New materials regarding research in the fields of architecture and urban construction are being presented. The authors also focus on the history of the creation of little-known buildings of interest, on the development of local architectural traditions, on new attributions, and introduce recently discovered archive materials. A number of papers are dedicated to the issues of architectural and urban planning development of historical towns and cities or study the formation of architectural ensembles. The edition also includes papers that are devoted to theoretical historical-architectural problems, to biographies of architects, or analyze artistic approaches and concepts.
Issue 72
D. A. Petrov.
On the Subject of the Original Rooftop Type of Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin
Spasskaya Tower of Moscow Kremlin is crowned with a massive octagonal spire resting on columns. This architectural solution by William Graf was applied during tower reconstruction in 1624–1625. Inside the tower are bells of Christopher Galoway clock while the mechanism is located below. While such rooftop construction is unknown to exist in Russian architecture until the early 17th century, a drive through clock tower, crowned with a small belled and domed rotunda is common in palaces of English nobility.
We are unsure what the previous building by Petro Antonio Solari looked like in 1491. Only one image has survived — the «Kremlenagrad» engraving dated 1600. This image shows the tower topped with a tent on columns, with a bell located inside the tent. The tent was of a complex shape, which implies it was made of stone. We find many similar construction in Venetian and Lombardian architecture of the second half of the 15th century.
Therefore, we assume that the modern rooftop design of the Spasskaya Tower initially belonged to an Italian master. It is reconstructed like a bell tower with an octagonal spire on columns.
Keywords:
Spasskaya Tower in 1491, Spasskaya Tower in the 1620s, Pietro Antonio Solari, William Graf, octagonal columned spire, bells.
Petrov Dmitry Arkadievich,
“Architectural workshops — Classics” LLC, general director.
E-mail: dpetrovsr@yandex.ru
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