Bykovsky Mikhail Dormidontovich
Life time: 1801 - 1885.
Architect
He was born in family of a joiner, in Moscow. In 1816 he became D.Zhilyardi's apprentice, Bykovsky participated in all his constructions. On the recommendation of Zhilyardi he was allowed to compete for the rank of an academician, which he received in 1830. From 1828 he worked at the Moscow architectural school, from 1836 he became its director. In 1834 he was appointed official for special assignments at the Moscow governor-general and became, replacing O.I. Bove, in fact, the chief Moscow architect. In 1838-1839 Bykovsky went abroad several times.
Bykovsky was one of the founders of the art class, reformed later into Moscow school of painting, sculpture and architecture. He was the founder and the first chairman (1867-1869) of the Moscow architectural society. In 1880 he withdrew from design and public work. Bykovsky died in Moscow.
Possessing modest talent, Bykovsky was a passionate and consecutive reformer in architecture. Seeing that the classicism was becoming obsolete, he worked to create a new style; he called to use architectural heritage of all times and peoples, promoting thus the spread of eclecticism.
Basic works: Marfino manor near Moscow; Golitsynsky passage in Moscow, building of the Moscow stock exchange (does not exist now), house of Loris-Melikov in Milutinsky Lane and count Sheremetev's house in Vozdvizhenka, Gorikhvostovsky and Khramovnichesky houses for reception of foreign guests, church of the Trinity in Pokrovka, Ivanovsky monastery, belfry of Strastnoy and Nikolsky monasteries; house of Vonlyarskiye in Saint-Petersburg at Nikolayevsky bridge. |
Culture and Art 