Joseph Bové facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joseph Bové
Portrait, early 19th century
Born	4 November [O.S. 24 October] 1784 Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire
Died	28 June [O.S. 16 June] 1834 (aged 49) Moscow, Russian Empire
Nationality	Russian
Occupation	Architect
Buildings	Triumphal Arch of Moscow
Projects	Theatre Square, Moscow

Joseph Bové (born 1784, died 1834) was a very important architect from Russia. He was known for his neoclassical style, which used ideas from ancient Greek and Roman buildings. Bové played a huge role in rebuilding Moscow after a terrible fire in 1812. He helped shape how the city looks even today.

Early Life and Training

A Joseph Bové house at n° 8, Petrovskij Pereulok, Moscow

Joseph Bové was born in Saint Petersburg in 1784. His father, Vincenzo Giovanni Bova, was a painter from Naples, Italy, who moved to Russia. Joseph had two younger brothers, Michaele and Alessandro. They also became architects and worked with him later on.

Soon after Joseph was born, his family moved to Moscow. He studied architecture from 1802 to 1807. After his studies, he worked as an assistant to famous architects like Matvei Kazakov and Carlo Rossi. He helped with many projects, including work on the Moscow Kremlin.

Rebuilding Moscow

In 1812, a huge fire destroyed most of Moscow. After this disaster, Joseph Bové was hired to help rebuild the city. He joined the Moscow Building Commission in 1813. His main job was to lead the "Facade Department." This meant he had to approve the designs for new building fronts. He also made sure new buildings were placed correctly according to the city's new plan.

The city plan was not finished until 1817. Many people started building their homes quickly. It was hard for Bové and the city to control everything. Emperor Alexander I visited Moscow and was not happy. He saw buildings painted in very bright colors like deep red and dark green. So, he made a rule that buildings should only be painted in soft, pale colors.

Key Projects and Famous Buildings

While other architects rebuilt big public buildings, Bové focused on designing and rebuilding Moscow's main squares. He worked on the Central Squares of Moscow and Red Square.

Theatre Square

One of his most famous projects was Theatre Square. This was finished in 1825. The famous Bolshoi Theatre and Maly Theatre are located there. Even though these theaters were rebuilt later, Bové's original design gave the square its grand look.

Other Important Works

Bové designed many private homes in Moscow. He also worked on the reconstruction of the Moscow Manege in 1824 and 1825.

Some of his important buildings that you can still see today include:

• The Intercession Church in Balashikha.
• Catherine's Hospital on Strastnoy Boulevard.
• Military school and barracks in Lefortovo District.
• The First City Hospital on Leninsky Prospekt.
• Two small mansions on the Garden Ring (15, Sadovo-Kudrinskaya).
• The Church of St. Nicholas in Kotelniki.
• His last work, the Church of Theotokos, "Joy of all who Sorrow" on Bolshaya Ordynka Street (finished after his death).

Buildings That Are Gone

Sadly, some of Bové's buildings were later taken down. This happened because of accidents or new building projects.

• The Trade Rows in Red Square (built in 1815) had a round dome. They were taken down in the 1880s to build the larger Upper Trading Rows.
• The Gagarin family mansion was destroyed during an air raid in 1941.
• The Triumphal Arch (built 1827–1834) was taken down in 1938. A copy of it was built in the 1960s in a different part of Moscow.

Death

Joseph Bové passed away in Moscow in 1834 when he was 49 years old. He was buried at the Donskoy monastery.

Images for kids

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  Trubetskoy Mansion, Petrovskij Pereulok, Moscow, designed by Joseph Bové

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  The Intercession Church in Balashikha

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  Church of St.Nicholas in Kotelniki by Joseph Bové