Tartarian Buildings and Architecture. 1
This painting is titled "Old Moscow. A Street in Kitai-Gorod at the Beginning of the 17th Century" (often translated as "Street in Kitay-Gorod") and was created in 1900 by the Russian artist Apollinary Vasnetsov.
Key Details of the Artwork
• Artist: Apollinary Mikhailovich Vasnetsov (1856–1933), a renowned Russian landscape and historical painter.
• Subject: The painting depicts a bustling street scene in the Kitai-Gorod district of Moscow during the early 17th century.
• Historical Context: Vasnetsov specialized in reconstructing historical landscapes of old Moscow based on research from history books.
• Visual Elements: The scene includes intricate wooden architecture, lively market stalls, and a view of St. Basil's Cathedral in the background.
• Location: The original work is typically associated with the State History Museum or the V. Vasnetsov Memorial Museum in Moscow.
The iconic building in your image is Saint Basil's Cathedral, located in Red Square, Moscow, Russia.
About Saint Basil's Cathedral
• Official Name: It is officially known as the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat, or Pokrovsky Cathedral.
• Historical Significance: Built in the mid-16th century (roughly 1555–1561), it is a world-renowned Russian Orthodox church and a central cultural symbol of Russia.
• UNESCO World Heritage: Since 1990, it has been part of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Unique Architecture: The cathedral features several distinctive onion domes (cupolas) that encircle a large central chapel. While famously colourful today, its appearance has undergone many changes and restorations over five centuries.
Image Context
This particular photograph captures the cathedral during Imperial times, likely in the late 19th century (circa 1860–1890s). You can see traditional horse-drawn carriages and figures in period clothing in front of the building.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Adjacent to the cathedral in Red Square is the Lobnoye Mesto, a 13-meter-long stone platform historically used for religious ceremonies and announcing tsarist decrees

