Architectural monuments of Moscow for many centuries captivate the eyes of both Muscovites and visitors. Majestic temples and cathedrals, the unique Kremlin, palaces and estates - all this creates the amazing color that the Russian capital is so famous for. But even against the background of all these buildings and structures, the famous Pashkov house stands out with special charm and pomp.
According to the architectural annals of the capital, this building was built in the last third of the 18th century, most likely with the direct participation of the famous architect V. Bazhenov. Such a reservation is not accidental: the whole point is that after numerous fires, uprisings and other disasters, no documents were preserved about who built the Pashkov house in Moscow . But individual lines in the memoirs of contemporaries, and the style of the building itself indicate that it was Bazhenov who designed it.
This house got its name by the name of P. Pashkov, who became famous for the fact that his father served as a batman for Peter the Great for a long time. This building almost immediately became extremely popular: it was depicted in paintings and postage stamps, described in literary works, and appointments and duels were scheduled next to it.
Pashkov’s house was the first building, in addition to churches and cathedrals, which overlooked the Kremlin. Its architectural feature was that it had two facades: the front, which descended to Mokhovaya Street, and the less solemn, which was hiding in the old courtyard.
Another architectural solution was that Pashkov’s house has a more beautiful appearance if you inspect it from afar. The thing is that if you look at it from the side of Mokhovaya or Starovagankovsky lane, it turns out that the building is located at a slight angle and therefore loses the integrity and grandeur of its perception.
The first serious test for the creation of Bazhenov was the occupation of Moscow by French troops in 1812. During the famous fire, all internal interiors were burned out, and the building itself was partially destroyed. The famous architects O. Beauvais and I. Tamansky restored it immediately after the overseas trip, and Alexander I did not spare money from the state budget.
In the middle of the XIX century, the house passed from private hands to state ownership. It housed the Noble Institute, a gymnasium, and the Rumyantsev Museum. In order to be able to exhibit the famous canvas by A. Ivanov “The Appearance of Christ to the People” in this museum, the so-called Ivanovsky Hall was built near the house, which then turned into the reading room of the museum library.
After the Bolsheviks came to power, Pashkov’s house became the largest in the country and one of the largest public libraries in the world. At the same time, work continued to improve the appearance of the building, which was attended by such famous masters as L. Dahl, G. Meyendorf, A. Schusev and others.
The last major reconstruction of the building took place in the 30s of the last century, when the outer fence was demolished, the coat of arms of the USSR was installed on the facade, and the interior interiors finally lost their original appearance.