The painting is reminiscent of the ancient capital in the 18th-19th centuries. The majestic monuments typical of mediaeval architecture dominate the painting which is filled with vertical structures such as the churches, steeples and bell towers which balance out the gentle horizontal format of the canvas. Such a composition gives the vast area of the square a grandiose, theatrical air. St Basil’s Cathedral and the Place of the Skull stand in the centre of Red Square. The Kremlin wall and the Spassky Tower appear in the right hand side of the painting. In the foreground on the left is the Main Apothecary and also the shopping arcades. To the right of the tower, behind the wall can be seen the Ascension Monastery and to the left of that is the Tsar’s Tower. The artist does not simply ‘tick off’ all the many, varied structures of the ancient capital, but also attempts to create a holistic, unified image of the city. People fill the square and many expressive features are painted in detail – the merchant stalls, the carriages, wagons, horses and dogs – all open up the character of the city giving it warmth and humanity.
State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow