Vallin de la Mothe J.-B.M. (1729-1800), architect.

Categories / Architecture/Personalia
VALLIN DE LA MOTHE Jean Baptiste Michel (1729-1800), French architect. Is thought to have studied under the supervision of his cousin, architect J.F. Blondel. In 1750-52, he further perfected his skills in Italy. On the recommendation of Blondel, he was invited to Russia to teach architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts (from 1759, a professor). From 1766, he served as court architect. From 1768, he was an associate member of the Academy of Architecture (Paris). He developed the designs for Gostiny Dvor (1760), St. Catherine’s Roman Catholic Church (1762) in the style of early Neoclassicism, with Baroque elements. The same style was used in the design of the palace of the Count I.G. Chernyshev (1762-68, 6 St. Isaac’s Square, subsequently rebuilt) and the summer residence in Alexandrino (the 1770s, currently, 226 Stachek Avenue, rebuilt). Later, Vallin de la Mothe developed the austere Neoclassicism expressed in his main work, the building of the Academy of Fine Arts (in cooperation with architects A. F. Kokorinov and Y.M. Felten). Vallin de la Mothe completed the construction of the palace of the Count K. G. Razumovsky (1762-66, 48 Moika River Embankment) started by Kokorinov; having altered the inner decorations. In the 1760s, he participated in designing the stone embankments of the left bank of the Neva. He worked a great deal in the Winter Palace, decorating the Gala (Great hall) and the living quarters of the Empress Catherine II and Tsarevich Pavel Petrovich. In 1764-69, he erected the Little Hermitage with hanging gardens next to the palace, and in the corner of Nevsky Prospect, the building of the Free Economical Society (1768-70, was rebuilt). The climax of Vallin de la Mothe's creative work became the projects of the facades and the Arch of New Holland (1765). In the 1770s, Vallin de la Mothe developed projects for mile posts and a Triumphal Arch (not implemented). He resided on the territory of the Academy of Fine Arts, subsequently, in the house of Obukhov at 29 or 36 Bolshaya Morskaya Street. In 1775, he returned to France.

References: Шуйский В. К. Жан Батист Мишель Валлен-Деламот // Зодчие Санкт-Петербурга, XVIII век. СПб., 1997. С. 325-374.

В. В. Антонов. Blondel Francois
Catherine II, Empress
Chernyshev Ivan Grigorievich, Count
De Ribas Iosif (Osip) Mikhailovich
Felten Yury (Georg Friedrich) Matveevich
Kokorinov Alexander Filippovich
Obukhov I.M.
Paul (Pavel) I, Emperor
Razumovsky Kirill Grigorievich, Count
Vallin de la Mothe Jean Baptiste Michel
Bolshaya Morskaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 36
Bolshaya Morskaya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 29
Moika River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 48
St.Isaac's Square/Saint Petersburg, city, house 6
Stachek Ave/Saint Petersburg, city, house 226
Шуйский В. К. Жан Батист Мишель Валлен-Деламот // Зодчие Санкт-Петербурга, XVIII век. СПб., 1997 Academy of Arts
Academy of Arts
Bolshoy Gostiny Dvor
St. Catherine’s Roman Catholic Church
Razumovsky Palace
Winter Palace
1764