Ivan Andreevich Krylov: monuments in Russian cities

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:44

Ivan Andreevich Krylov lived quite a long life. Like any person, he traveled through the cities and towns of the country, but there were few places where he stayed for a long time. Perhaps, affected phlegmatic temperament. Therefore, there are not so many settlements in Russia in which his memory is immortalized. Let's talk about the main monuments erected in honor of the famous fabulist.

Ivan Andreevich Krylov: monuments of the 19th century

Out of 75 years given to the writer, 60 he gave to St. Petersburg. The poet came to this city as a 13-year-old boy, began to publish here and became famous. The creation of Peter on the Neva became the last refuge of the fabulist. He passed away in 1844 and was solemnly buried (with a huge gathering of people) at the Tikhvin cemetery in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. His tombstone is very simple, made according to a standard design. Apparently, even then it was clear that in the near future a figure of such magnitude as Krylov would be immortalized with dignity.

Already a year later, they started raising money for the construction of the monument. For 3 years, they collected 30,000 rubles and held a competition for the best design of the monument to the poet. The winner was Baron Peter Karlovich von Klodt. At that time he was alreadyknown primarily as the author of the famous horses on the Anichkov Bridge. In fact, according to Klodt's original design, the monument to Krylov in St. Petersburg was supposed to look different. The sculptor conceived it in the traditional manner: a powerful figure dressed in a Roman toga.

However, next to the main project already then, in 1848, a sketch appeared, which is a prototype of today's monument. When it was opened (in 1855), a completely unexpected Krylov appeared before the audience. The monuments of that time portrayed the king, the commander, the commander symbolically, allegorically. It was a generalized hero, not a man, but his incarnation. And Klodt managed to convey a portrait resemblance to the original. His bronze poet is sitting on a bench in a working frock coat - relaxed, thoughtful. And the pedestal is decorated with figures of the heroes of the author's fables.

This monument became the first "writer's" monument in St. Petersburg and the third one in Russia. It was installed on one of the alleys of the Summer Garden. Firstly, because once, during the time of Peter I, there were statues of Aesop and the heroes of his fables. And secondly, because there are always a lot of children in this park.

Ivan Andreevich Krylov: monuments of the XX century

Monuments erected in Tver and Moscow appeared in the last century.

Tverskoy Krylov was opened in 1959. This is the work of sculptors S. D. Shaposhnikov and D. V. Gorlov and architect N. V. Donskikh. A 4-meter bronze fabulist adorns the square near Victory Square. This is the only "standing" sculpture of the poet. However,a certain laziness is manifested in this monument - in a casually set aside leg, hands folded behind the back.

The monument to Krylov in Moscow is located on the Patriarch's Ponds, which has been puzzling since its inception in 1976. Of course, the fabulist lived for some time in the current Russian capital, but why his memory is immortalized in the very place where Berlioz talked with Ivan Bezdomny is completely incomprehensible. By the way, the monument to Bulgakov never received a residence permit in this magnificent district of Moscow. One way or another, the sculptural composition, including the seated Krylov and 12 heroes of his fables, adorns the square to this day. There is a playground nearby, so it is very convenient to tell the kids about “grandfather Krylov”, his Monkey, the heroes of the “Quartet”, the Crow with cheese or the Elephant and the Pug. The work was done by architect Armen Ch altykyan, sculptors Andrey Drevin and Daniel Mitlyansky.

Ivan Andreevich Krylov: monuments of the 21st century

In 2004, another sculptural group associated with the name of Ivan Andreevich appeared in Pushkino (in that near Moscow, and not near St. Petersburg). This time Krylov is sitting on a bench next to Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. A thin poet emotionally tells a very full fabulist about something. Both figures are in bronze. Their author is Konstantin Konstantinov. The monument caused lively disputes among local residents. The fact is that both writers have nothing to do with the town of Pushkino (despite its name), although they were actually friends. But the sculptural grouppretty cute, kids and tourists love her.

Perhaps there will be monuments to Krylov in other cities - for example, in Serpukhov, where the fabulist lived for 2 years with his younger brother, Lev Andreyevich.