Situated on the Gulf of Finland, almost equidistant between St Petersburg and Kronstadt (the city seaport on Kotlin Island), Peterhof consists of a collection of palaces, pavilions, chapels, fountains and formal gardens, spread across a vast parkland area originally established by Peter the Great (1672-1725), and subsequently developed by his successors. The site, however, especially its Lower Park, was occasionally decorated with spectacular illuminations, and was opened to the public to celebrate particular events and anniversaries, as shown in this photograph, which is part of a larger set capturing the celebrations of the tenth anniversary of the coronation of Alexander III.

Night photography was in its very infancy at the time and Boldyrev's photographs are testimony of the remarkable technical skills of this pioneering self-taught photographer, whose talent was often ignored by his contemporaries.