Engineerarchitect M.G. Arnold. Why didn't the first builder of the Siberian university become the main one?

In monographs and scientific papers that describe the beginning of the construction of buildings of Tomsk University, the name of the first builder M.G. Arnold is only mentioned. His contribution at the very initial stage of construction was not reflected in scientific publications. Basically, based on the memories of the organizer of the University, Professor V.M. Florinskiy, his activities are given either a neutral, but more often a negative assessment. His conflicts with the participants of the construction process are not fully disclosed, and there are ambiguities about his dismissal. The purpose of this article is to present a broader assessment field of activity of the first builder of the University, M.G. Arnold. At the same time, we pursued the following tasks. State the actual contribution of the first engineer-architect to the beginning of construction of the University buildings. Identify the dynamics of relationships and conflicts between M.G. Arnold and members of the Construction Committee and local figures. Identify the most likely reasons, in our opinion, that the first builder was not the main one. Show some consequences of M.G. Arnold's dismissal from the Construction Committee. The main sources for us were regular records of the handwritten Journal of the Construction Committee, as well as memoirs of contemporaries and press information. Since M.G. Arnold stayed in Tomsk for only nine months, we are chronologically limited mainly to 1880 and, partly, by necessity, to later times. The period is short, but significant, as in any case - essentially the beginning. We believe that it is important for the history of the creation of Tomsk University to eliminate the above-mentioned gaps in the Tomsk period of the first builder, engineer-architect M.G. Arnold, who initiated the construction and prepared the celebration of the Foundation of the main building of the University (August 26, 1880). M.G. Arnold repeatedly reflected on his failed career in Tomsk, which he reflected publicly in newspaper publications. He did not go back to the European part of Russia and did not want to return to his colleagues. The reason, presumably, is not only his financial debts, but most likely, the fact that he dismissed himself as a continuation of the project of academician A.K. Bruni - the author of the project of Tomsk University. He could not organize a big deal to the end - the construction of the first University in Siberia. Arnold practically failed not only the academician of architecture, but also the Ministry of public education and the Metropolitan society of architects. The architectural engineer was also unfaithful to his obligations. In Siberia, where he later worked in Krasnoyarsk and Chita, his buildings are considered one of the ornaments of cities. And on the immured metal plate, where the names of those involved in the celebration of the bookmark of the Siberian University are engraved, the list is closed by the architect M.G. Arnold. According to the new style, September 7 performs the 140th anniversary of the beginning to erection buildings of Tomsk University.

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