Benjamin Patersson (1748-1815)

Benjamin Patersson was a member of the Society of Painters in Gottenburg before travelling to Riga in 1784. In 1787 he visited St. Petersburg and became known for his paintings and engravings of the city. Twenty of his works were transported from the Hermitage to Peterhof in 1799. View of the Summer Garden and the Bridges on the Neva, St. Petersburg is part of the Stockholm Academy's collection.

The prototype of the modern rollercoaster, otherwise known as an 'Ice Mountain', was invented in Russia in the 15th Century. During winter, wooden constructions measuring over 70 ft high were packed with snow and sprayed with water in order to create a slick track. Thrill-seekers would be sent careering down the slope in a sled. Catherine the Great enjoyed this activity so much that wheels were added to the sleds so that she could enjoy the sport in both summer and winter.