Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli

Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli (1700–1771) was an Italian architect born in Paris, where his Florentine father Carlo Rastrelli worked as a sculptor. In 1716 he accompanied his father to Saint Petersburg at Peter I's invitation and trained in his workshop.

Appointed senior court architect in 1730, he served Empresses Anna and Elizabeth, creating the opulent Late Baroque of the Winter Palace, the Catherine Palace at Tsarskoye Selo and the Smolny Convent. Elizabeth's death in 1762 left his planned bell tower at Smolny unfinished.

Under Catherine II he retired to Courland, where he supervised the completion and decoration of the ducal palaces. He died in 1771, shortly after joining the Imperial Academy of Arts.