Brenna V.F. (1745-1819), architect

Categories / Architecture/Personalia
BRENNA Vikenty Franzevich (1745-1819 or 1820?), architect, decorative artist, a representative of Neoclassicism. Native of Italy. Prior to his coming to Russia, he worked in Rome and Warsaw. Since late 1783, he worked in Pavlovsk, first, as a helper of C. Cameron, later, independently. He designed a number of palace rooms and halls combining Neoclassical features with elaborate ornamentation. In the 1790s, he partly rebuilt palaces in Gatchina, Pavlovsk, Kamennoostrovsky Palace in St. Petersburg; created a number of magnificent interiors. He also designed landscaped parts of Pavlovsk park, where he erected Pihl Tower. In Gatchina Park, he created the Grand Terrace. From 1796, he was the court’s architect. Brenna’s main work is considered to be Mikhailovsky Castle. In St. Petersburg, he erected Kazassi’s Theatre, Rumyantsevsky Obelisk; also, he completed the old St. Issac's Cathedral, designed the living quarters of the Winter Palace and Tauride Palace. In 1802, he left for Europe together with C.I. Rossi, his former student and disciple. In St. Petersburg, Brenna resided at 32-34 Nevsky Prospect, and from 1800 in his private house at 27 Bolshaya Morskaya Street.

References: Шуйский В. К. Винченцо Бренна. Л., 1986; Его же. Винченцо Бренна // Зодчие Санкт-Петербурга, XVIII век. СПб., 1997. С. 770-827.

В. В. Антонов. Brenna Vikenty Franzevich (Vicenzo)
Bolshaya Morskaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 27
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city, house 32
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city, house 34
Шуйский В. К. Винченцо Бренна. Л., 1986
Зодчие Санкт-Петербурга, XVIII век. СПб., 1997 Mikhailovsky Castle
Rumyantsevsky Obelisk
St. Isaac's Cathedral
Winter Palace
Tauride Palace