Colored engraving
Moscow?, ca. 1800
NYPL, Slavic and Baltic Division

Although many of the structures of the Kremlin, including its walls, were designed in the 15th and 16th centuries by Italian architects hired by the tsar, the Terem Palace was designed by Russian architects. Begun as a residence for Ivan III (r. 1462–1505) in the late 15th century and subsequently damaged by fire, the Terem Palace was greatly expanded during the reign of the first Romanov tsar, Mikhail Fedorovich (r. 1613–45) and modified throughout subsequent centuries. The palace served many functions, including providing space for diplomatic receptions, banquets, a throne room, and, on the upper floors, the personal chambers of the tsar and his family.

The exterior decoration and, most especially, the interiors of the Terem Palace epitomize the "exoticism" of the Russian court in the period before Peter the Great (r. 1689–1725) turned west for inspiration and models. This is an 18th century hand-colored reprint of a 17th century view of the Palace.