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"For the knowledge of all the people": engravings of the time of Peter the Great in the collection of the National Library of Russia. Marking the 350th anniversary of Peter the Great

Saint Petersburg

Engraved Panoramic View of St. Petersburg was made by Alexey Zubov in 1716. The view was issued in the first St. Petersburg publishting house in 30 copies at the direction of Peter the Great.

Alexey Zubov. Panoramic View of St. Petersburg. 1716
On February 18, 1717, the engraving was sent to Peter the Great, who was traveling around Europe at that time. The print was accompanied by An encomium to glorify St. Petersburg and its founder, Emperor Peter the Great, pronounced in the presence of this monarch..., specially written by the Reverend Gabriel (Buzhinsky), the chief hieromonk of the fleet.

The only surviving copy of An encomium is now in the National Library of Russia. The author glorifies Peter the Great as the founder of St. Petersburg and printmaking in Russia,“This city, called by Thee, the most illustrious and invincible sovereign, St. Petersburg, ... is adorned with beautiful buildings ... depicted on a charter through the art of engraving, which is newly introduced in Russia and gloriously successful thanks to Your efforts".

  • Pieter Picart. The first view of Petersburg. 1704
  • Peter Pickart. Kronshlot. 1704
  • Reiner Ottens. A new and accurate depiction of the city of St. Petersburg, built by the great Russian Emperor Peter Alekseevich in 1703 at the mouth of the Neva River. and its environs. 1720s

 

Some of the 30 printed copies were pasted with 11 small views depicting the most significant buildings of St. Petersburg – the house of Prince Menshikov, the Admiralty, etc. Other copies were pasted with the text, "…a description of the actions of His Majesty", printed in civil script in a printing house. According to experts, it is most likely that this text was An encomium to glorify St. Petersburg and its founder by Gabriel (Buzhinsky).

The panoramic view of St. Petersburg is a detailed depiction of the city as it was during the reign of Peter the Great. Zubov quite accurately and in detail showed buildings that existed at that time. Uncompleted buildings were reproduced by the artist after drawings and designs. In the foreground there are many ships emphasizing that Petersburg is a maritime capital. On one of the boats, the engraver depicted Peter the Great with his wife.

This view continued a series of previously published maps designed to advertise to Europeans the efforts to create a new capital and develop the territory of the Neva and Ladoga regions. The unfinished Ladoga Canal was presented for the first time.