The city on the Neva is actually an open-air museum. Monuments of architecture, history and art are concentrated in its central part and are mostly compositional. A special place among them is occupied by a monument dedicated to Peter the Great - the Bronze Horseman. Any guide can give a detailed description of the monument, everything is interesting in this story: from the creation of a sketch to the installation process. Many legends and myths are associated with it. The first one refers to the origin of the name of the sculpture. It was given much later than the erection of the monument, but has not changed over the two hundred years of its existence.
Name
…Over the fenced rock
Idol with outstretched hand
Sit on a bronze horse.…
These lines are familiar to every Russian person, their author, A. S. Pushkin, describing the monument to Peter 1 in the work of the same name, called it the Bronze Horseman. The great Russian poet, who was born 17 years after the installation of the monument, did not expect that his poem would give a newsculpture name. In his work, he gives the following description of the Bronze Horseman monument (or rather, Peter 1, whose image was displayed in it):
…What a thought!
What power is hidden in it!..
…O mighty lord of fate!..
Peter appears not as a simple man, not as a great king, but practically as a demigod. These epithets were inspired by Pushkin's monument, its scale and fundamentality. The rider is not made of copper, the sculpture itself is made of bronze, and a solid block of granite was used as a pedestal. But the image of Peter, created by Pushkin in the poem, was so consistent with the energy of the entire composition that one should not pay attention to such trifles. Until today, the description of the Bronze Horseman monument in St. Petersburg is inextricably linked with the work of the great Russian classic.
History
Catherine II, wanting to emphasize her commitment to the reforming activities of Peter, decided to erect a monument to him in the city, the founder of which he was. The first statue was created by Francesco Rastrelli, but the monument did not receive the approval of the empress and was kept in the barns of St. Petersburg for a long time. The sculptor Etienne Maurice Falcone recommended to her worked on the monument for 12 years. His confrontation with Catherine ended with the fact that he left Russia without seeing his creation in its finished form. Having studied the personality of Peter according to the sources existing at that time, he created and embodied his image not as a great commander and tsar, but as the creator of Russia, who opened the way for her to the sea,bringing it closer to Europe. Falcone was faced with the fact that Catherine and all the top officials already had a ready-made image of the monument, he only had to create the expected forms. If this happened, then the description of the Bronze Horseman monument in St. Petersburg would be completely different. Perhaps then it would have had a different name. Falcone's work progressed slowly, this was facilitated by bureaucratic squabbles, the discontent of the empress and the complexity of the created image.
Installation
Even recognized masters of their craft did not undertake the casting of the very figure of Peter on horseback, so Falcone attracted Yemelyan Khailov, who was casting cannons. The size of the monument was not the main problem, it was much more important to maintain a weight balance. With only three points of support, the sculpture had to be stable. The original solution was the introduction of a snake into the monument, which was a symbol of defeated evil. At the same time, it provided additional support for the sculptural group. We can say that the monument was created in collaboration between the sculptor and his student Marie-Anne Collot (Peter's head, face) and the Russian master Fyodor Gordeev (snake).
Thunderstone
Not a single description of the Bronze Horseman monument is complete without mentioning its foundation (pedestal). A huge granite block was split by lightning, which is why the local population gave it the name Thunder Stone, which was later preserved. As conceived by Falcone, the sculpture should stand on a base imitating a billowing wave. The stone was delivered to the Senate Square by land andwater, while work on hewing a granite block did not stop. The whole of Russia and Europe watched the extraordinary transportation, in honor of its completion, Catherine ordered a medal to be minted. In September 1770, a granite base was installed on the Senate Square. The location of the monument was also controversial. The empress insisted on erecting a monument in the center of the square, but Falcone placed it closer to the Neva, and Peter's eyes were also turned to the river. Although there is fierce debate on this issue to this day: where did the Bronze Horseman look? The description of the monument by various researchers contains excellent answers. Some believe that the king is looking at Sweden, with which he fought. Others suggest that his gaze is turned to the sea, access to which was necessary for the country. There is also a point of view based on the theory that the lord surveys the city he founded.
The Bronze Horseman, monument
A brief description of the monument can be found in any guide to historical and cultural sites of St. Petersburg. Peter 1 sits on a rearing horse, stretching out one hand over the Neva flowing nearby. His head is decorated with a laurel wreath, and the horse's feet trample on a snake, personifying evil (in the broadest sense of the word). On the granite base, by order of Catherine II, the inscription "Catherine II to Peter I" was made and the date is 1782. These words are written in Latin on one side of the monument, and in Russian on the other. The weight of the monument itself is about 8-9 tons, height- more than 5 meters excluding the base. This monument has become the hallmark of the city on the Neva. Every person who comes to see its sights definitely visits Senate Square, and everyone forms their own opinion and, accordingly, a description of the monument to the Bronze Horseman Peter 1.
Symbolism
The power and grandeur of the monument does not leave people indifferent for two centuries. He made such an indelible impression on the great classic A. S. Pushkin that the poet created one of his most significant creations - The Bronze Horseman. The description of the monument in the poem as an independent hero attracts the reader's attention with its brightness and integrity of the image. This work was included in a number of symbols of Russia, like the monument itself. “The Bronze Horseman, a description of the monument” - an essay on this topic is written by high school students from all over the country. At the same time, the role of Pushkin's poem, his vision of sculpture appear in every essay. From the moment the monument was opened to the present day, there are ambiguous opinions in society about the composition as a whole. Many Russian writers used the image created by Falcone in their work. Everyone found symbolism in it, which they interpreted in accordance with their views, but there is no doubt that Peter I personifies the movement of Russia forward. This is confirmed by the Bronze Horseman. The description of the monument has become a way for many to express their own thoughts about the fate of the country.
Monument
On the rock,in front of which the abyss opened up, a mighty horse swiftly runs in. The rider pulls the reins, raising the animal on its hind legs, while its whole figure personifies confidence and calmness. According to Falcone, this was exactly what Peter I was like - a hero, a warrior, but also a reformer. With his hand he points to the distances that will be subject to him. The fight against the forces of nature, not too far-sighted people, prejudices for him is the meaning of life. When creating a sculpture, Catherine wanted to see Peter as a great emperor, that is, Roman statues could be a model. The king should sit on a horse, holding a scepter and an orb in his hands, while the correspondence to ancient heroes was given with the help of clothes. Falcone was categorically against it, he said that the Russian sovereign could not wear a tunic, just like Julius Caesar's caftan. Peter appears in a long Russian shirt, which is closed by a cloak fluttering in the wind - this is exactly what the Bronze Horseman looks like. The description of the monument is impossible without some of the symbols introduced by Falcone into the main composition. For example, Peter is not sitting in the saddle, in this capacity the skin of a bear acts. Its meaning is interpreted as belonging to the nation, the people, which the king leads. The snake under the horse's hooves symbolizes deceit, enmity, ignorance, defeated by Peter.
Head
The features of the king's face are a bit idealized, but the portrait resemblance is not lost. Work on the head of Peter lasted a long time, its results constantly did not satisfy the empress. The death mask of Peter, taken by Rastrelli, helped the student Falcone to complete the face of the king. Herthe work was very highly appreciated by Catherine II, Marie-Anne Collot was assigned a life annuity. The whole figure, the landing of the head, the furious gesture, the inner fire expressed in the look, show the character of Peter I.
Location
Falconet paid special attention to the base on which the Bronze Horseman is located. Description of the monument, an essay on this topic attracted many talented people. A rock, a block of granite personifies the difficulties that Peter overcomes on his way. After he has reached the top, his hand gesture acquires the meaning of subordination, subordination to his will of all circumstances. The granite block, made in the form of a rising wave, also indicates the conquest of the sea. Very indicative is the location of the entire monument. Peter I, the founder of the city of St. Petersburg, despite all the difficulties, creates a seaport for his state. That is why the figure is placed closer to the river and turned to face it. Peter I (the Bronze Horseman) seems to continue to peer into the distance, assess the threats to his state and plan new great achievements. In order to form your own opinion about this symbol of the city on the Neva and all of Russia, you need to visit it, feel the powerful energy of the place, the character reflected by the sculptor. Reviews of many tourists, including foreign ones, boil down to one thought: for a few minutes the gift of speech disappears. In this case, not only the monumentality of the monument is striking, but also the awareness of its importance for history. Russia.
