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Andrean D. Zakharov, 1761-1811, studied
architecture in Saint Petersburg and Paris and later became professor at the
Academy of Art. His major work was the reconstruction of the Admiralty building
in Saint Petersburg, 1806-1810, which he enlarged and redecorated the facades
of, primarily by adding colonnades, friezes, base-reliefs and sculptures made
by the top contemporary sculptors. Among the sculpted scenes is one of Peter
the Great receiving a trident from the hands of Neptune, and angels presenting
the imperial standard to the Neva. The original Admiralty was built in 1727,
replacing the wooden construction that Peter the Great had built in 1711. This
enormous building was built in the form of Cyrillic letter P, standing for
Peter, and its front is now more than 1300 feet long. Its tower was
reconstructed in 1734-1735 and a chapel and a new tall mast-like spire covered
with glittering gold were added. In the middle under the tower is the entrance
gate, in the form of a triumphal arch. The entire ensemble is decorated with
Ionic colonnades and allegorical statues, with a tall spire on top. The spire
known as "Admiralty needle," dominates the area and can be seen from
many of the streets that are directed towards it. The arched gate with a chapel
on it is an ancient Russian architectural combination, often seen in the
kremlins and monasteries. One of Zakharov's professors in Paris was Chalgrin,
the architect who planned the famous Triumphal Arch.
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