Vasily Neyelov
Encyclopedia
Vasily Ivanovich Neyelov was a Russia
n architect
, whose works are representative of early classicism
and romanticism
. He is notable as one of the first landscape park
designers in Russia. Neelov served as a court architect in Tsarskoye Selo
and worked with Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli
on the construction of the Catherine Palace
. Neyelov was the author of albums with plans of facades of buildings in Tsarskoye Selo (known as "Neyelov Albums"). Neyelov was one of the first architects of Russian origin working in Tsarskoye Selo.
and Mikhail Zemtsov
, who worked with Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli
since 1744. In 1748, Neyelov was appointed a deputy architect and sent to help to design the plans of the Catherine Palace
and Catherine Park
in Tsarskoye Selo.
In 1760 Rastrelli retired, and Neyelov became the chief architect supervising the creation of the Catherine Park. In 1770, he visited England and became strongly inspired by the English park building school. In the same year, he completed the plan of the park, which was subsequently used for the creation of the park. The role of Neyelov was not only to design bridges and pavilions, but also to choose the location of the pavilions designed by other architects, including Charles Cameron
. Neyelov created the landscape part of the Catherine Park
with famous romantic pavilions such as the Pyramid (1770–1771), the Admiralty and the Hermitage Kitchen (1774–1776), the "Chinese" Small and Large Whims (1770–1774, together with Johann Conrad Gerhard), the Marble (also known as Palladio, or Siberian) bridge built in the spirit of Andrea Palladio
(1772–1774). To produce the Marble Bridge, Neyelov first created a wooden model of the bridge, which was sent to Yekaterinburg
in order to facilitate the choice of the marble pieces. The Marble Bridge became the first classicist
building in the Catherine Park.
Two of his sons, Ilya and Pyotr, helped him during the creation of this park.
Neyelov died in 1782 and was buried in the Kuzminsky cemetery in Tsarskoye Selo.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, whose works are representative of early classicism
Classicism
Classicism, in the arts, refers generally to a high regard for classical antiquity, as setting standards for taste which the classicists seek to emulate. The art of classicism typically seeks to be formal and restrained: of the Discobolus Sir Kenneth Clark observed, "if we object to his restraint...
and romanticism
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
. He is notable as one of the first landscape park
Landscape garden
The term landscape garden is often used to describe the English garden design style characteristic of the eighteenth century, that swept the Continent replacing the formal Renaissance garden and Garden à la française models. The work of Lancelot 'Capability' Brown is particularly influential.The...
designers in Russia. Neelov served as a court architect in Tsarskoye Selo
Tsarskoye Selo
Tsarskoye Selo is the town containing a former Russian residence of the imperial family and visiting nobility, located south from the center of St. Petersburg. It is now part of the town of Pushkin and of the World Heritage Site Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments.-History:In...
and worked with Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli
Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli
Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli was an Italian architect naturalized Russian. He developed an easily recognizable style of Late Baroque, both sumptuous and majestic...
on the construction of the Catherine Palace
Catherine Palace
The Catherine Palace was the Rococo summer residence of the Russian tsars, located in the town of Tsarskoye Selo , 25 km south-east of St. Petersburg, Russia.- History :...
. Neyelov was the author of albums with plans of facades of buildings in Tsarskoye Selo (known as "Neyelov Albums"). Neyelov was one of the first architects of Russian origin working in Tsarskoye Selo.
Biography
Neyelov was born in 1721 in the family of a sergeant. He studied architecture with Savva ChevakinskySavva Chevakinsky
Savva Ivanovich Chevakinsky was a Russian architect of the Baroque school. He worked in St. Petersburg and Tsarskoe Selo.Chevakinsky was born into a noble family in the village of Veshki in the Novotorzhsk district of Tver province....
and Mikhail Zemtsov
Mikhail Zemtsov
Mikhail Grigorievich Zemtsov was a Russian architect who practiced a sober, restrained Petrine Baroque style, which he learned from his peer Domenico Tresini...
, who worked with Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli
Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli
Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli was an Italian architect naturalized Russian. He developed an easily recognizable style of Late Baroque, both sumptuous and majestic...
since 1744. In 1748, Neyelov was appointed a deputy architect and sent to help to design the plans of the Catherine Palace
Catherine Palace
The Catherine Palace was the Rococo summer residence of the Russian tsars, located in the town of Tsarskoye Selo , 25 km south-east of St. Petersburg, Russia.- History :...
and Catherine Park
Catherine Park
The Catherine Park is a park, located in the town of Tsarskoye Selo , 25 km south-east of St. Petersburg, Russia. It is an integral part of the royal residence in Tsarskoye Selo....
in Tsarskoye Selo.
In 1760 Rastrelli retired, and Neyelov became the chief architect supervising the creation of the Catherine Park. In 1770, he visited England and became strongly inspired by the English park building school. In the same year, he completed the plan of the park, which was subsequently used for the creation of the park. The role of Neyelov was not only to design bridges and pavilions, but also to choose the location of the pavilions designed by other architects, including Charles Cameron
Charles Cameron (architect)
Charles Cameron was a Scottish architect who made an illustrious career at the court of Catherine II of Russia. Cameron, practitioner of early neoclassical architecture, was the chief architect of Tsarskoye Selo and Pavlovsk palaces and the adjacent new town of Sophia from his arrival in Russia in...
. Neyelov created the landscape part of the Catherine Park
Catherine Park
The Catherine Park is a park, located in the town of Tsarskoye Selo , 25 km south-east of St. Petersburg, Russia. It is an integral part of the royal residence in Tsarskoye Selo....
with famous romantic pavilions such as the Pyramid (1770–1771), the Admiralty and the Hermitage Kitchen (1774–1776), the "Chinese" Small and Large Whims (1770–1774, together with Johann Conrad Gerhard), the Marble (also known as Palladio, or Siberian) bridge built in the spirit of Andrea Palladio
Andrea Palladio
Andrea Palladio was an architect active in the Republic of Venice. Palladio, influenced by Roman and Greek architecture, primarily by Vitruvius, is widely considered the most influential individual in the history of Western architecture...
(1772–1774). To produce the Marble Bridge, Neyelov first created a wooden model of the bridge, which was sent to Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg is a major city in the central part of Russia, the administrative center of Sverdlovsk Oblast. Situated on the eastern side of the Ural mountain range, it is the main industrial and cultural center of the Urals Federal District with a population of 1,350,136 , making it Russia's...
in order to facilitate the choice of the marble pieces. The Marble Bridge became the first classicist
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
building in the Catherine Park.
Two of his sons, Ilya and Pyotr, helped him during the creation of this park.
Neyelov died in 1782 and was buried in the Kuzminsky cemetery in Tsarskoye Selo.