From the very start, he joined the "traditionists" revival group (ретроспективисты, lit.
retrospectivists), placing himself against then-dominant Art Nouveau (Russky Modern).
His search for classic excellence took some time, as he was equally influenced by Russian classicism and Italian Renaissance.
While Neoclassical revival  was at this time the second largest school in Russia (in high demand in Saint Petersburg, less so in Moscow), the Renaissance influence was unique to Zholtovsky, and will remain his trademark style until his death.

He travelled to Italy frequently, recording its architectural legacy.
Zholtovsky’s Italian collection is still frequently exhibited, including rare photographs of Venetian St Mark's Campanile prior to collapse on July 14, 1902  He spoke fluent Italian, translated Palladio’s Four Books in Russian (and eventually published them in 1938).
Notable works of this period:
Tarasov House (Moscow, completed 1912) based on Palladio’s Palazzo Tiene in Vicenza and, marginally, the Doge's Palace in Venice, is his best known pre-Revolutionary work.
It served as American Relief Administration Russian Unit's headquarters during the Russian famine of 1921.

Racetrack Society House (Moscow, 1903; he would return to Racetrack project half a century later)
Nosov House (Moscow, 1908)
Lipovka (Lipki, Moscow Oblast, 1908); built as a datscha for Alfred Ruperti, later reconstructed as one of Joseph Stalin's residences under the name Lipki, now part of Children's Oncology Institute 
Ivan Konovalov's factory with hospital, nursery and living quarters (Bonyachki estate, near Kineshma, 1912, with V.D.Adamovich)
Practice, educator’s work and outspoken public activity in artistic world earned him the Academic title as soon as 1909.
By the time of 1917 Revolution, when he was reaching the age of 50, Zholtovsky was already considered a master builder, an elder in his profession.
From the very start, he joined the "traditionists" revival group (ретроспективисты, lit. retrospectivists), placing himself against then-dominant Art Nouveau (Russky Modern). His search for classic excellence took some time, as he was equally influenced by Russian classicism and Italian Renaissance. While Neoclassical revival  was at this time the second largest school in Russia (in high demand in Saint Petersburg, less so in Moscow), the Renaissance influence was unique to Zholtovsky, and will remain his trademark style until his death.
He travelled to Italy frequently, recording its architectural legacy. Zholtovsky’s Italian collection is still frequently exhibited, including rare photographs of Venetian St Mark's Campanile prior to collapse on July 14, 1902  He spoke fluent Italian, translated Palladio’s Four Books in Russian (and eventually published them in 1938). Notable works of this period:
Tarasov House (Moscow, completed 1912) based on Palladio’s Palazzo Tiene in Vicenza and, marginally, the Doge's Palace in Venice, is his best known pre-Revolutionary work. It served as American Relief Administration Russian Unit's headquarters during the Russian famine of 1921.
Racetrack Society House (Moscow, 1903; he would return to Racetrack project half a century later)
Nosov House (Moscow, 1908)
Lipovka (Lipki, Moscow Oblast, 1908); built as a datscha for Alfred Ruperti, later reconstructed as one of Joseph Stalin's residences under the name Lipki, now part of Children's Oncology Institute 
Ivan Konovalov's factory with hospital, nursery and living quarters (Bonyachki estate, near Kineshma, 1912, with V.D.Adamovich)
Practice, educator’s work and outspoken public activity in artistic world earned him the Academic title as soon as 1909. By the time of 1917 Revolution, when he was reaching the age of 50, Zholtovsky was already considered a master builder, an elder in his profession.
Ivan Zholtovsky