Afanasy Grigoriev

Afanasy Grigorievich Grigoriev
Afanasy Grigoriev, portrait c. 1800
Born	January 21, 1782 Vasilievskaya, Tambov Governorate, Russian Empire
Died	May 13, 1868 Moscow
Nationality	Russia
Occupation	Architect
Practice	Giliardi Family and independent own practice
Buildings	Khrushyov House (now Alexander Pushkin museum)
Projects	Ershovo Estate (near Zvenigorod)

Afanasy Grigorievich Grigoriev (Russian: Афанасий Григорьевич Григорьев) (January 21, 1782 - May 13, 1868) was a Russian Neoclassical architect, who worked in Moscow and its suburbs. Grigoriev is remembered for his refined Empire style mansions, completion of Great Ascension Church (which, unfinished, housed the wedding of Alexander Pushkin in 1831) and assistance to Domenico Gilardi in rebuilding Moscow after the Great Fire of 1812.

Grigoriev was born a serf, owned by the Kretov family, and acquired freedom at the age of 22. By this time, he was a long-time apprentice to Moscow-based Gilardi family of Swiss architects. Giovanni Gilardi was the chief architect of continuously expanding Moscow Orphanage, Widow's House (public almshouse) and Catherine's Institute; his son, Domenico Gilardi, inherited the family practice and managed rebuilding of these and other public structures after the devastating Fire of 1812.

Grigoriev, like Domenico, studied architecture and crafts in Francesco Camporesi workshop in Moscow Kremlin. In 1808-1847, Grigoriev was formally employed by the Widow's House, first as assistance to the Gilardis, then as the chief architect of this institution. Grigoriev worked for (or with) the Gilardis on all of their Moscow projects, growing from an apprentice to lead architect. He and Domenico Gilardi usually receive equal credit on their joint 1820s buildings, including Sukhanovo and Vlakhernskoye-Kuzminki. Grigoriev's own, undisputed, work can be found in Prechistenka Street, where he built two extant, adjacent upper-class houses.