Francesco Rastrelli

Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli (Russian: Франче́ско Бартоломе́о (Варфоломе́й Варфоломе́евич) Растре́лли; 1700 in Paris, France – 29 April 1771 in Saint Petersburg, Russia) was an Italian-born architect working in Imperial Russia. He developed an easily recognizable style of Late Baroque, both sumptuous and majestic. His major works, including the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg and the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo, are famed for extravagant luxury and opulence of decoration.

Biography

In 1716, Bartolomeo moved to Saint Petersburg, Russia, accompanying his father, Italian sculptor Carlo Bartolomeo Rastrelli (1675–1744).[1] His ambition was to combine the latest Italian architectural fashion with traditions of the Muscovite baroque style. The first important commission came in 1721 when he was asked to build a palace for Prince Demetre Cantemir, former ruler of Moldavia.

He was appointed to the post of senior court architect in 1730. His works found favour with female monarchs of his time, so he retained this post throughout the reigns of Empresses Anna (1730–1740) and Elizabeth (1741–1762).

Rastrelli's last and most ambitious project was the Smolny Convent in St. Petersburg where Empress Elizabeth was to spend the rest of her life. The projected bell-tower was to become the tallest building in St Petersburg and all of Russia. Elizabeth's death in 1762 prevented Rastrelli from completing this grand design.

The new empress, Catherine II, dismissed baroque architecture as an old-fashioned "whipped cream", and the aged architect had to retire to Courland where he supervised the completion and decoration of the ducal palaces.

His last years were spent in obscure commerce with Italian art-dealers. He was elected to the Imperial Academy of Arts several months before his death. A square in front of the Smolny Convent has borne Rastrelli's name since 1923.

References in modern culture

He is the subject of a composition, Rastrelli in Saint Petersburg, written in 2000 by Italian composer Lorenzo Ferrero.

Ten extant buildings by Rastrelli

Rundāle Palace Pilsrundāle near Bauska  Latvia 1736—1740 1764—1767

Jelgava Palace Jelgava  Latvia 1738—1740 1763—1772

Peterhof Palace Peterhof near St. Petersburg  Russia 1747—1755

Peterhof Palace Chapels Peterhof near St. Petersburg  Russia 1747—1751 

Saint Andrew's Church Kiev  Ukraine 1748—1767 

Smolny Convent St. Petersburg  Russia 1748—1764 

Vorontsov Palace St. Petersburg  Russia 1749—1757 

Catherine Palace Tsarskoe Selo (Pushkin)  Russia 1752—1756

Hermitage Pavilion Tsarskoe Selo (Pushkin)  Russia 1749

Mariyinsky Palace Kiev  Ukraine 1752 1870 

Stroganov Palace St. Petersburg  Russia 1753—1754

Winter Palace St. Petersburg  Russia 1754—1762

Boris Vipper has speculated that Rastrelli's last (and unfinished) design was for the Neoclassical Zaļenieki Manor near Mitava.

Demolished buildings

Annenhof Built of wood, replaced by Catherine Palace (Moscow) Lefortovo District, Moscow  Russia 1731 displaced 1736 burnt down 1746

Anna's Winter Palace Replaced by Winter Palace Saint Petersburg  Russia 1732—1735 demolished 1754 

Summer Palace Built of wood, replaced by Saint Michael's Castle Saint Petersburg  Russia 1741—1744 demolished 1797

Winter Kremlin Palace Replaced by Grand Kremlin Palace Moscow Kremlin  Russia 1747—1756 rebuilt 1798 demolished 1837