This tapestry was made after a painting by Andrei Matveev, one of the most important Russian artists of Peter's reign. His work reflects the Russia of the time, with its enthusiasm for reform, the new world view so characteristic of the age, and a new attitude to the human personality. The tapestry copy was transferred to the Armory in 1840 from the St. Petersburg Tapestry Manufactory.

The original portrait was one of Matveev's early works, undertaken during his time as one of "Peter's scholars" when he was a student at the Antwerp Academy of Arts in the workshops of A. Boonenn. The portrait probably was drawn not from life, but from memories of meetings with the Czar and from other well known portraits, in particular one by Carl de Moor. That portrait by this Dutch artist was painted in 1717 in The Hague. It was drawn from life while Peter was on his travels around Europe, and received his approval.

Peter, the warrior king, is portrayed wearing a caftan, with a cuirass visible underneath. He wears the blue ribbon of the order of St. Andrew the First Called, which he was awarded in 1703 after he successfully led the campaign to seize Swedish warships at the mouth of the Neva.

The second half of the 18th century saw the flourishing of Russian tapestry weaving. In the St. Petersburg Manufactory, several portraits of Peter the Great were produced from originals by well-known artists of the first half of the century: I.G. Tanauer, J.M. Nattier and Matveev himself.

Text taken from catalog description by Marina P. Golovanova