Why go
Imperial Academy of Arts rewards attention to scale, orientation, and setting. The Russian Academy of Arts, informally known as the Saint Petersburg Academy of Arts, was opened by Count Ivan Shuvalov under the name Academy of the Three Noblest Arts in 1757. Before leaving, compare one close detail of Imperial Academy of Arts with its broadest public view.
What to look for
- Imperial Academy of Arts: Notice the first profile that appears on arrival.
- Imperial Academy of Arts: Study the junctions between structure, sculpture, and decoration.
- Imperial Academy of Arts: Turn toward the neighboring monuments to read the full ensemble.
The full story
The Russian Academy of Arts, informally known as the Saint Petersburg Academy of Arts, was opened by Count Ivan Shuvalov under the name Academy of the Three Noblest Arts in 1757. In Imperial Russia The academy had been located in Shuvalov's palace on Sadovaya Street until 1764, when Catherine the Great renamed it the Imperial Academy of Arts and commissioned its first rector, Alexander Kokorinov, to design a new building for the academy. It took 25 years to construct the Neoclassical edifice. Ivan Betskoy reorganized the academy into a de-facto government department which supervised matters concerning art throughout the country, distributing orders and awarding ranks to artists. The academy vigorously promoted the principles of Neoclassicism by sending the most notable Russian painters abroad, in order to learn the ancient and Renaissance styles of Italy and France. It also had its own sizable collection of choice artworks intended for study and copying.
Useful to know
- Walk Imperial Academy of Arts in daylight, then compare its outline with the University Embankment.
Your next visit
Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.
Outdoor visit · 30–45 min
World planning estimate; admission, opening, visit duration and access need checking.