In 1710-11 Zubov fulfilled his first major work - The Ceremonial Entry of Russian Troops into Moscow on December 21, 1709 after their Victory in the Battle of Poltava. The second version of the etching was finished already in St. Petersburg. In the young city of Peter I, the artist worked very fruitfully and variably. Here his best works were executed, which, among others are the Wedding Feast of Peter I and Catherine in the Winter Palace of Peter I in St. Petersburg February 19, 1712, and wonderful scenes of the sea battles Battle of Gangut, Grengam Battle, and others, full of life and dynamism. To his best belong, doubtlessly, the views of St. Petersburg that brought him fame.
Zubov's etchings have simple compositions and are usually panoramic
views. From the academic point of view they have numerous mistakes in technique
and perspective, but in those mistakes there is a charm of youth: everything
is seen enthusiastically. The youthful energy, the impression of a new
beginning that run through Peter's I epoch, live in the etchings of Zubov.
Ships crowd the Neva River, cannons fire, smoke flows from chimneys, ladies
and gentlemen walk along the embankments, carriages pass by – everything
moves, everything lives. These are not just views of the city. It's a dream,
which realizes itself before your eyes – many buildings, which are already
in Zubov's works, existed only as projects.
After Peter's I death, Zubov continued to work in St. Petersburg for
some time; he fulfilled portraits of Catherine I (1726), portraits of princesses
D.M. and M.A. Menshikovs (1726). By 1730 the artist had left for Moscow.
His last known etching dates 1745, and the last mention of the artist dates
1749. He died in poverty, forgotten, the exact date of his death and place
of burial unknown.
St. Peter and Paul's Cathedral. Bell-Tower.
Built in 1712-1733 by the Italian architect Domenico Trezini. The height
of the bell-tower is 122.5 m, its spire is 40 m, the height of the angel
on the spire is 3.2 m, the span of its wings 3.8 m. The wooden spire of
the bell-tower was finished in 1724, the clock from Holland was installed
at the same time. In 1756 the tower was ruined by fire, caused by lightning.
It was restored in 1776. The new clock by the Dutch master Oort Kras was
installed. The wooden constructions were changed into metal ones.
St. Peter and Paul's Cathedral is the burial place of all Russian Emperors
and members of their families.
Alexey Zubov. View of St. Petersburg.
Detail: SS. Peter and Paul Fortress, Bell-Tower of SS. Peter and
Paul Cathedral.
The Menshikov Palace. Prince A.D.
Menshikov (link), the close associate of Peter I, was the first governor-general
of St. Petersburg. His residence palace was built in 1713-27 under architects
D.M. Fontana, I.G. Shedel and D. Trezini.
Alexey Zubov. View of A. Menshikov's Palace
on Vasilievsky Island.
Ivan Mikhailovich Golovin (1672-1732) – associate
of Peter I, admiral (from 1732), shipbuilder. From 1717 he was the main
shipbuilder, and from 1721 commanded the galley fleet.
Alexey Zubov. Portrait of I.M. Golovin.
Bibliography:
Etcher of the Peter's I time, Alexey Zubov. By M. Lebedyansky.
Moscow 1973.
Birth of Russian Genre. 18th century. By Y. Brook. Moscow. 1990.
Russian Painters. Encyclopedic Dictionary. St. Petersburg. 1998.