Francesco Camporesi (1747–1831)
Colored etching of the Moscow Kremlin
N.p., ca. 1790
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division
Although dating from the late 18th century, this etching, part of a panoramic
series depicting the Kremlin walls and the structures within, documents many
buildings originally constructed in the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries.
The exterior walls, towers (although the pointed roofs were added later), and
many of the religious and secular structures within its walls were designed and
built by Italian architects originally hired by Ivan III (r. 1462–1505).
They successfully merged Muscovite aesthetics with the latest construction methods,
providing an excellent example of how Muscovite Russia sought foreign expertise
on a key project – while largely maintaining a native style.
Francesco Camporesi made his sketches for these hand-colored
engravings from the perspective of the opposite bank of
the Moscow River. Visible here is the Palace of Facets
(1491, designed by Marco Ruffo and Pietro Solario).

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