Bartolomeo Rastrelli Biography (Italian architect who worked mainly in Russia)

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Who was Bartolomeo Rastrelli and what did he do? Information on Bartolomeo Rastrelli biography, life story and works.

Bartolomeo Rastrelli

Source : wikipedia.org

Bartolomeo Rastrelli

Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli (February 12, 1700 – October 3, 1771) was an Italian-born architect who is best known for his work in Russia, where he designed a number of famous landmarks and palaces.

Rastrelli was born in Venice, Italy and received his education in architecture at the University of Bologna. He began his career working for the Medici family in Florence and later moved to France, where he worked for the French royal family.

In 1730, Rastrelli was invited to Russia by Empress Anna to work as the chief architect of the Russian Empire. He spent the next four decades in Russia, where he designed a number of important buildings, including the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo, and the Smolny Convent in St. Petersburg.

Rastrelli’s work in Russia was characterized by a lavish, ornate style that became known as the “Rococo.” His buildings were often decorated with intricate carvings and gilded details, and many of them were painted in bright colors.

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Rastrelli’s work had a lasting impact on the architecture of Russia and his buildings continue to be some of the country’s most famous landmarks. He died in St. Petersburg in 1771 at the age of 71.

Works

Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli was an architect who is best known for his work in Russia, where he designed a number of important buildings and palaces. Some of his most notable works include:

  1. The Winter Palace in St. Petersburg: Rastrelli was responsible for the design and construction of the Winter Palace, which was the main residence of the Russian royal family. The palace is an impressive example of the Rococo style and is known for its ornate, gilded interiors and grand, sweeping staircases.
  2. The Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo: Rastrelli designed the Catherine Palace as a summer residence for the Russian royal family. The palace is known for its elaborate, ornate interiors and its grand, golden dome.
  3. The Smolny Convent in St. Petersburg: Rastrelli designed the Smolny Convent, which was a convent and educational institution for young noblewomen. The convent is known for its beautiful, ornate architecture and its grand, sweeping staircases.
  4. The Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg: Rastrelli designed the Kazan Cathedral, which is a large, ornate cathedral in the center of St. Petersburg. The cathedral is an important landmark in the city and is known for its grand, Baroque-style architecture.

Overall, Rastrelli’s works are known for their lavish, ornate style and their grand, impressive scale. His buildings continue to be some of Russia’s most famous landmarks.

Bio 2

Bartolomeo Rastrelli; Italian architect: b. Paris, France, 1700; d. St. Petersburg, Russia, 1771. He was the son of Carlo Bartolomeo Rastrelli (c. 1675-1744), a Florentine sculptor who went to Russia in 1715 to assist in the construction of St. Petersburg (now Leningrad). Bartolomeo accompanied his father, and by the middle of the century had firmly established himself in the life of the city. For two decades beginning with the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna in 1741, he created a number of grandiose baroque palaces, including the Summer Palace (1741-1744), the Versailleslike Winter Palace (1754-1762) on the Neva River, and the palaces of such nobles as Stroganov, Voront-sov, and Anichkov.

He planned the start of the Smolny Convent in eastern St. Petersburg, and in the suburbs he erected such notable edifices as the palaces at Tsarskoye Selo (now Pushkin) and Peterhof (now Petrodvorets). He also built the Ruhental Palace in Jelgava, Latvia, and the Church of St. Andrew in Kiev. Rastrelli was the leading exponent of the baroque style introduced into Russia by Peter the Great. His flamboyant and rococo creations helped to transform Russian architecture from an Oriental and Byzantine character to a new style, strongly Western but retaining something of the old national traditions.

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