St. Petersburg was founded by Tsar Peter I of Russia after the Northern War (1700-1701), when the territory was conquered from Sweden. In 1703, Peter the Great built a fortress at the mouth of the Neva, on Rabbit Island, a harbour, a stock exchange and the Admiralty and other strategically important buildings on the left bank of the Neva. St Petersburg became the capital of the Russian Empire in 1712-1728 and from 1732 to 1918.

Although the city initially developed more as an industrial centre (manufactories, factories, plants), from the 18th century onwards it became better known for its lively cultural life. The first Russian museum was founded in 1714, the Academy of Sciences in 1721 and the Academy of Fine Arts in 1757. Cultural life was particularly intense in the second half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. Dostoyevsky's novels and Tchaikovsky's melodies were born here. The city now has 43 higher education institutions, 16 professional theatres, large libraries and 43 museums, the most famous of which is the Hermitage.

The city is also important politically, as it was here that the revolution of 1905-07, which swept across the Russian Empire (and thus also affected Poland and Lithuania), began. In 1917, the February Revolution and the October Coup took place here.

M. K. Čiurlionis and St. Petersburg

Čiurlionis spends the autumn months of 1908 and January - March in 1909 in St Petersburg, where he participates in exhibitions and directs the St Petersburg Lithuanian choir. The artist, following the advice of the painter Lev Antokolsky, arrives in St Petersburg hoping for a more stable income and to make a name for himself as an artist.

While living there, Čiurlionis visited M. K. Dobuzhinsky, who helped him join the Russian Artists' Union. It was difficult to make a living in St Petersburg: Čiurlionis was constantly short of money and tried to survive by giving private lessons. At the meetings of the Russian Artists' Union, the artist would play his works and show his new paintings. On the basis of the Union, he came up with the idea of establishing a Music Section at the Lithuanian Art Society.

Corresponding with Sofija Kymantaitė, he wrote music for the opera "Jūratė", planned stage curtains and scenery, and drew sketches of them. He left St Petersburg to marry Sofija, and in 1909 they both returned to St Petersburg. In the new year, Čiurlionis fared a little better: his works were exhibited at the Salon exhibition, the sixth exhibition of the Russian Artists' Union. The most demanding and the largest of Čiurlionis' works, Rex, was painted in St Petersburg. The artist did not forget music: he played his works at the concert of the "Evenings of Contemporary Music" on 28 January 1909 (10 February in the New Calendar).

In December 1909, as a result of his constant intensive work and constant deprivation, Čiurlionis finally became overworked and suffered from nervous exhaustion. The couple go to Lithuania to rest.

M. K. Čiurlionis and Saint Petersburg

M. K. Čiurlionis and Saint Petersburg

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