In 1782, a monument to the founder of St. Petersburg, Peter the Great, was unveiled on Senate Square. The bronze monument, which later became one of the symbols of the city, is shrouded in legends and secrets. Like everything in this amazing city on the Neva, it has its own history, its own heroes and its own special life.
The architect of the Bronze Horseman, the Frenchman Etienne Maurice Falconet, dreamed all his life of creating a unique monument, and it was in Russia that he made his dream come true. With my work famous sculptor did a brilliant job. Looking at this ten-meter monument, it immediately becomes clear to whom the monument is dedicated" Bronze Horseman".
We learn the history of its origin, as well as the mystical events that accompanied the creation of the monument, from this article.
Monument to Peter I
After the death of Peter the Great in 1725, the throne was passed “from hand to hand”, and nothing “great” happened during these years. Until the wife of Peter the Third (grandson of Peter the Great), Catherine the Second, seized power through a coup. It was she who in 1762 became the only equal empress of Russia.
Catherine the Second admired Peter the Great; she wanted to create something equally great and large-scale for her predecessor. So in 1766, she instructs her favorite Prince Golitsyn to find a sculptor abroad to work on the Peter the Great monument.
The history of the creation of the Bronze Horseman monument begins in Paris. Exactly there Grand Duke found a sculptor who met the empress’s needs. It was from there that Etienne-Maurice Falconet arrived with his young assistant, the talented seventeen-year-old Marie-Anne Collot.
Catherine saw the monument in accordance with the European fashion of the time: Peter in the form of a Roman conqueror with a staff in his hand. However, the sculptor convinced the empress: Russia has its own history and its own heroes.
As a result, the monument, which took sixteen years to create, turned out to be completely innovative, special and ingenious.
History of creation
Etienne Maurice Falconet set to work with enthusiasm. It took the master three years to create the horse statue! The sculptor's workshop was located in the former throne room of Elizabeth's winter palace. A huge platform was installed in the center of the hall, with the same angle of inclination as was intended for the future pedestal of the statue. Experienced riders rode onto this platform, raising their horses on their hind legs. The artist, in turn, made sketches of horses to choose the ideal option for the monument. Falcone made thousands of drawings before finding the one that would go down in the history of the great monument of St. Petersburg.
When the ideal horse of Peter the Great was ready, a building was built in St. Petersburg to cast the statue. The process was monitored the best masters Foundry of St. Petersburg. The statue was cast in bronze for a year.
However, the history of the creation of the Bronze Horseman monument is interesting not only because of the creation of the horse: Peter the Great himself, seated on a bearskin, personifies the spirit of the victorious people! Few people notice the snake under the horse’s hooves, a symbolic evil that was trampled by the emperor.
"Thunder Stone"
Initially, Falcone planned to erect a huge monument on a rock, natural and solid. Moreover, the rock was supposed to be in the form of a wave, symbolizing the great sea power that Peter the Great created.
Finding such a stone turned out to be difficult. We can say that the whole world was looking for the stone. And so an ordinary peasant, Semyon Grigorievich Vishnyakov, found a suitable monolith in the village of Lakhta. This monolith was popularly nicknamed “Thunder Stone” due to its long history. Old-timers claimed that lightning somehow struck the stone and split it in two. According to rough calculations, the stone weighed about 2000 tons. That's a lot. After the stone was removed, a reservoir was formed in its place, called Petrovsky Pond.
A dilemma arose about how to deliver the rock to St. Petersburg (about eight kilometers). Catherine announced a competition, and a person was found who came up with the method. Using levers and jacks, the stone was loaded onto a pre-prepared platform. From the place where the stone was located, they dug a canal, strengthened it and sent the cargo through the water.
The “Thunder Stone” turned out to be made of extremely dense and high-quality granite with veins of crystallization. It was transported to the city for about a year, during which time it was given the desired shape and outline by 48 craftsmen.
When the granite block for the Bronze Horseman monument was delivered to the city, local residents They broke off pieces from it to make tips for their canes.
The length of the stone was 13.5 m, width - 6.5 m, height - 8 m. However, when the mass was cleared of moss and hewn, it turned out that its length was not enough. As a result, the monolith was built up in front and behind from the broken pieces.
About a thousand people worked daily to transport the huge stone.
Description of the monument
Looking at the monument on Senate Square, its grandeur and symbolism immediately catches your eye. Behind Peter the Great is St. Isaac's Cathedral, Peter himself looks at the Neva, behind which the Peter and Paul Fortress rises. The same one with which the construction of the city began.
A huge block of stone on which a bronze monument is installed - high-quality granite, weighing about a ton. On both sides of the monument it is written “Catherine the Second to Peter the Great in the summer of 1782”, moreover, the inscription on one side is in Russian, on the other - in Latin.
The bronze monument itself stands on only two points of support - these are the horse’s hind hooves. Neither the tail nor the snake provide stability to the statue.
The horse reared up, Peter the Great sat on it, inspecting his possessions from above. He looks at the city he built: beautiful, majestic, strong. Right hand he points into the distance, to the expanses of the Neva River. The left one holds the reins. The emperor has a sword with the head of a snake in its sheath. On the head is a crown of thorns. The face is calm but decisive. According to Falconet's idea, "The Bronze Horseman" looks at his city with loving eyes; in Peter's eyes the pupils are made in the shape of hearts.
An important episode in the monument is the snake, which is crushed by the hooves of the rider’s horse. It contains evil, which the great sovereign trampled and overcame with the power of his power and spirit.
The monument to Peter 1 in St. Petersburg - "The Bronze Horseman" - is one of the most striking attractions of the city.
Opening
Work on the monument lasted 12 years. The most difficult thing was to deliver the giant granite rock to the city and install it in the chosen location. No less difficult task consisted of casting the monument in bronze. Throughout the work, many force majeure situations occurred. Pipes broke during the casting of the monument. The bronze sculpture was cast more than a year, and managed to do everything only on the second try. The difficulty was that the back of the monument had to be heavier than the front. This task was achieved through the colossal efforts and labor of the sculptor.
The stone for the pedestal fell several times from the wooden platform on which it was delivered to the city. Delivery also took more than a year. A lot of money was spent to deliver part of the sculpture to St. Petersburg.
But in the end all the difficulties were behind us, and the day finally came grand opening monument - August 7, 1782.
The event was large-scale. A huge canvas depicting mountains covered the monument. A fence was installed around the monument. The military guard entered the square and the parade began, led by Golitsyn. After lunch, Empress Catherine II herself arrived by boat on the Neva. She solemnly spoke from the balcony of the Senate and gave permission for the opening of the monument. At that moment the fence fell, and under drum roll and cavalry shots removed the canvas, revealing to the eyes of thousands of people a brilliant work dedicated to the founder of St. Petersburg. The opening of the Bronze Horseman monument, and then the monument to Peter the Great, took place. The imperial regiments moved along the Neva embankment to the roar and admiring cries of onlookers.
Sadly, the architect of the Bronze Horseman himself, Etienne Maurice Falconet, was not present at the opening. At the end of his work, his relationship with Catherine II deteriorated greatly. She hurried the master, but circumstances did not give the sculptor the opportunity to finish the work faster. Falcone had practically no assistants; many were afraid to work on such an important task, but most asked too much large amounts and fees. As a result, the artist had to learn and do a lot himself. The sculpture of the snake was created by the St. Petersburg sculptor Gordeev, and the architect Felten was involved in all the preparations for the opening and installation of all the details of the monument.
It is noteworthy that Falcone did not see the Bronze Horseman and did not create another sculpture. The stress that the architect experienced during the creation of the monumental work had an effect.
Etienne Maurice Falconet
French sculptor Maurice Falconet was born and died in Paris. He lived for 75 years, becoming famous in Russia as the architect of the Bronze Horseman. The sculptor’s uncle was a marble maker, which was the main reason for choosing future profession. At the age of 28, Etienne Maurice entered the Paris Academy of Arts, having previously gained experience from the court sculptor.
At court, Falconet's work is highly valued; he becomes the favorite of Madame Pompadour (the favorite of Louis 15), who orders him many marble figurines. In the 18th century, Paris was drowning in European classicism and Rococo style. Slim, graceful silhouettes beautiful girls and angels were in great use.
In the period from 1750 to 1766, the artist created many works in marble, which are highly valued in Paris. Today they can be seen in the most famous museums peace. But truly worthwhile and significant work The master received an order for a monument to Peter the Great in St. Petersburg. On the recommendation of his friend, Falcone goes to Russia. He faces the most important work of his life, which will last 14 years. Unfortunately, the artist will not be able to evaluate the result of his creation. Because of difficult relationships with the customer, Catherine II, he will have to leave St. Petersburg and not be present at the opening. However, the Empress will send him a commemorative coin depicting the sculptor’s great work.
Etienne Maurice Falconet's dream came true in "The Bronze Horseman", this is exactly the work that the artist dreamed of all his life. Unfortunately, upon returning to his homeland, the old master’s health deteriorated. The St. Petersburg climate did not in any way contribute to the improvement of the condition. In France, Falconet suffered from paralysis, which did not allow the sculptor to create anymore. Ironically, the artist's "life's work" became his last creation.
Architect's works
The sculptures of Etienne Falconet, created before his trip to Russia, can today be seen in the Hermitage and the Louvre. His most famous works, before The Bronze Horseman, are Seated Cupid (1757) and Winter (1763). Falcone was a follower of European classicism; all his porcelain statues are delicate and romantic. Smooth lines, complex poses and realistic images - the classic vision of 18th century art.
A small cherub can also be seen on the statue “Pygmalion and Galatea”.
Today, looking at early works Falcone, it’s hard to imagine that it was he who became the architect of The Bronze Horseman. A monumental sculpture, breathing with its power, huge in size, aggressive and at the same time very strong, cannot be compared with the gentle images of naked maidens. This is the genius of its creator.
Symbol of St. Petersburg
The city on the Neva was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great. This city has become truly unique. He amazed with his architectural ensembles, luxury facades and unique architectural monuments. After the death of Peter, the city not only did not lose its uniqueness, but also flourished and transformed. 300 years is not a long time for a city, but it was St. Petersburg that suffered the most terrible events in the history of Russia.
Of course, during its life, St. Petersburg became overgrown with symbols, legends and brilliant people who lived there in different periods stories. One of these symbols was the “Bronze Horseman”. It is noteworthy that it received its name much later than its appearance. One of the most important people in the history of Russia there was Alexander Pushkin, it was he who sang the legendary monument in his work of the same name.
It is impossible to imagine St. Petersburg without all kinds of legends and myths. Many of them are associated with monuments, which, as superstitious people believe, can come to life and store the souls of dead heroes in their bronze crypts.
The legends did not ignore the famous “Bronze Horseman”. The most common of them is associated with Pavel the First, the great-grandson of Peter the Great. It was he who saw the ghost of his famous relative, who pointed him to the place where a monument in his honor would be erected in the future.
Another mystical story happened much later, in 1812. When the threat French attack led by Napoleon has become quite real, the current Tsar Alexander the First decides to take the “Bronze Horseman” away from St. Petersburg. Then the emperor’s comrade-in-arms has a dream about how the bronze horseman breaks off from his stone pedestal and rushes towards Stone Island. Peter the Great indignantly shouts to Alexander: “Young man, what have you brought my Russia to? But as long as I stand in my place, my city has nothing to fear.” This dream made such a strong impression on the emperor that he decides to leave the monument in its place.
Except mystical stories There are very real things in the life of a monument. For example, Catherine II liked the head of Peter the Great, sculpted by Marie Anne Colot, so much that she awarded her a salary for life. And this despite the fact that the sculptor of the Falcone monument nevertheless changed the plaster cast made by the girl.
There are also many myths associated with the pedestal. One of the most famous, which looks quite real, is the origin of the "Thunder Stone". As scientists and art historians found out, such granite, which the rock is made of, did not exist in St. Petersburg and the region. It was assumed that glaciers brought a huge block of stone to this area. And it was on it that the ancient people performed their pagan rituals. Thunder split the rock in two, and the people gave it the name “Thunder-Stone”.
Another story is connected with the death of Peter. As you know, the emperor caught a cold during his trip to Lake Ladoga. It was there that an event occurred that finally crushed Peter. In the very village of Lakhta where the stone was found, Peter was waist-deep in water rescuing a stranded boat with his soldiers. While resting after a serious incident, Peter lay precisely on this “Thunder Stone,” which would later become the pedestal for the great monument in his honor! So the stone took the king’s soul in order to forever preserve it in itself and in the city created by him.
However, the monument was cursed more than once; it was mainly residents of the surrounding villages who did not like the transformations of the new sovereign. When the monument was opened, someone called Peter the Great "Horseman of the Apocalypse" bringing evil and destruction. But, as we know, a curse cannot destroy a beautifully created work of art. At the forefront is the common sense and professionalism of the people who worked on the bronze sculpture.
Also Interesting Facts about the Bronze Horseman monument are associated with difficult war times. During the siege of Leningrad, all significant objects of St. Petersburg were hidden so that the Nazis could not destroy them during the bombing. The Bronze Horseman was carefully covered with bags of earth and sand, and boarded up on top with wooden boards. After the blockade was lifted, the monument was freed and they were surprised to discover that the Hero’s Star had been drawn in chalk on the chest of Peter the Great. Soviet Union.
Monument in culture
When you get to one of the most beautiful cities in Russia and walk through central and significant places, you will never be able to ignore St. Isaac's Cathedral and the monument to Peter the Great.
And today it amazes with its beauty and grandeur. Many Russians who have never visited the city on the Neva have read Pushkin, and The Bronze Horseman is familiar to them from the work of the same name.
When the bronze monument was opened, Catherine the Second ordered commemorative coins to be made. Later, commemorative coins with the “Bronze Horseman” will appear in numismatics of the Soviet period. Currently we can see our hero on 5 kopecks.
In St. Petersburg, the Bronze Horseman is monument number one. Descriptions of the sculpture dedicated to Peter the Great are often found in stories and poems famous writers and poets. At all times, the city has been inextricably linked with its creator and the most beautiful monument in his honor.
The Bronze Horseman was not spared from philately. Famous sculpture can be seen on stamps from 1904.
And, perhaps, the most beautiful embodiment in culture is the Faberge egg. Commissioned by Nicholas II, this masterpiece was presented by the Tsar to his wife for Easter. The surprise is that when the egg is opened, the mechanism raises a golden miniature statue of the Bronze Horseman.
Not only the townspeople, but also the guests of St. Petersburg know where the monument is located: Senate Square, St. Petersburg, Russia.
Speaking about the city of St. Petersburg, it is impossible not to remember the person thanks to whom our glorious St. Petersburg appeared on the map. Today we tell you where the eight main monuments to the reformer emperor are located in the Northern capital.
Bronze Horseman
The most famous (but not the first) monument to the first Russian emperor was erected under Catherine II, who considered him the main Russian ruler. The pedestal was made from the Thunder Stone, found by the state-owned peasant Semyon Vishnyakov. There is a belief that as long as the monument to Peter is in its place, everything will be fine with the city.
Monument to Peter I by Shemyakin
A sculpture installed in the Peter and Paul Fortress in front of the former guardhouse building in the early 80s of the 20th century. It is the work of St. Petersburg artist Mikhail Shemyakin. The author managed to achieve an incredible resemblance to the real face of the emperor thanks to the use of an authentic wax mask made by Rastrelli himself when creating the monument.
Monument to Peter I the Carpenter
On the Admiralteyskaya Embankment you can find a monument to Peter the Great, who was busy building a new ship. It is known that you should not come to the creator of the city on the Neva in the hope of fulfilling ordinary desires. But if you are busy looking for a job, the emperor will be happy to help you with this. By the way, they say that he will also help with requests for career growth.
Peter I at the Engineering Castle
The sculptor Rastrelli (father of the famous architect) began creating this monument during the life of the first Russian Emperor. But due to various circumstances, it was completed only by 1747. After which, for a long time, the ownerless monument sought refuge. As a result, Paul I installed it in front of his Mikhailovsky Castle in 1801. On the pedestal he ordered to write “Great-grandfather - great-grandson.”
Peter I in Pulkovo
You can catch the founder of the Northern capital in the domestic flights area. The creator of the sculpture was Mikhail Dronov. He presented Peter I in the image of a modern airport passenger setting off on a trip to Russia. The two-meter tall emperor, created from clay, is dressed in his typical clothes, pulling a suitcase on wheels.
Bust of Peter I at the Moscow railway station
Everyone who comes to St. Petersburg can be proud that he is greeted by the emperor himself. In the hall of the Moscow station you can find a majestic bust of Peter I. Despite the fact that historically the station building has nothing to do with the founder, the monument was erected here in honor of the return to St. Petersburg historical name.
Bust of Peter I near the house of Peter I
How would we be without a monument to the emperor near his house on Petrovskaya embankment. The monument is installed on a red granite pedestal, so it is difficult to miss. The bust was erected back in 1875 on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of Peter I.
Bust of Peter I Botanical Garden
The bronze bust, created by sculptor Oleg Satin, was placed on an unusual pedestal in the shape of a tree growing from the ground, which was designed by architect Alexandra Bocharova.
The opening of a new monument in the Botanical Garden took place in 2014 as part of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the V. L. Komarov Botanical Institute.
The Bronze Horseman is the most famous monument Peter I - was installed in 1782 on Senate Square in St. Petersburg by order of Catherine II. Let's remember the history of one of the most majestic monuments of the northern capital with Natalya Letnikova.
1. This is not the first monument to the great autocrat. During the lifetime of the reformer Tsar Bartolomeo Rastrelli created “his” Peter. But this monument took its place at the Mikhailovsky Castle only in 1800.
2. Senate square was intended for another monument. Parliament wanted to immortalize the current empress in bronze. Catherine II observed politeness - first a great reformer! The equestrian monument to Peter I should have stood by the 100th anniversary of his accession to the throne.
Monument to Peter I at Mikhailovsky Castle
3. They searched for the sculptor together with Diderot and Voltaire. The choice fell on the Frenchman Etienne Maurice Falconet. Main artist Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory, creator of “The Threatening Cupid” and master of Rococo, he dreamed of large-scale art. The dream came true in distant Russia.
EM. Falconet "Threatening Cupid"
4. Peter in the image of Caesar on a horse with a rod and scepter? This is how Catherine saw him. Or Diderot's version - a fountain with allegorical figures? Falcone ventured to argue. As a result, the contract only stated that the monument should consist “mainly of equestrian statue of colossal size."
5. The sculptor was not given the face of Peter. Falconet sculpted three times. His apprentice Marie-Anne Collot managed it overnight, using a lifetime plaster mask removed by Rastrelli Sr. The Empress approved of Collo's work, and Falcone acknowledged the co-authorship of his twenty-year-old student.
6. They looked for a horse for the autocrat in the stables of Count Orlov. Persian blood, like Lisette, the favorite horse of Peter I. They chose Caprice and Diamond. From time to time, models with a guards officer in the saddle reared up, posing for the sculptor.
7. It was more difficult with the pedestal. I had to advertise in the newspaper. The peasant Semyon Vishnyakov reported about a giant boulder in the vicinity of Lakhta. The “Thunder Stone”, weighing about 2 thousand tons, was delivered to the capital in ten months, hewn down to the required size along the way.
"Thunder Stone"
8. The operation received the attention of all of Europe and the imperial medal “Like Daring.” Before the Gulf of Finland, the boulder was moved on a log platform along chutes with bronze balls. The further journey lay across the bay on a special vessel.
9. A rearing horse and a snake at the foot. The defeated snake is like Peter’s victory over opponents of his reforms and enemies on the battlefield. The work of a Russian sculptor, the son of a simple cattleman Fyodor Gordeev. The practical side of the symbol, the snake, became the third fulcrum of the 10-meter statue.
Muscovites greeted one of the tallest monuments in Russia with some criticism. In 1997, after its installation, a series of publications appeared in the Moscow media calling on city residents to write letters in support of collecting signatures for the demolition of the monument. There were about 5 thousand of them, most of whom criticized two points - the excessive height of the monument and its location.
However, as we can observe in this moment, the monument to Peter I in Moscow received the right to life. The work of Zurab Tsereteli was erected by order of the Moscow Government on an artificial island poured at the separation of the Moscow River and the Vodootvodny Canal. Officially announced by the creator and customers as a gift to sailors for the 300th anniversary Russian Fleet. The total height of the monument is 98 meters, the height of the figure of Peter is 18 meters.
Some Russian newspapermen called this monument a recycled statue of Columbus, which Tsereteli planned to sell in 1992 for the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America by Europeans, but never sold.
In 2014, architectural critic Revzin expressed his opinion regarding the overly active protests against the new monument. Thus, he pointed out that publications and posters “You weren’t here” began to appear too suddenly in Moscow, which must first be agreed upon, the budget reduced and received. Thus, this process was most likely started by someone, and then picked up by the townspeople.
The height of the monument is comparable to the height of the Statue of Liberty, which stands in New York.
Just don’t forget that the difference of 5 meters is due to the fact that the Statue of Liberty, as a solid monument, is only 46 meters, but it stands on a pedestal 47 meters high. From here the total height is considered to be 93 meters.
On August 18, 1782, a monument to Peter I, the so-called “Bronze Horseman,” was unveiled in St. Petersburg. This is the very first monument to Peter. There are others in Russia and Europe famous monuments great reformer, which are worth watching.
Senate square,
The Bronze Horseman monument is located here not by chance. Catherine II insisted on this because the Admiralty, which the emperor founded, is located nearby. The monument was made by the French sculptor Etienne-Maurice Falconet, who was recommended to Catherine Diderot and Walter. Preparing a plaster model of the monument took twelve whole years, and casting the statue turned out to be so difficult that for a long time no one wanted to take on this work.
Finally, cannon master Emelyan Khailov took on this technologically very complex project and cast the statue in three years. And Catherine inscribed “Catherine II to Peter I” on the pedestal, thereby confirming her commitment to Peter’s reforms. The weight of the monument is eight tons, the height is more than five meters. Although Pushkin called it “The Bronze Horseman,” it is cast in bronze. But this name stuck so well that it became almost official. And the monument itself is one of the symbols of St. Petersburg.
Mikhailovsky Castle, St. Petersburg
The bronze monument was made by the famous Italian sculptor Rastrelli; the model of the monument existed during the life of Peter I, but it was installed later than the Bronze Horseman, in 1800. The pedestal of the monument is lined with multi-colored marble - white, pink and greenish. The great-grandson of Peter I, Emperor Paul I, made the inscription on the pedestal “Great-grandfather - great-grandson” by analogy with the Bronze Horseman, on which there is the inscription “Catherine II to Peter I.” During the Great Patriotic War The monument was removed from its pedestal and put back in its original place only in 1945. Thus he was saved for posterity.
Riga,
The equestrian monument to the Tsar was erected in Riga in 1910, during Peter’s celebrations. Emperor Nicholas II and his family then arrived in Riga. The monument was built practically from donations from ordinary citizens of Riga, so Latvians respected and loved the great reformer. And, apparently, there was a reason. Peter I often came to the city and always brought something with him. Peter donated more than twenty merchant ships, financed the improvement of the city and the construction of some buildings. But nowhere did the monument to Peter face such a sad fate as in Riga. It was removed from its pedestal many times, returned, and moved from place to place. Now the monument, which is of great artistic and historical value, is located in the parking lot of a private enterprise at 223 Bribivas Street. I would like to believe that, despite political prejudices, it will still take its rightful place in the center of Riga.
Moscow
Perhaps the most odious and controversial monument to Peter I was unveiled by Zurab Tsereteli in 1997 on the occasion of his 850th anniversary. This monument is 98 meters high and is the tallest monument in Russia and one of the tallest monuments in the world. It took about a year and about twenty million dollars to design and build the monument. The monument has a very complex engineering design. The frame of the monument is made of stainless steel, onto which a bronze casing is attached.
In 2008, the monument was included in the top ten ugliest buildings in the world, taking, however, an honorable tenth place. There was even a fundraiser in Moscow for the demolition of this controversial monument, but in 2011 the Moscow Prefecture announced that the monument would still stand in its original place. But, just in case, you should not miss the opportunity to look at it and form your own opinion about its artistic value.
