On September 17, 2018 a portrait of Fedor A. Kozen, the first Headmaster of the Civil Engineering Institute, by artist Vladimir V. Zenin was presented in SPbGASU. Evgeniy I. Rybnov, Rector of SPbGASU, was in charge for the project realization.

Fedor A. Kozen (1782-1840) was a Major General and the first Headmaster of the Civil Engineering Institute (future SPbGASU) appointed by Emperor Nicolas I on June 7, 1832. He was awarded with various orders for distinguished service and three good conduct badges. Fedor A. Kozen contributed enormously to Russian Empire roadways development and first railroad directions.

“If there were no Fedor A. Kozen, there would be no University”

Irina Yu. Lapina, Vice-rector for External Relations and Youth Politics: “If there were no Fedor A. Kozen, there would be no University. Anyway his personality was unknown for many years and his credentials were difficult to find. We succeeded to determine some parts of his biography, but failed at finding any pictures. So Vladimir V. Zenin helped us”.

“Arrangement of awards accords fully with that period of time”

Sergey Yu. Kargapoltsev, Senior Lecturer of Department of History and Philosophy: “Arrangement of awards on Kozen’s dress coat accords fully with that period of time. Hypothetical date of the portrait is 1838”.

“Lots of details and peculiarities were to be cleared”

Vladimir V. Zenin, artist: “It was great, laborious work. The image of the person had to be restored by only one source – a portrait by George Dawe of his elder brother Pyotr A. Kozen (1778-1853), Artillery Major General. Lots of details and peculiarities were to be cleared, such as aging factor of anthropometric data and plenty of technical details. The possibility to make this portrait is great honour for me”.

Vladimir V. Zenin is an easel painter, sculptor of monuments and graphic artist. He finished Arts Academy in 2012, won Nicholas Roerich International Prize in 2017.

Works by Zenin are kept in State Museums (“Kulikovo pole” and “Rostovskiy Kreml”), private collections in Russia and abroad, Institute of Chemistry of SPbU (Saint-Petersburg University).

SPbGASU with deep gratitude to the artist puts the portrait in Academic Board conference room.