Memorable dates of Russia: Exhibition, dedicated to the 200 anniversary of the birth of an outstanding architect Nikolai Leontyevich Benois, in Saint-Petersburg

November 22, 2013 in the Department of Manuscripts of the National Library of Russia (Saint-Petersburg) opens an exhibition devoted to the work of an outstanding architect Nicholas Leontyevich Benois and timed to the 200th anniversary of his birth.

The exhibition at the National Library of Russia for the first time presents exhibits reflecting all stages of the creative ways of Benois. The collection of the Department of Manuscripts of the NLR is the only personal archival collection of Benois in government storages. The materials of Nikolai Leontyevich came to the library in 1958 by one of his granddaughters - Catherine Leontyevna Benoit, and in 1965 were described by art historian and curator of the collection of the State Hermitage Museum architectural graphics Herman Grimm.

Nikolai L. Benois was destined to be the founder of the famous dynasty of artists, architects, art historians. He was a gifted painter, watercolorist, architect, subtle and penetrating a connoisseur of historical styles and experienced builder practitioner. The chief architect of Peterhof and the chief architect of the Imperial Theatres, head of the city council.

Famous buildings of Peterhof are among the works by Benois: Gothic stables, maids housing, the railway station in New Peterhof Palace… His creative methods Nikolai L. Benois passed to his son, Leonty Nikolayevich, who, in turn, teaching at the Academy of Fine Arts, raised a generation of prominent architects.