The engraving depicts a wooden aqueduct through the Fontanka River to supply water to the fountains of the Summer Garden. This aqueduct can also be seen on the axonometric plan of St. Petersburg 1765-1773, authors P. de Saint-Hilaire, I. Sokolov, A. Gorikhvostov. And in the earlier plan of the capital city of St. Petersburg with the image of the most famous of these prospectuses, ed. works of the imp. Acad. Science and Arts. 1753 year. Compiled by Truskott I.F. et al. Engraver: Sokolov I. et al. Artist: Makhaev M.I. Engraving on copper (imprint). In the background, even the indicated route of the water supply from the storage pools, which were located on the site of the modern Nekrasovsky Garden. Water was supplied to these pools along the Ligovsky Canal. The difference in elevation between the ponds and the Summer Garden allowed water to flow by gravity. The water supply was made of cast-iron pipes “four feet long and two feet in diameter”. When comparing these two plans, one inconsistency is striking. On a 1753 plan, there are two aqueducts — one across the Fontanka River and the other across the Moika River. And on the plan of 1765-73. aqueduct across only one Fontanka river. We will explain this a bit later.

Initially, the aqueduct was built by the “spitz and carpentry master” Harman van Bolos. The main works were completed in 1725, back in 1728 the architect Mikhail Zemtsov writes that “the water supply towers are not upholstered.” During the construction of the Summer Palace of Elizabeth Petrovna in 1741-44. architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli rebuilds the aqueduct. He removes the span across the Moika River to make way for a ceremonial flower garden in front of the main facade of the palace. The remaining span is decorated with a painting imitating a magnificent arched molding. After all, the technical structure was in front of the front facade of the palace.

The aqueduct lasted until the 80s of the XVIII century and after the liquidation of the fountains of the Summer Garden was dismantled.

To new questions. Be sure to write in the comments what else you would like to know.

#GardensoftheRussianMuseum #MikhailovskyGarden #summergarden #Russianmuseum #rusmuseum_gardens #igardens