This Academy of the Three Noblest Arts (painting, sculpture and architecture) was founded in Petersburg in 1757. In 1764—1788 the splendid building, which has been preserved in its original state up to the present day, was constructed according to the design of the architects A. F. Kokorinov and J. B. Vallin-Delamothe.
During the 200 years of its existence the Academy has trained several generations of outstanding artists; among them are the painter A. P. Antropov, the sculptors F. I. Shubin and F. G. Gordeyev, the architect A. N. Voronikhin, the artists K. P. Bryullov and V. A. Tropinin and the brilliant constellation of the Peredvizhniki. Now the Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture is housed in the building of the Academy of Arts. There is a museum in the Academy building, where works by eminent artists and sculptors, as well as models of sculptural monuments, are collected.
In 1834, on both sides of an elegant granite landing-stage on the bank of the Neva (by the architect K- A. Ton), in front of the Academy building, were placed two Egyptian sphinxes which had once adorned the palace of Pharaoh Amenophis III.
