Rossi C.I. (1775-1849), architect

Categories / Architecture/Personalia
ROSSI Carl Ivanovich (Carlo Giovanni) (1775-1849, St. Petersburg), architect. The son of the court ballerina G. Lepik. Graduated from the Peterschule in St. Petersburg, apprenticed architecture with V. Brenna, subsequently in 1796-1802 worked as his assistant, in 1802-05 accompanied him to France and Italy, perfecting his skills with the local craftsmen. In 1806-32, was appointed architect of the Court Department, proving himself as a master of ensemble architecture. From 1816, he concurrently held the post of architect of the Committee for Construction and Water Works. In 1822, he became an honorary associate of the Academy of Arts. In 1817-19, Rinaldi planned the reconstruction of the Anichkov Palace and redevelopment of the adjacent territory. The plan found continuation in the ensemble of the Alexandrinsky Theatre, Teatralnaya Street (from 1923 Architect Rossi Street) and in the Chernyshova Square (present day Lomonosova Square). Concurrently the grand semi-circular building of the General Staff with a Triumphal Arch was raised on Palace Square and the Mikhailovskaya Square ensemble (present day Isskustv Square) with Mikhailovsky Palace leading out onto Nevsky Prospect, Mikhailovskaya Street, featuring certain recurrent architectural elements. Rinaldi completed the formation of the Senate Square (now Decembrists’ Square) by the buildings of Senate and Synod. The Columns of Glory at Konnogvardeisky Boulevard (1845) were his last works. Rinaldi engaged the best masters for finishing of his works, which makes them vivid examples of artistic synthesis. Of particular interest is Elagin Palace, the entrance halls of Mikhailovsky Palace and the Winter Palace. Rinaldi sketched a large number of interior details for his plans (furniture, lamps, vases etc.). Rinaldi also worked in Pavlovsk, where in 1815 he laid out the Glazovo village, stylized as popular architecture, built the Rotunda and Grand Trellis Pavilions in the park, decorated the library in the palace (1822-24). To Rinaldi's other works are attributed N.I. Saltykov's house, rebuilt in 1818-20 (4 Dvortsovaya Embankment). Rinaldi's works enriched St. Petersburg with a number of grand buildings and architectural ensembles, making a large impact on the city's appearance. Rinaldi lived at 11 Italyanskaya Street and 185 Fontanka River Embankment. Buried at the Volkovskoe Cemetery, in 1940 his ashes were transferred to the Necropolis of 18th century.

Reference: Гримм Г. Г. Площадь Искусств и площадь Островского. Л.; М., 1946; Карл Иванович Росси, 1775-1849: Кат. архит. чертежей и проектов предметов прикл. искусства / Сост. Н. И. Никулина, Н. Г. Ефимова. Л., 1975; Тарановская М. З. Карл Росси: Архитектор. Градостроитель. Художник. Л., 1980; Шуйский В. К. Карло Росси. СПб., 2001.

V. V. Antonov. Brenna Vikenty Franzevich (Vicenzo)
Le Pique Gertrude
Rossi Carl Ivanovich (Carlo Giovanni)
Saltykov Nikolay Ivanovich
Dekabristov Square/Saint Petersburg, city
Dvortsovaya Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 4
Dvortsovaya Square/Saint Petersburg, city
Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 185
Iskusstv Square/Saint Petersburg, city
Italyanskaya Street/Saint Petersburg, city, house 11
Konnogvardeisky Boulevard/Saint Petersburg, city
Lomonosova Square/Saint Petersburg, city
Mikhailovskaya St./Saint Petersburg, city
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city
Zodchego Rossi Street/Saint Petersburg, city
Гримм Г. Г. Площадь Искусств и площадь Островского. Л.; М., 1946
Карл Иванович Росси, 1775-1849: Кат. архит. чертежей и проектов предметов прикл. искусства / Сост. Н. И. Никулина, Н. Г. Ефимова. Л., 1975
Тарановская М. З. Карл Росси: Архитектор. Градостроитель. Художник. Л., 1980
Шуйский В. К. Карло Росси. СПб., 2001 St. Petrischule
Committee for Construction and Water Works
Academy of Arts
Academy of Arts
Anichkov Palace
Alexandrinsky Theatre
General Staff Building
Senate and Synod Buildings
Elagin Palace
Mikhailovsky Palace
Winter Palace
Necropolis of the18th Century
1818
1845
1822