Plan of the capital city of St. Petersburg (1753)

In May 1748 , in St. Petersburg, at the Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Conference on the Arts was established. At one of the first meetings, it was decided to create a plan of the capital "for the glory and honor of the Russian Empire."

The project was implemented in 1748-1749. under the guidance of an adjunct I.F. Truskott . Twelve engravings - the "most notable avenues" - with views of St. Petersburg, which were supposed to supplement the plan, were created by the outstanding engraver M. I. Makhaev .

Truskott's plan is considered the first detailed plan of St. Petersburg. On nine pages are depicted in a perspective view, the most important buildings of St. Petersburg of the XVIII century are signed and marked.

The plan is supplemented with a “list of sides, islands, rivers ...”, increasing its information content. 12 engraved avenues (prospects) demonstrate views of the Neva , Fontanka , Nevsky Prospect , Admiralty and other attractions of the city.

• "Painting to the sides, islands, rivers ..."
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The 132.5 x 197 cm plan was engraved on nine copper boards by the best craftsmen of the Engraving Chamber. It was assumed that 12 engravings with views of St. Petersburg ranging in size from 41 x 66 cm to 41 x 132 cm would frame the plan, but this plan was never implemented.

Later, in 1843 , “Historical plans of the capital city of St. Petersburg from 1714 to 1839 , published by order of the emperor’s highest emperor, were published.” This work was directed by A. L. Mayer ( 1792 - 1864 ), an archaeologist, a well-known expert on the topography of St. Petersburg .

The collection and systematization of materials continued from 1833 to 1838 , as a result of which seven manuscript working atlases were formed, which served as the basis for the compilation of seven historical plans of St. Petersburg. They were published for four years, they are supplemented by the book “Explanation of the historical plans of the capital city of St. Petersburg from 1714 to 1839, issued by order of the emperor’s highest emperor,” which contains information about all the objects indicated on the plans.

In 2007, with the support of the Russian National Library , a reprint edition of the “Plan of the capital city of St. Petersburg with the image of the noblest prospectuses published by the Imperial Academy of Sciences and Arts in St. Petersburg” was published. Nine sheets of the plan and twelve sheets of prints reproduced facsimile.

The publication opens the prefabricated scheme of all sheets, which embodies Truskott's original plan: the plan and the engravings of Makhaev framing it. An introductory article and comments by contemporary authors: M. A. Alekseeva and F. M. Lurie - contain a history and a detailed description of the work. The cards were reproduced in genuine leather binding with gold embossing using manual sewing. The original format, color and clarity of images are preserved.

• Alekseeva M. A. [Introductory article] // Plan of the capital city of St. Petersburg with the image of the noblest prospectuses published by the Imperial Academy of Sciences and Arts in St. Petersburg / Enters. Art. M.A. Alekseev, comment. F.M. Lurie. - Reprint edition of 1753 - St. Petersburg: Alfaret, 2007. - 22 p.: 8 pp., 21 p. plan., ill.

• Alekseeva M.A. Engraving of Peter's time. - L.: Art, 1990. - 206 [2] p., 2 p. silt : ill.

• Alekseeva M.A. Mikhaylo Makhaev - master of the species drawing of the 18th century. - SPb., 2003 .-- 448 p.

• Lurie F. M. [Historical comments] // Plan of the capital city of St. Petersburg with the image of the noblest prospectuses, published by the Imperial Academy of Sciences and Arts in St. Petersburg / Enters. Art. M.A. Alekseev, comment. F.M. Lurie. - Reprint edition of 1753 - St. Petersburg: Alfaret , 2007. - 22 p.: 8 pp., 21 p. plan., ill.

• The plan of the capital city of St. Petersburg with the image of the noblest prospectuses, ed. works of the imp. Acad. Science and Arts - St. Petersburg, 1753. - 1 t. Copper engraving; 53x38 Types // Russian National Library Library, Cipher K 1-Pb 8/6, resource code: RU \ NLR \ DIGIT \ 3135 (cp000000005)