Zemtsov, Mikhail

Born in 1688 in Moscow; died in the fall of 1743 in St. Petersburg. Russian architect; a representative of the early baroque.

Zemtsov studied at the art school of the Armory Printshop in Moscow. In 1709 he moved to St. Petersburg and at first worked under the guidance of D. Tresini. From about 1720 he participated in the planning of the Summer Garden in St. Petersburg (and in 1725 built the Hall for Glorious Festivities, demolished in 1731). He also helped create the palace and park ensemble in Petergof (present-day Petrodvorets) and the Kadriorg Palace and Park in Tallinn (1718–25). His other St. Petersburg works are the Italian House on Fontanka Embankment (1726–28, not preserved), the Church of Sts. Simeon and Anna (completed in 1734), and the Anichkov Palace (1741–50, with G. D. Dmitriev, later reconstructed).

In 1737, Zemtsov became a leader of the Committee for the Construction of St. Petersburg; with I. K. Korobov he completed the Russian Architectural and Construction Code (1741), begun by P. M. Eropkin.