile Industry Trade Union (apparently, according to the design of S.A. Toropov), it lost its former stylistic features, turning into a three-story residential building. Only in 1994-1995. according to the design of the architect E.A. Vorontsova, a complex of works was carried out to restore the church: during the restoration, the late third floor was dismantled, the previous system of arches and vaults was recreated, a bell tower was erected on a monolithic reinforced concrete foundation on the site of old remains identified as a result of archaeological excavations; carried out a large amount of work on repairing the brickwork and recreating the white stone and stucco decoration of the facades; We made roof structures coated with copper, domes and crosses with gilding.
In parallel with his activities in Kuzminki, R.R. Kazakov carried out a number of equally important and responsible orders, among which a special place is occupied by the development of the Andronievskaya Square area in Moscow. According to his designs, the Church of Martin the Confessor was built in Alekseevskaya Novaya Sloboda - the former estate of the Andronikov Monastery (Bolshaya Kommunisticheskaya Street, 15/2) dominating the panorama of Zayauzye, the nearby private public school and the grandiose four-tier gate bell tower of the Andronikov Monastery, which became the second tallest in Moscow after the Kremlin Ivan the Great (height 79 m). Built in 1795-1803. the bell tower, having created a new image of the main entrance to the monastery, became its dominant feature (this most interesting monument of classicism was destroyed in 1929-1932). The estate of the mayor P. Khryashchev was built next to the bell tower. Thus, the classic image of Andronievskaya Square was formed, fragmentarily preserved to this day.
Bell tower of the Andronikov Monastery. Photo of 1882 from the album of N.A. Naidenov. GNIMA im. A.V.Shchuseva
The Church of Martin the Confessor is a large, powerful five-domed temple built in 1791-1806. at the expense of one of the richest Moscow merchants, V.Ya. Zhigarev, who later became the mayor (the building of a private public school was built in 1798, also at the expense of V.Ya. Zhigarev). The church consists of a two-story, four-pillar quadrangle with a large semicircular apse, a vestibule adjacent to it from the west (repeats the shape of the apse) and a high three-tier bell tower connected to it by a short passage. The emphasized monumentality of the building, unusual for the Moscow architectural tradition, gave rise to the legend that R.R. Kazakov repeated the Cathedral of St. Peter's in Rome (one of the reasons for the construction of the temple was the visit of Moscow by the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II). After the Patriotic War of 1812, the church, damaged by fire, was restored in 1813-1821: then the iron coverings and cladding of the building were put in order. During one of the repairs, the previously open passage between the temple and the bell tower was laid, restored during the restoration of the building (the church was closed in 1931 and became operational again only in 1991).
Church of Martin the Confessor. Photo of 1882 from the album of N.A. Naidenov. GNIMA im. A.V.Shchuseva
Another famous religious building, built according to the design of R.R. Kazakov and which is a good example of mature classicism, is the single-domed Church of Varvara on Varvarka - the first from the Kremlin in the famous chain of temples and chambers of Zaryadye (Varvarka, 2). Small, but placed at the very beginning of the street, it still defines its image (initially it marked the corner of the block at the intersection of Varvarka Street and the unpreserved Zaryadinsky Lane). The church is single-domed, completed with a domed rotunda with a drum and a dome, cruciform in plan; due to the low relief of the area, it is placed on a high basement; its eastern façade faces the street, so the altar is not separated into an independent apsidal volume, but is decorated with a powerful Corinthian portico, just like the other facades of the building. The two-tier bell tower, built according to the design of A.G. Grigoriev in the 1820s, was demolished during Soviet times, but restored during the restoration in 1967 (the church is now operational). The building was built in 1796-1804. at the expense of Major I.I. Baryshnikov and Moscow merchant N.A. Smagin. In 2006, under the Church of Varvara, a perfectly preserved white-stone basement of an older temple was discovered, built on this site in 1514 by the architect Aleviz Novy, the author of the Archangel Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin. The building of R.R. Kazakov, large in area, turned into a kind of case for the remains of the Aleviz building, and, thanks to this, it was perfectly preserved.
Church of Varvara on Varvarka. Photo of 1882 from the album of N.A. Naidenov. GNIMA im. A.V.Shchuseva
The name of R.R. Kazakov is associated with the building built in 1798-1802. the huge city estate of the owner of ironworks I.R. Batashev, (since 1878 Yauzskaya Hospital, now City Clinical Hospital No. 23, Yauzskaya Street 9-11). Unfortunately, the authorship of R.R. Kazakov does not have precise documentary confirmation, however, the artistic merits of the monument and the nature of the depiction of many of its details of the house give reason to assume that R.R. Kazakov took part in its creation. The project was implemented by the serf architect of the Batashevs, M. Kiselnikov, apparently the one who built the Batashev family nest in the Vyksa estate.
The estate of I.R. Batashev with the manor house and outbuildings forming the ensemble of the front courtyard is an outstanding monument of the era of classicism; its order and stucco decoration is one of the best in Moscow buildings of the early 19th century. (at one time this complex was even attributed to V.I. Bazhenov). Initially, the manor house had a decorative loggia and gallery, which overlooked the park towards the Yauza. The estate was seriously renovated after the fire of 1812, and after the organization of the Yauza hospital here, it was partially rebuilt: the open galleries of the front courtyard and loggia stairs were laid; in 1899 a church was built. Some of the interiors, however, were lost, but the main façade was preserved.
The master's house of the estate of I.R. Batashev in Moscow. Photo beginning 20th century Private collection (Moscow)
In parallel with the estate of I.R. Batashov according to the project of R.R. Kazakov in 1799-1801. The city estate of Vice-Chancellor Prince A.B. Kurakin, who at that time headed the College of Foreign Affairs of Russia (Staraya Basmannaya St., 21), was reconstructed. The main house became two-story, receiving a portico of the Corinthian order. An extension was made to the separate “semi-circular” service building - a corridor 1 m 60 cm wide, i.e. one of the outer walls of the building turned into a partition inside the building. The enfilade layout was replaced by a series of isolated rooms and a hall with a combined corridor along the outer wall of the building (in 1836-1838, the architect E.D. Tyurin added a second floor to the building and connected it to the main house).
In 1790-1800 R.R. Kazakov together with his teacher M.F. Kazakov worked on the creation of the “Album of particular buildings of the city of Moscow” - a kind of catalog of buildings of Moscow classicism, the so-called “Kazak albums” (there are six in total). The Albums included descriptions of 103 Moscow mansions, more than 360 drawings and plans. R.R. Kazakov was the creator of most of the visual material for them. The drawings were kept in the “Drawing Room” at the Armory Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin, of which R.R. Kazakov became director in 1801. In the same year he worked “to correct” the Kremlin Palace, and in 1802 he inspected the “dilapidations” in the Kremlin.
The name of any major master, as a rule, is associated with false attributions: numerous and often unreasoned attempts to see his hand in unattributed monuments. In this case, R.R. Kazakov is no exception. His surname contributes to false attributions; there is a great temptation to attribute many of his works to the more famous M.F. Kazakov. Unfortunately, some attributions of monuments to R.R. Kazakov are frankly fantastic. The significant scope of R.R. Kazakov’s activities in Kuzminki led to the fact that some of the work carried out in this estate, but having nothing to do with him, began to be mistakenly associated with his name. According to the reference book “Moscow Architects of the Baroque and Classical Times (1700-1820s)” from the activities of R.R. Kazakov in Kuzminki, “...only the slightly modified main house of Slobodka on Poplar Alley has survived.” However, Slobodka in Kuzminki does not have, and never had, any “main house”. Apparently, the author of the article in the reference book had in mind a hospital or hospital outbuilding, built in 1808-1809, according to the design of I.D. Gilardi - a wooden one-story building with a mezzanine and two projections protruding at the edges. Indeed, in the specialized literature, its builders are usually called R.R. Kazakov and I.V. Egotov, forgetting or not knowing that none of them are mentioned in any of the documents on the construction of the hospital in Kuzminki (R.R. Kazakov generally died for five years before the start of its construction).
The Gardener's House (Seraya Dacha) at Gardening in Kuzminki, built in 1829-1831, apparently according to the design of D.I. Gilardi, is also not a building of R.R. Kazakov (in 1972 it was badly damaged by a fire, due to Due to the emergency condition, part of the walls that survived the fire was dismantled; in 1975, the wooden part of the building collapsed, which prevented additional research on it; in 1976-1979, the house was recreated according to the design of the architect I.V. Gusev, i.e. that is, a new building was erected on its foundation).
R.R. Kazakov actually designed the Gardener’s House for Kuzminki, built in 1797, but it was a completely different building, occupying a different site. It is known that in 1829, having concluded a contract with the new gardener Andrei Ivanovich Gokh, the owner of Kuzminki, Prince S.M. Golitsyn, ordered to build him a new outbuilding "... choosing for this a decent place behind the greenhouses, so that it could not be seen from the house and from the garden ... The old outbuilding, where the former gardener lived, should be left for housing garden students,” i.e. The Cossack Gardener's House existed for some time even after the construction of the new one, but was subsequently dismantled (in the passport for the Gray Dacha, the year of its construction was mistakenly indicated as 1797, a security board with the same date hangs on the Gray Dacha itself).
Usually R.R. Kazakov is credited with the construction of the “Star” - the French, that is, the regular part of the Kuzminki park, consisting of 12 alleys diverging from one center (also known as the “Twelve-rayed clearing”, “Grove of 12 prespektiv” or “Clock” "). However, we were able to establish that “Zvezda” was created even before R.R. Kazakov was involved in work in Kuzminki. Its author was the gardener I.D. Schreider (Schneider), under whose leadership in the spring and summer of 1765 “prespekts” were cut in the forest adjacent to the estate, one of which opened up a view of the church from the Vykhinsky field. At the same time, apparently at the request of the husband of the owner of the estate, M.M. Golitsyn, the question arose about moving one of the pavilions - the “gallery”, which I. Schrader proposed to put “directly opposite the new site at the end of the pond” (“The Star” in Kuzminki was one one of the first domestic parks to have such a layout, and as it turned out, it was created earlier than a similar park in the famous Pavlovsk near St. Petersburg, which was previously considered a model for it).
At the same time, with a high degree of confidence, the name of R.R. Kazakov can be associated with the construction of a manor house in the estate of foreman N.A. Durasov Lyublino near Moscow, located in the neighborhood of Kuzminki (now within the boundaries of Moscow). It is believed that already in 1801 the current manor house was built there, which has the shape of a cross in plan, the ends of which are connected by colonnades (although, most likely, this is only the date of the start of construction). Such an unusual composition gave rise to the legend that the house was supposedly built in the form of the Order of St. Anne, of which its owner was very proud. True, there is no real evidence of this, nor, indeed, is there a document confirming the awarding of this order to N.A. Durasov. However, this legend is interesting in itself, as an example of a folk, semi-naive explanation of how a building could have appeared that differed from the standard for country manor houses accepted at that time.
Lyublino. Fragment of an engraving based on a drawing by an unknown artist. Ser. 19th century State Historical Museum
The master's house in the Lyublino estate. Photo beginning 20th century Private collection (Moscow)
In fact, the forms of the manor house in Lublin go back to the projects of the “famous Nefforge” - the theorist of French classicism Jean-François Nefforge, which had well-deserved popularity in the 2nd half of the 18th century. Among them there is one that can rightfully be recognized as the prototype of the house in Lublin: the so-called “Project of a centric structure”, dated 1757-1778. Of course, during its implementation it was significantly redesigned, but the main idea of J. Nefforge, expressed in the creation of a centric mansion, was preserved. It is possible that this particular composition of the building is based on Masonic symbolism. There is a strong tradition that, based on literary data, attributes the authorship of the manor house of the Lyublino estate to the architect I.V. Yegotov, but the grounds for this are very doubtful. In addition, I.V. Egotov himself did not create or even design anything that could be placed next to Lublin. The anonymous author of one of the first articles about Lublin, published in the magazine “Picturesque Review” in 1838, judging by the text, close to the then owners of Lublin Pisarev, who were relatives of N.A. Durasov, without mentioning I.V. Egotov, reported that N.A. Durasov “... entrusted the construction of the manor house to the excellent architect Kazakov, and, apparently, he demanded not so much convenience for himself, but spaciousness and luxurious accommodation for his guests.” Of course, this refers to R.R. Kazakov, under whose leadership I.V. Egotov worked in Kuzminki. This publication paints a new picture of the role of R.R. Kazakov: obviously, R.R. Kazakov owned the design of the Lublin house, and I.V. Egotov directly supervised the construction. This is exactly how this tandem worked in Kuzminki, and there is no reason to believe that this order could be violated in Lublin.
The Lord's House in Lublin (fragments). Photo by M.Yu. Korobko. 2007
Simultaneously with the manor house in Lublin, other estate buildings were erected or reconstructed, mostly built of brick, unlike most of the Moscow estates of that time (among them there was a large complex of theater buildings) and it cannot be excluded that R.R. Kazakov participated in these works.
Documentary study of architectural monuments can expand the range of works of R.R. Kazakov, making our understanding of him and his work much more complete. Searching for works by R.R. Kazakov is possible both in Moscow and in the provinces. In particular, the circle of his works by R.R. Kazakov usually includes the two-bell Church of the Holy Spirit, built in the village of Shkin near Moscow (now Kolomensky district of the Moscow region) - an outstanding monument of classicism. The church in Shkini was built between 1794 and 1798. by order of Major General G.I. Bibikov, who was also the owner of the famous Grebnevo estate near Moscow, although recently the authorship of this monument has been associated with the work of N. Legrand, which is not indisputable (the construction was apparently supervised by the architect I.A. Selekhov) . In our opinion, it is possible that R.R. Kazakov was involved in the design of the huge white stone church in Gus-Zhelezny Batashevs. It is quite possible that the Cossack authorship of the designs of churches in the Batashev villages around Vyksa: Doschatoe and Vilya belonged. Perhaps the monument built according to the design of R.R. Kazakov is the Church of Simeon the Stylite behind the Yauza.
Not all attempts to discover new Kazakov works are indisputable: there is an opinion that R.R. Kazakov was involved in developing the plan for the Moscow estate of Prince A.V. Urusov Ostashevo (Volokolamsk district) - it is known that he took part in the construction on the territory of the Moscow city estate of the Urusovs. However, in our opinion, this is unlikely: the outbuildings with towers in Ostashov, allegedly made according to Kazakov’s design, give the impression of outbuildings, due to a misunderstanding, placed by an inexperienced architect in the front yard of the estate instead of the outbuildings (note that very similar buildings are part of the equestrian yard in the estate of the Menshikov princes Cheryomushki or Cheryomushki-Znamenskoye, now located within the boundaries of Moscow). Traditionally, R.R. Kazakov is credited with the construction of a suburban dacha on the banks of the Yauza River (now Volochaevskaya St., 38). Theoretically, through the Golitsyns, the owners of Kuzminki, R.R. Kazakov could receive such an order (the Stroganovs were their relatives). However, there is no documentary basis for such an attribution. Nevertheless, the search for Kazakov’s works must be continued, since R.R. Kazakov is a major, but undeservedly forgotten architect, who, in terms of his contribution to Moscow architecture, stands on a par with his teachers V.I. Bazhenov and M.F. Kazakov.”
Author Mikhail Korobko
APD: A “serious” version of the article with all references was published in the publication:
Korobko M.Yu. Rodion Rodionovich Kazakov // Bulletin of history, literature, art. T. 6. M., 2009.
Matvey Kazakov was born in 1738 in Moscow, in the family of the sub-office clerk of the Main Commissariat Fyodor Kazakov, who came from serfdom. The Kazakov family lived near the Kremlin, in the area of Borovitsky Bridge. In 1749 or early 1750, Kazakov’s father died. Mother, Fedosya Semyonovna, decided to send her son to the architectural school of the famous architect D.V. Ukhtomsky; in March 1751, Kazakov became a student at Ukhtomsky’s school and stayed there until 1760. From 1768 he worked under the leadership of V.I. Bazhenov in the Kremlin Construction Expedition; in particular, in 1768-1773. he participated in the creation of the Grand Kremlin Palace, and in 1775 - in the design of festive entertainment pavilions on Khodynka Field. In 1775, Kazakov was confirmed as an architect.
Kazakov’s legacy includes many graphic works - architectural drawings, engravings and drawings, including “Pleasure buildings on Khodynskoye Field in Moscow” (ink and pen, 1774-1775; GNIMA), “Construction of the Peter’s Palace” (ink and pen, 1778; GNIMA).
Kazakov also proved himself as a teacher, organizing an architectural school during the Kremlin Building Expedition; his students were such architects as I. V. Egotov, A. N. Bakarev, O. I. Bove and I. G. Tamansky. In 1805 the school was transformed into the School of Architecture.
During the Patriotic War of 1812, relatives took Matvey Fedorovich from Moscow to Ryazan. Kazakov died on October 26 (November 7), 1812 in Ryazan and was buried in the cemetery (now no longer preserved) of the Ryazan Trinity Monastery. The former Gorokhovskaya Street in Moscow was named after him in 1939. The former Dvoryanskaya Street in Kolomna is also named after him. In 1959, in Kerch, on the initiative of the chief architect of the city A. N. Morozov, the newly formed street began to bear the name of Kazakov in honor of his 225th anniversary.
Works by M.F. Kazakova are closely connected with the history of Russia, political and social events: Prechistensky Palace in Moscow (1774-1776), Senate Building in the Moscow Kremlin (1776-1787), University buildings on Mokhovaya (1786-1793), Novo-Catherine Hospital (1774- 76), Noble Assembly (1775), House of Archbishop Plato, later the Small Nicholas Palace (1775), Petrovskoye-Alabino, Meshchersky house-estate (1776), Church of Metropolitan Philip (1777-1788), Travel Palace (Tver), Kozitsky House on Tverskaya (1780-1788), Temple of the Ascension on Gorokhovsky Field (1790-1793), Church of Cosmas and Damian on Maroseyka (1791-1803), Demidov's house-estate on Gorokhovsky Lane (1789-1791), Gubin's house-estate on Petrovka (1790s), Golitsyn Hospital (1796-1801), Pavlovsk Hospital (1802-1807), Baryshnikov House-Estate (1797-1802), Petrovsky Access Palace (1776-1780), General Governor's House (1782).
Prechistensky Palace in Moscow (1774-1776) - Matvey Kazakov’s first work as an architect brought him professional success. This palace was built for Catherine II's stay in Moscow.
Senate Palace - made by M.F. Kazakov, commissioned by Empress Catherine the Great, in the classical style. Nowadays the palace is the working residence of the President of the Russian Federation.
The university buildings on Mokhovaya (1786-1793) are now a symbol of the Age of Enlightenment. The main building of Moscow University was built according to the design of Matvey Fedorovich Kazakov at the end of the eighteenth century.
Currently, the old building houses the premises and funds of the Museum of History of Moscow State University, the memorial office-library of the rector I.G. Petrovsky, unique collections of the university library, collections of the Anthropological Museum. D.N. Anuchin, the educational premises are occupied by the Institute of Asian and African Countries of Moscow State University.
Many works by M.F. Kazakova have been preserved to this day as a cultural heritage and are of great importance in the life of the capital: subsequently art galleries, hospitals, and halls for holding special events were opened in them. For example, in 1776, according to the design of M.F. Kazakov, an estate was built for the Gagarin princes, then this masterpiece of classicism became the New Catherine Hospital.
Note that the Noble Assembly in Moscow is a building built in Okhotny Ryad for the Moscow noble assembly (1775). In Soviet times, it was renamed the House of Unions and V.I. worked there. Lenin, N.K. Krupskaya. Nowadays, various events and conferences, holidays are held in the halls of the House of Unions: anniversaries of figures of science, literature and art, music concerts are held.
Matvey Fedorovich Kazakov implemented various projects from the Kremlin Palace to various pavilions. Thanks to his works: estates, palaces, churches, Moscow acquired a more expressive appearance. The phenomenon of M.F. Kazakov's work in city design has become a world architectural heritage.
- Chief Architect of Moscow
And the architect Matvey Kazakov is one of the founders of Russian classicism. Thanks to him, Moscow turned from a “big village,” as the residents of St. Petersburg called it, into a city with beautiful architecture. The architect erected about 100 buildings here, despite the fact that he did not have a higher architectural education.
"Ensign of Architecture" Matvey Kazakov
Matvey Kazakov was born in 1738 into a poor family in Moscow. The boy received his primary education at the local Kosmodemyansk church. From early childhood he was interested in architecture: he spent hours sitting on scaffolding and sketching buildings. After the death of his father, his mother submitted a petition to the Senate to admit her son to the Moscow architectural school. In response there was a decree: “To teach the architecture of the Main Commissariat to the deceased sub-chancellor Kazakov’s son Matvey, determine with the award of a salary against junior students of a ruble per month”.
So in 1751, 13-year-old Matvey Kazakov entered the architectural school of Prince Dmitry Ukhtomsky. Students learned the basics of architecture from the treatises of famous Italian architects Marcus Vitruvius, Andrea Palladio, Jacom da Vignola and the writings of the 18th century French theorist Francois Blondel. At the same time, the students were also instilled with a love of ancient Russian architecture. This is how a characteristic feature of Kazakov’s creative style was formed - a combination of classical and ancient Russian architecture.
Tver Imperial Travel Palace. Architect Matvey Kazakov. 1764-1766. Photo: Andres_rus / wikipedia
House of Unions (Noble Assembly). Architects: Matvey Kazakov, Alexey Bakarev, Alexander Meisner. First half of the 18th century. Photo: A.Savin / wikipedia
During his school years, Kazakov began to put his knowledge into practice: he measured ancient buildings, restored dilapidated Kremlin buildings, drew up drawings and estimates, and worked on construction sites supervised by his teachers. Soon Kazakov was noticed by Ukhtomsky himself and appointed him as his junior assistant. At that time, the prince built a lot for Moscow: he built the Kuznetsky Bridge, completed the Arsenal in the Kremlin and the “spare palace” at the Red Gate, reconstructed the Main Pharmacy and adapted the buildings of former government offices for Moscow University. Kazakov helped his teacher in everything.
In 1760, Dmitry Ukhtomsky resigned, and the school was headed by his assistant, Pyotr Nikitin. The new leader appointed Kazakov to his former place - the young architect had just graduated from school and received the rank of “ensign of architecture.” One of the first major tasks of Nikitin’s team was the restoration of Tver after the fire of 1763. Together with other architects, Kazakov designed provision stores, facades of government buildings on the main square, “business” and residential buildings, and the trading office of Nikita Demidov in the almost completely burned city. Also, on the instructions of Catherine II, they erected the Empress's Travel Palace on the ruins of the bishop's house - the main building in the city.
Temple of the Ascension on the Pea Field. Architect Matvey Kazakov. 1788-1793. Photo: Solundir / wikipedia
Moscow City Hall building. Architect Matvey Kazakov. 1782. Photo: arch-house.ru
Kazakov's work on the restoration of Tver immediately promoted him to the ranks of the first architects of the empire - he began to receive private orders. His first major independent work was the church in Pavel Nashchokin's estate near Moscow, Rai-Semenovskoye. This project was followed by the next one: at the request of Ivan Betsky, the architect drew up a plan of the facade and the entire site for the Moscow Orphanage.
Independent projects of the architect
The fire in Tver led to major urban planning reforms in the country. Old wooden buildings, dense buildings, winding streets and alleys have been the main causes of large fires in many cities. Therefore, large-scale reconstruction began in the empire, primarily in Moscow.
In 1768, Matvey Kazakov got a job in the “Expedition to build the Kremlin Palace,” which carried out government orders in Moscow. Together with the chief architect of the expedition, Vasily Bazhenov, Kazakov built the Grand Kremlin Palace. Later they developed a project for the festive decoration of Khodynka Field in honor of the victory in the Russian-Turkish war. Working with a venerable architect became a high school for Kazakov: a graduate of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts and a student of European architects taught his assistant a lot. In 1775, Kazakov received the title of independent architect, but continued to collaborate with Bazhenov.
Senate Palace. Architect Matvey Kazakov. 1776-1787. Photo: rdh.ru
Petrovsky Travel Palace. Architect Matvey Kazakov. 1776-1780. Photo: arch-house.ru
In 1776, by decree of Catherine II, Matvey Kazakov developed a project for the Petrovsky Travel Palace. This building was supposed to become a residence for the rest of noble people after a long journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow, hence the name “traveling”. The shape of the palace resembled buildings in the classicist style: there was a main house with outbuildings, a front courtyard and two outbuildings. But the external decoration combined elements of different eras and architectural styles: a high boyar tower porch was adjacent to Baroque windows, and white stone ancient Russian belts were adjacent to lancet Gothic windows.
Having built this ensemble, Matvey Kazakov began to receive many orders for the construction of public and private buildings in Moscow. One of Kazakov’s most significant creations was the Senate building in the Russian classicism style. This building fits harmoniously into the complex of existing Kremlin buildings. The architect made a round hall the compositional accent of the Senate. He created the roof for it in the form of a huge dome, which was supported by Corinthian columns. The hall was decorated with bas-relief portraits of Russian princes and tsars, as well as scenes dedicated to the most important deeds of Catherine II. For its magnificent decoration, contemporaries called it the Russian pantheon. Kazakov’s work was highly appreciated by his contemporaries and Catherine the Great herself.
University of Moscow. Architect Matvey Kazakov. 1786-1793. Photo: artpoisk.info
Church of St. Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow. Architect Matvey Kazakov. 1777-1788. Photo: NVO/wikipedia
Kazakov's next major creation was Moscow University. Construction of the institution began in 1782 and took more than 10 years. The architect strove for simplicity and grandeur, so he abandoned complex decorative elements and a large amount of sculpture. The university building resembled a large urban estate in the classicist style, organically fitting into the ensemble of the center of Moscow. Simultaneously with the construction of the university, the architect was engaged in the reconstruction of the former house of Prince Mikhail Dolgoruky for the Moscow Noble Assembly.
Chief Architect of Moscow
In 1786, Kazakov led the “Kremlin Expedition” and actually became the chief architect of Moscow. According to his designs, central squares and streets, houses and courtyards were developed. Among them are Tverskaya Square, Gorokhovsky Lane, Ilyinka, Mokhovaya and Lubyanka streets. Unlike the architects of St. Petersburg, who built the city from scratch, Kazakov fit entire ensembles into the already built ancient quarters of Moscow. With his classicist buildings with columns and pediments, Kazakov brought order to the chaos of Moscow streets and ennobled the appearance of the former capital.
Baryshnikov's estate. Architect Matvey Kazakov. 1793-1802. Photo: svadebka.ws
At the beginning of the 19th century, Matvey Kazakov organized an architectural school on his estate. Future famous architects and restorers Osip Bove, Alexey Bakarev, Ivan Egotov, Ivan Mironovsky, Ivan Tamansky studied here. Together with his students, the architect compiled the “General Atlas of Moscow” for many years. The drawings and drawings captured the general plan, facade and section of the most significant buildings of the ancient capital. These albums became an invaluable source of information about the external appearance of the city at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries for restorers.
During the Patriotic War of 1812, Kazakov’s relatives took the sick architect to Ryazan. Here he learned about the fire in the old capital and that almost everything he had created throughout his life had burned down.
Matvey Kazakov died on November 7, 1812. The architect was buried in the Trinity Monastery on the outskirts of Ryazan.
One of the largest representatives of Russian pseudo-Gothic. Developer of standard development projects.
Biography
Matvey Kazakov was born in 1738 in Moscow, in the family of the sub-office clerk of the Main Commissariat Fyodor Kazakov, who came from serfdom. The Kazakov family lived near the Kremlin, in the area of Borovitsky Bridge.
In 1749 or early 1750, Kazakov’s father died. Mother, Fedosya Semyonovna, decided to send her son to the architectural school of the famous architect D.V. Ukhtomsky. In March 1751, Kazakov became a student at Ukhtomsky’s school and stayed there until 1760.
From 1768 he worked under the leadership of V.I. Bazhenov in the Kremlin Construction Expedition; in particular, in 1768-1773. he participated in the creation of the Grand Kremlin Palace, and in 1775 - in the design of festive entertainment pavilions on Khodynka Field. In 1775, Kazakov was confirmed as an architect.
Kazakov’s legacy includes many graphic works - architectural drawings, engravings and drawings, including “Pleasure buildings on Khodynskoye Field in Moscow” (ink and pen, 1774-1775; GNIMA), “Construction of the Peter’s Palace” (ink and pen, 1778; GNIMA).
Kazakov also proved himself as a teacher, organizing an architectural school during the Kremlin Building Expedition; his students were such architects as I. V. Egotov, A. N. Bakarev, O. I. Bove and I. G. Tamansky. In 1805 the school was transformed into the School of Architecture.
During the Patriotic War of 1812, relatives took Matvey Fedorovich from Moscow to Ryazan. There the architect learned about the fire in Moscow - this news accelerated the death of the master. Kazakov died on October 26 (November 7), 1812 in Ryazan and was buried in the cemetery (now no longer preserved) of the Ryazan Trinity Monastery.
The former Gorokhovskaya Street in Moscow was named after him in 1939. The former Dvoryanskaya Street in Kolomna is also named after him.
