Stamatios "Stamatis" Kleanthis (; 1802–1862) was a
Greek architect.
Biography
Stamatios Kleanthis was born to a
Macedonian Greek family in the town of
Velventos in
Kozani,
Macedonia in 1802.
As a youth he moved to
Bucharest
Bucharest ( , ; ) is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița (river), Dâmbovița in south-eastern Romania. Its population is officially estimated at 1.76 million residents within a greater Buc ...
where he studied at the Greek School. On 1821, as member of the
Sacred Band, he fought in the insurrection against the Turks led by
Alexander Ypsilanti and was captured at the
Battle of Dragashani. After escaping, he traveled to
Vienna
Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...
, and then to
Leipzig
Leipzig (, ; ; Upper Saxon: ; ) is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Saxony. The city has a population of 628,718 inhabitants as of 2023. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, eighth-largest city in Ge ...
, where he studied architecture. Afterwards he pursued his studies further in Berlin with
Karl Friedrich Schinkel.
After graduation, he returned with his colleague and friend
Eduard Schaubert to Greece, where they were appointed public engineers by
Ioannis Kapodistrias
Count Ioannis Antonios Kapodistrias (; February 1776 –27 September 1831), sometimes anglicized as John Capodistrias, was a Greek statesman who was one of the most distinguished politicians and diplomats of 19th-century Europe.
Kapodistrias's ...
. On 1832 they created a new city plan for Athens, which included wide avenues, gardens and grand public buildings and gave the first street names in Athens. The plan was however simplified by
Leo von Klenze, as it was considered too expensive. After disagreements with the administration, Kleanthis resigned his position.
Kleanthis gained great wealth not only through architecture, but also through the marble quarries he operated on the island of
Paros. Marble from his quarries received a gold medal at the London
Great Exhibition in 1851.
On 1862 he was seriously injured in an accident in a quarry and he was transported to Athens, where he died.
Kleanthis designed many important buildings in Athens, including the
Duchess of Plaisance's mansion in
Penteli,
Rododafni Castle and Villa Ilissia (today the
Byzantine & Christian Museum of Athens). The
University of Athens was initially accommodated in his house in
Plaka, which now houses the
Athens University Museum.
Gallery
File:1823 - Byzantine Museum, Athens - The Villa - Photo by Giovanni Dall'Orto, Nov 12 2009.jpg, ''Villa Illision'' (today the Byzantine & Christian Museum)
File:Κτίριο Κωστή Παλαμά 6638.jpg, Palamas building, Athens
File:Tourelle (Πυργίσκος) Πεντέλη.jpg, ''Tourelle'' for Sophie de Marbois-Lebrun, Duchess of Plaisance in Penteli
File:Attica 06-13 Athens 11 Anglican Church.jpg, Anglican Church of Saint Paul, Athens
File:Μουσείο Ιστορίας Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών.jpg, Athens University Museum
References
External links
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1802 births
1862 deaths
Members of Sacred Band (1821)
Greek miners
Greek Macedonians
Greek people of the Greek War of Independence
Modern history of Athens
Architecture of Athens
19th-century Greek architects
Greek urban planners
{{Greece-architect-stub
People from Velventos