Blank Karl Ivanovich
Life time: 1728 - 1793.
Architect
Son of the Petersburg architect I.Blank, who was exiled with family on Volynsky case. At first father taught him, then, after their return to Moscow, I.K.Korobov and V.Obukhov taught him. From 1748 - gesel, from 1755 - an architect. Restored tent of Voskresensky cathedral of Novoiyerusalimsky monastery near Moscow on B.F.Rastrelli's design. Blank was a representative of "Elisabeth baroque", who passed on later to more strict style, close to classicism.
A skilled engineer and builder, he conducted numerous constructions on designs of other authors. He worked in Moscow and Moscow suburbs. Primary works: the church of Nikita the Great Martyr in Zvonari, the church of Catherine the Martyr in Bolshaya Ordynka street, the Founding hospital, Boris and Gleb temple in Arbatskaya square (it was demolished in the 30s of the XXth century).
In 1760 - 1770 he was the leading Moscow architect. Possessing all technique of the mature Russian baroque, Blank simultaneously paved the way for early classicism, achieving strict balance of weights, grace of decorative details.
In 1762-81 he built in earl I.L.Vorontsov's manor in Rozhdestvenka street the church of Nikolai Chudotvorets in Zvonari.
In 1761-64, on demand of A.P.Bestuzhev-Ryumin, in bright forms of baroque he constructed Boris and Gleb church in Arbatskaya square (it was destroyed in 1930), on demand of Catherine II - the church of Kira and John in Solyanka street (1764-68) and the church of Catherine in Bolshaya Ordynka street (1766-75).
In temple construction Blank combined classical basis with Russian traditions, compact dome composition with cruciform internal space. Being an expert on architectural engineering, he carried out floor structures of Prechistensky palace (1774-75, design by architect M.F.Kazakov; it had not been preserved), in the 1760s he developed and partly carried out his largest project - the Founding hospital on the quay of the Moscow river, which marked the turn to forms of classicism in the Moscow architecture. He acted as "grace consultant" at construction of P.B. Sheremetev's manor in Kuskovo. There are assumptions, that Blank is the author of house in 22 Pokrovka Street.
Blank was by right esteemed as most experienced builder, who perfectly knew features of the Moscow architectural engineering, he had authority even after he had ceased to be considered as the trendsetter of architectural style. It is typical that exactly Blank was charged with supervision over construction of the largest Moscow buildings, erected on design of other architects. So, he carried out construction of Work-places building in the Kremlin (nowadays it is the building of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR), Catherine's palace (nowadays the building of Armoured Troops Academy named after Marshal of the USSR R.Y. Malinovsky) etc. |
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