Petr Nikolaevich Petrov (1827–1891) - Russian art historian, writer, art critic, genealogist, bibliographer, author of historical novels and stories; full member of the Imperial Archaeological Society, titular adviser. He analyzed historical acts, as well as various materials on Russian history and archeology. He contributed to the Russian Encyclopedic Dictionary, where he wrote about 300 articles on art and Russian history, and was also one of the editors of the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary. Currently, Petrov is best known for his two-volume publication “The History of the Russian Nobility” (1856). His books “Special Notes on Genealogy and Heraldry” (1871), “History of St. Petersburg for 1703–1782” are also of certain value. (1885) and especially studies on the history of Peter the Great’s time: “Essay on the life of Peter the Great” (1872). In addition, a number of historical works came from his pen, and in particular the novel “White and Black” published in this volume, where tells about the short reign of Catherine I, the wife of Peter I, as well as about palace intrigues in the struggle for power and influence over the empress.