Konstantin Thon

Konstantin Andreyevich Thon, also spelled Ton (October 26 1794, St Petersburg - January 25 1881, St.Petersburg), was an official architect of Imperial Russia during the reign of Nicholas I. His major works include the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Grand Kremlin Palace and the Armoury in Moscow.

Early life

Konstantin, born to the family of a German jeweller, was one of three Thon brothers who all rised to become notable architects. He studied at the Imperial Academy of Arts (1803-15) under the Empire Style architect Andrey Voronikhin, best remembered for his work on the Kazan Cathedral, situated right in the middle of the Nevsky Prospect. He studied Italian art in Rome from 1819 to 1828, and on his return home was admitted to the academy as its member (1830) and professor (1833). In 1854, he was appointed rector of the architectural division of the academy.

Related Topics:
Imperial Academy of Arts - Empire Style - Andrey Voronikhin - Kazan Cathedral - Nevsky Prospect - Italia - Rector

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Thon first attracted public attention with his sumptuous design for the interiors of the Academy building on the Neva embankment. In 1827, he submitted to the tsar his project of St Catherine church at the Obvodnyi Canal, the first ever design in the Russian Revival style. Nicholas I, who felt disaffected with the prevailing Neoclassicism of Russian architecture, remarked that "Russians have their own great art traditions and don't need to cringe before Rome". Thon's project was to become a revered model for other churches in St Petersburg and across Russia.

Related Topics:
Academy building - Neva - Russian Revival - Neoclassicism - Rome

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