Andrei Matveyev - Portrait of tsar Peter I the Great 1724-25

Peter I (Russian: Пётр I Алексеевич, romanized: Pyotr I Alekseyevich, 9 June [O.S. 30 May] 1672 – 8 February [O.S. 28 January] 1725), commonly known as Peter the Great, was Tsar of all Russia from 1682, and the first Emperor of all Russia from 1721 until his death in 1725. He is primarily credited with the modernisation of the country, transforming it into a major European power.

Through a number of successful wars, he captured ports at Azov and the Baltic Sea, laying the groundwork for the Imperial Russian Navy, ending uncontested Swedish supremacy in the Baltic, and beginning Russia's expansion into an empire. He led a cultural revolution that replaced some of the traditionalist and medieval social and political systems with ones that were modern, scientific, Westernised, and based on radical Enlightenment. Peter's reforms had a lasting impact on Russia, and many institutions of the Russian government trace their origins to his reign.

He initiated a wide range of economic, social, political, administrative, educational and military reforms which ended the dominance of traditionalism and religion in Russia and initiated its westernization. His efforts included secularization of education, organization of administration for effective governance, enhanced use of technology, establishing an industrial economy, modernization of the army and establishment of a strong navy. Peter was involved in the industrialization in the Russian Empire; the Julian calendar was introduced and the first Russian newspaper, Sankt-Peterburgskie Vedomosti. The first Russian university, Saint Petersburg State University, was founded a year before his death, in 1724. In 1703 founded the city of Saint Petersburg, which remained the capital of Russia until 1918.

Andrey Matveyev (Russian: Андрей Матвеевич Матвеев. 1701 – 23 April 1739) was a Russian artist. He was one of that nation's earliest modern-style portrait painters and helped to establish the genre.

Andrey Matveyev - Portrait of Anastasia Golicyna - 1728

Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia

Andrey Matveyev (Russian: Андрей Матвеевич Матвеев. 1701 – 23 April 1739) was a Russian artist. He was one of that nation's earliest modern-style portrait painters and helped to establish the genre.

Andrei Matveyev - Selfportrait with wife - 1729

oil on canvas, 75.5 × 90.5 cm (29.7 × 35.6 in)

Russian Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Andrey Matveyev (Russian: Андрей Матвеевич Матвеев. 1701 – 23 April 1739) was a Russian artist. He was one of that nation's earliest modern-style portrait painters and helped to establish the genre.

He was born in Novgorod in 1701 but the names of his parents are unknown.

Peter the Great, having somehow become acquainted and impressed with Matveyev's early work, sent him to study in Europe. Beginning in 1716, he spent eleven years in the Netherlands and Flanders where he worked under Carel de Moor. From 1723-1727 he attended the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Antwerp). He was the first Russian artist taught entirely outside of Russia.

In 1727, he returned home, where he became the Chief Artist at the Court in Saint Petersburg. From c.1731, he was the head of a team of painters who worked on several architectural projects, including interiors at the Peter and Paul Cathedral and a triumphal arch in honor of Empress Anna Ivanovna. His early death is believed to be the result of his heavy work load.

His most often reproduced work is a self-portrait with his wife. There is an alternative version of the painting, also attributed to Matveyev, which has been identified as Duke Anthony Ulrich of Brunswick with Anna Leopoldovna.

He died in Saint Petersburg.

Andrei Matveyev - Portrait of doctor Azaretti - 1724-25

oil on canvas, height: 84 cm (33 in) Edit this at Wikidata; width: 67 cm (26.3 in)

Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Andrey Matveyev (Russian: Андрей Матвеевич Матвеев. 1701 – 23 April 1739) was a Russian artist. He was one of that nation's earliest modern-style portrait painters and helped to establish the genre.

Andrey Matveyev - Portrait of tsar Peter II -

Peter II Alexeyevich (23 October 1715 – 30 January 1730)[alt 2] was Emperor of Russia from 1727 until 1730, when he died at the age of 14. He was the only son of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich[a] and Charlotte Christine of Brunswick-Lüneburg. He was the last male agnatic member of the House of Romanov.

Andrey Matveyev (Russian: Андрей Матвеевич Матвеев. 1701 – 23 April 1739) was a Russian artist. He was one of that nation's earliest modern-style portrait painters and helped to establish the genre.