Neva. Menshikov palace

A broad, snow-covered embankment runs along the frozen Neva, lined on the left by a yellow classical building with white trim and snow-laden roofs. A lone figure walks along the cleared roadway past street lamps and a stone balustrade, while further buildings and a low bridge recede toward the horizon on the right, where the river's white expanse opens out.

The palette is built from muted yellows and greys, with the overcast sky rendered in soft bands of lavender, pink and grey-blue that echo across the snow. Broad, flat strokes describe the open road and river ice, while finer touches pick out windows and railings. The hushed, wintry light gives the embankment a still, subdued, melancholic mood.