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hidden Persons of Tsarskoye Selo -
hidden Monuments of history and culture | Bolotov Andrey Mikhailovich hidden The estate of A.V. Kokorev (an industrialist, wine merchant, patron of art) | |
An example of a rich merchant modernist style estate, the base of which was made up the early constructions of two town places Nos. 154 and 153. One of them belonged to Privy Councillor F.A. Durasov, from who it passed to Prince Dondukov-Korsakov ... | | An example of a rich merchant modernist style estate, the base of which was made up the early constructions of two town places Nos. 154 and 153. One of them belonged to Privy Councillor F.A. Durasov, from who it passed to Prince Dondukov-Korsakov. In 1859 the architect A.M. Bolotov developed for him a project of a stone house, features of which are apparent in the appearance of the modern façade. At the end of the 19th century A.V. Kokorev, a St. Petersburg merchant, became the house owner and joined one more adjoining property, which belonged to the State Councilor V.E. Kupfer. Until 1847 the architect V.I. Geste and his heirs became the first owners of this plot. During 1901-1904 the architect S.A. Danini rebuilt the being house for Kokorev, connected it with a detached wing (53, 55 Moskovskaya Street) by a fence. A vast garden with a figured pond consolidated gardens of both owners. In the house there was a winter garden, its one-storied wing, covered by the skylight in the form of a semicircular vault and decorated by the fancy band with details made of forge iron, was added by S.A. Danini to the house from the side of the garden. The limpid crystal pavilion with a stuffed elephant in the garden, on which footpaths and the house terrace chairs with mannequins were placed in summer, was regarded to the owner’s caprice. The appearance of the estate main mansion attends the attention by its rich decoration made of decorative facing brick (figured and polychromatic with the predominance of white colour) and forge iron elaborate ornamental pattern compositions of grilles, figured lintels, canopies and the balcony over the main entrance. The high stone fence with a forged tracery grille on the top, adjoining the house from the both sides, was built in the same style as the house façade, however it is tumbledown, the grille and gate are partially lost. Inside the main vestibule, marble stairs, planning are survived but the rich decoration of interiors in different historical styles is lost.
Persons Bolotov Andrey Mikhailovich Danini Silvio Amvrosievich Hastie Vasily Ivanovich (William)
| | | | hidden Vielgorsky Mikhail Yuryevich and Vielgorsky Matvey Yurievich, Counts, musicians | |
VIELGORSKY MIKHAIL YURYEVICH AND VIELGORSKY MATVEY YURIEVICH, Counts, musicians, patrons of art, brothers ("brothers of harmony"). Born in St. Petersburg. Their father authored drama and musical works, worked as a parlour musician ... | | VIELGORSKY MIKHAIL YURYEVICH AND VIELGORSKY MATVEY YURIEVICH, Counts, musicians, patrons of art, brothers ("brothers of harmony"). Born in St. Petersburg. Their father authored drama and musical works, worked as a parlour musician, and became the honorary director of the Petersburg Philharmonic Society. Mikhail Yuryevich Vielgorsky (1788-1856), composer (The Gypsy opera, two symphonies), pianist and organist, Actual Privy Counsellor (1827). Received an excellent musical education. From 1827, he lived and worked in St. Petersburg; in 1828 he became the Stallmeister of the Court of Grand Princess Elena Pavlovna, and played a key role in A.G. Rubinstein's career, and the Imperial patronage to the Russian Musical Society (RMS). He was also a prominent Mason (Master of Grand Provincial Lodge, adherent of occult sciences). Vielgorsky's musical-artistic salon became the centre of St. Petersburg's musical life. Visiting virtuosos and singers of Italian and Russian operas gave performances there, as well as symphonic concerts: all of L. Beethoven's compositions were performed, R. Schumann conducted, C. Schumann performed F. Mendelssohn's concerto, F. Liszt sight-read and played Ruslan's score for M.I. Glinka. As a member of the Imperial Theatres Board and Stallmeister of the court, Vielgorsky had significant influence on state theatres and appointment of actors to court service. H. Berlioz called his house the "Ministry of Music." Matvey Yurievich Vielgorsky (1794-1866), Stallmeister of the Grand Princess' Court, then of Empress Maria Alexandrovna's Court, Ober-Hofmeister, member of the Imperial Theatres Board, prominent violoncellist, playing solo and in ensembles in his brother's salon, at court, for charitable evenings, and at gatherings of the Concert Society. He associated with J. Field, H. Vieuxtemps, K. Lipinsky, H. Wieniawski, M. Pleiel, A.F. Lvov, and many others. One of the founders and first directors of the Russian Musical Society. Developed a unique collection of stringed instruments, including the quintette by A. Stradivari. In the late 1820s - early 1830s, the Vielgorsky brothers lived at 84 Moika River Embankment, then at 3 Mikhailovskaya Square (today Iskusstv Square) (1833-37), 5 Mikhailovskaya Square (1837-44) and 4 Mikhailovskaya Square (from 1844). The last residence belonged to Matvey Vielgorsky and was known as the Vielgorsky House, an architectural monument to Classicism (1830-32, architect A.M. Bolotov, facade was designed by K.I. Rossi). In the 1830s, E.A. Karamzina (the widow of N.M. Karamzin) lived at the residence, and Alexander Pushkin was a frequent guest. In the middle of the 19th century, A.K. Tolstoy also lived in this house. Today, the building houses the Gymnasium of the Russian Museum. The assembly hall of Vielgorsky's salon was renovated and is now a venue for concerts. The premises have been turned into a small museum dedicated to the Vielgorskys. The Vielgorsky brothers are buried at the cemetery of Alexander Nevsky Lavra (Mikhail in the Lazarevskaya burial vault, Matvey in the Blagoveschenskaya burial vault). Reference: Щербакова Т. А. Михаил и Матвей Виельгорские: Исполнители. Просветители. Меценаты. М., 1990. A. L. Porfiryeva.
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