Russia
The Baroque style as it was imported to Russia from western Europe by the imperial court never amounted to what might properly be termed a Russian Baroque period. A great influx of Western influence during this period, especially under the sponsorship of Peter the Great, did, however, dispel the predominance of Byzantine ideas and forms. The brilliant Baroque busts of Bartolomeo Carlo Rastrelli the Younger established during the early 18th century a distinguished tradition of Russian portrait sculpture that was maintained by Fedot Shubin. The parks and gardens of the Rococo palaces of the empress Elizabeth were adorned with sculpture, but the work was done almost exclusively by Italians and Frenchmen commissioned for the task.