ENCYCLOPEDIST NIKOLAI LVOV
(to the 250th anniversary of his birth)
By M. Faustova
The 18th century went down in the Russian history as the age of universally
educated people equally expert in literature, 
music,
art, natural sciences and politics. One of them was Nikolai Lvov. This
year marks the 250th anniversary of his birth. Lvov was born in 1751 into
a noble but modest family that owned an estate in Tver region. He was a
very sportive, frisky boy. His parents were always frightened that he would
break his head. At the age of 15 Lvov entered the Collegium of the Russian
Foreign Ministry in St.-Petersburg. While a student, he traveled to Germany,
Greece, Italy and Spain, making notes and sketches.
His versatile interests ranged from music, literature, poetry and arts
to archeology, geology and, finally, architecture. He did equally well
in any of these spheres. Lvov's architectural heritage includes the St.-Joseph
cathedral in Mogilev, built in commemoration of a meeting between the Russian
Empress Catherine II and the Austrian Emperor Joseph II. The central post
office in St.-Petersburg, built in classical style, was also designed by
him. Lvov is rightfully considered one of the founders of Russian classicism
that replaced the lavish extravagance of Rastrelli's baroque. He was the
first in Russia to apply a new daub material - earth mixed with lime. His
method was used in the construction of the Prioratsky palace in Gatchina.
Lvov was also one of the first Russian landscape park designers.
Even so, architecture wasn't his chief occupation. First of all, he
was a poet and writer. Lvov belonged to a literary circle led by the maitre
of Russian poetry Gavriil Derzhavin. His poems were published in prestigious
almanacs. He did translations from Anacreon, Petrarch and Icelandic sagas.
Lvov was also a good painter. He drew illustrations to Derzhavin's poems.
His draft of the Order of St. Vladimir received the court's approval.
Lvov's encyclopedic background earned him membership in the Academy
of Sciences. His versatile talents were highly appreciated by Catherine
II and later by her son Paul I.
Lvov was very fond of Russian folk music. He spent several years touring
remote Russian provinces and collecting folk songs. Later they were published
in a single book that contained both the text and the scores. Lvov's collection
of folk songs is a unique monument of the 18th century Russian folklore.
As most Russian noblemen, Lvov spoke French fluently. But being a true
patriot, he always stressed the importance of the Russian language, folk
rites and traditions in the development of national culture .
MOSCOW'S ARCHEOLOGY
AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY
In recent years the Russian capital has experienced what can be described
as an archeological boom. Over 500 sites in the city's center and environs
have been explored by archeologists in the past decade. "The major
excavations were carried out on Manezh Square and at the Gostiny Dvor,
the former trading center," says Moscow's Chief Architect, Alexander
Veksler. "In the four years of excavations archeologists have found
a great number of daily objects and historical and cultural artifacts,
many dating back more than 800 years. The Gostiny Dvor was the site of
the most sensational discoveries. This old trading center had a cultural
layer up to 12 meters thick.
Archeologists found old sidewalks, chambers, water canals, wells, and
stone structures and many structures dating from the times of Grand Prince
Ivan III in the 15th century. For five centuries this site was a major
trading center, which attracted merchants from East and West. The cultural
layers on the Gostiny Dvor grounds contained several thousand objects of
the daily life of Muscovites, including adornments. One such adornment,
belonging obviously to a wealthy woman produced a sensation. The age of
the object was established by a radio-isotope test, which suggested that
the adornment was made not later than in the 10th century. Yet the main
sensation of the Gostiny Dvor is the largest treasure ever found in Russia,
dating from the 16th century. The treasure contained 95,500 coins of Russian
coinage. Even the State Historical Museum has fewer coins in its collection.
The treasure also contained wonderful vessels made by the finest jewelers
of Moscow, London, Hamburg and other European centers. The treasure had
a silver cup made by Russian craftsmen with an inscription saying 'Cup.
Drink to the dregs', and also a warning about the harm of drinking 'Drinking
to the dregs will do you no good.' The same treasure contained European
thalers coined at the mints of Western Europe, the Pyrenees and Scandinavian
countries. The Gostiny Dvor will house Moscow's second archeological museum,
which will contain everything that has been found by scientists during
archeological excavations of recent years." Alexander Veksler named
Manezh Square in Moscow's center as one of the major sites of excavations
to be carried out later in the year 2001. Large-scale restoration work
certainly has more surprises in store for archeologists .
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