Aristotile

Aristotile (called also Fioravanti; his family. name was Alberti), a celebrated Italian architect of the 15th century, was a native of Bologna. He went' to Russia at the entreaty of the czar Ivan III, and, with the permission of the Senate of Venice, to Moscow, where he repaired -the Kremlin which threatened to fall into ruins, owing to the poor quality of cement which had been used. He then taught the Russians to make cement. Among his finest works we notice a very beautiful bridge; the Church of the Assumption, a magnificent work. of Grseco-Roman architecture, dedicated in 1479; the Cathedral of St. Michael; the Belvedere Palace; and the walls of the Kremlin.' He was given, it is said, as an honorary distinction, the right to stamp his likeness upon coins; and in certain cabinets of medals pieces are found bearing the name Aristoteles. He wished to return to his native country, but the czar would not allow him to do so. Aristotile then summoned the engravers and founders from Italy, among .the latter Bossio, who made in 1488 the famous cannon known under the name of lyan poushka. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.