Afanasy Grigoriev

Afanasy Grigoriev Афанасий Григорьев
Afanasy Grigoriev, portrait c. 1800
Born	21 January 1782 Vasilievskaya,Tambov Governorate, Russian Empire
Died	13 May 1868(1868-05-14)(aged 86) Moscow,Russian Empire
Nationality	Russian
Occupation	Architect
Practice	Giliardi Familyand independent own practice
Buildings	Khrushyov House (nowAlexander Pushkinmuseum)
Projects	Ershovo Estate (near Zvenigorod)

Khrushyov House, nowAlexander PushkinMuseum

Afanasy Grigorievich Grigoriev(‹See Tfd›Russian:Афанасий Григорьевич Григорьев;21 January 1782 – 13 May 1868) was a RussianNeoclassicalarchitect,who worked inMoscowand its suburbs. Grigoriev is remembered for his refinedEmpire stylemansions, completion ofGreat Ascension Church(which, unfinished, housed the wedding ofAlexander Pushkinin 1831) and assistance toDomenico Gilardiin rebuilding Moscow after theGreat Fire of 1812.

Biography

Grigoriev was born aserf,owned by the Kretov family, and acquired freedom at the age of 22. By this time, he was a long-time apprentice to Moscow-based Gilardi family ofSwissarchitects.Giovanni Gilardiwas the chief architect of continuously expanding Moscow Orphanage, Widow's House (publicalmshouse) and Catherine's Institute; his son,Domenico Gilardi,inherited the family practice and managed rebuilding of these and other public structures after the devastatingFire of 1812.

Grigoriev, like Domenico, studied architecture and crafts inFrancesco Camporesiworkshop inMoscow Kremlin.In 1808-1847, Grigoriev was formally employed by the Widow's House, first as assistance to the Gilardis, then as the chief architect of this institution. Grigoriev worked for (or with) the Gilardis on all of their Moscow projects, growing from an apprentice to lead architect. He and Domenico Gilardi usually receive equal credit on their joint 1820s buildings, includingSukhanovoandVlakhernskoye-Kuzminki.Grigoriev's own, undisputed, work can be found in Prechistenka Street, where he built two extant, adjacent upper-class houses.

The first, a city estate of Alexander Khrushyov, is noted for a complex plan that integrates two different facades - a sternIonic orderfacing Preschistenka and an ornate, joyful facade with double Ionic columns and a raised terrace overlooking Khruschyovsky Lane. The building housesAlexander Pushkinmuseum since 1957.

The second, a symmetrical Lopukhin (later Stanitsky) House, also employingIonic order,housesLeo Tolstoymuseum. Both buildings retained all original exterior and some of interior artwork, and are rated as finest examples of MoscowEmpirestyle.

His most important project out of Moscow is the Ershovo estate near Zvenigorod. The Trinity Cathedral (1826–1828), destroyed inWorld War II,was rebuilt in 1990s (photophoto).

Grigoriev died in Moscow and was buried at extant Kalitniki Cemetery. Church of this cemetery, sometimes credited to Grigoriev by mistake, was actually built by N.I. Kozlovsky

Buildings

Assistant toGiovanni Gilardi:

• 1800s-1812: Widows' House improvements, Kudrinskaya Square
• 1800s: TheOrphanageimprovements,Moskvoretskaya Embankment
• 1804-1812: Catherine's Institute, Kommuny Square

Assistant or partner toDomenico Gilardi:

• 1813-1817: Catherine's Institute (completion)
• 1817-1819:Moscow State Universityreconstruction
• 1823-1826: Board of Trustees (Опекунский Совет), Solyanka Street
• 1829-1831: Usachev House
• 1820s:Sukhanovopalace improvements (withJoseph Bové,Adam Menelawsand other architects)

Own, undisputed design:

• 1814-18??: Khruschyov House (later Seleznyov House), Prechistenka Street, (sculpture byIvan Vitali)
• 1817-1822:LopukhinHouse (later Stanitsky House), Prechistenka Street
• 1824-1826: Trinity Church in Veshnyaki (www.pravoslavie.ru)
• 1826-1828: Trinity Church, Ershovo nearZvenigorod,destroyed 1941, rebuilt 1990s
• 1837: Ershovo Palace
• 1842-1843: Own house, Milyutindsky Lane, 8

Other work:

• 1819-1821: Dokuchaev House, Myasnitskaya Street
• 1820s: Razumovsky House, Gorokhovaya Street (reconstruction of a building designed byAdam Menelaws)
• 1845: Great Ascencion Church, Nikitskie Gates, Moscow - completion of an earlier work byJoseph Bovéand other architects

• 
  Khrushyov mansion, side portal
• 
  Lopukhin mansion, nowLeo Tolstoymuseum
• 
  Lopukhin mansion, facade
• 
  Great Ascension Church,by Joseph Bové, completion by Grigoriev