The Moscow courtyard has changed very much since Polenov painted it in 1878. Only the church that is in the background remains. The church gave its name to the by-street, Spassopeskovsky. Today the residence of the US Ambassador is on the by-street the church, that`s why Americans call the residence Spasso House. Moscow established diplomatic contacts with many countries in the 16th centure. When foreigners arrived in Moscow they saw that it was larger than London and Prague/