Monument to Minin and Pozharsky, the century of creation. Monument to Minin and Pozharsky on Red Square
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On February 20 (March 4), 1818, a monument to Minin Pozharsky was unveiled in Moscow on Red Square. "Grateful Russia to Citizen Minin and Prince Pozharsky" - this is how the inscription on his pedestal says.
This is one of the most famous monuments in Moscow, which, moreover, occupies the most honorable place.
In early XIX century, in the years of the 300th anniversary of the Time of Troubles. In 1808, Alexander I approved the idea of collecting funds by sub-list for the creation of a monument, which was originally planned to be erected in Nizhny Novgorod... The winner of the competition for best project became the sculptor Ivan Martos.
The Emperor liked the project of Martos so much, and the monument itself was so important for the formation of Russian patriotism that it was decided to erect it in Moscow. And in the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin they decided to erect a marble obelisk in memory of the militia and its leaders.
Work on the project was interrupted due to the war with Napoleon, but after the expulsion of the French army from Russia, the installation of a monument to the national heroes Minin and Pozharsky in the center of liberated Moscow became especially urgent. At the suggestion of Martos, the monument was erected not on the square of the Tverskiye Vorota, as planned before the war, but on Red Square near the Kremlin, which was not burnt down in the great fire. In 1818, the monument was erected in the middle of the square opposite the Upper Trading Rows (now it is GUM).
The opening of the monument was attended by Emperor Alexander I and the flower of the Russian generals and officers, including many heroes of the war with Napoleon. With a large crowd of people, a guards parade took place.
In 1931, the monument prevented the parades of athletes and military equipment from being held, and it was moved to its current location near the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed. This violated the architectural ensemble of Red Square, which began to resemble a parade ground, and in the second half of the 90s of the twentieth century, the feasibility and possibility of returning the monument to its original place were discussed. Soon, however, military parades on Red Square resumed, and it itself was adapted for pompous concerts, commercial events and for filling the rink.
November 4, 2005, after the establishment of a new public holiday- of the day national unity- in Nizhny Novgorod, at the foot of the Kremlin, near the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist, where, according to some historians, Kozma Minin addressed the people of Nizhny Novgorod, a copy of the Moscow monument reduced by 5 cm, made by Zurab Tsereteli, was discovered.
V.F. Timm. Red Square during the coronation of Alexander II. 1865. Drawing from Arnu file
View of Red Square. Lithograph by L. Zh. Arnu.
Demonstration at the monument to Minin and Pozharsky on a historical site in the center of Red Square in the early days of the war. Photo by A. Savelyev. 1914. Monument to Minin and Pozharsky (Moscow, Russia) - description, history, location, reviews, photos and video.
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In the very heart of Moscow - on Red Square - there is a monument to Minin and Pozharsky. To be more precise, the sculptural group is installed in front of St. Basil's Cathedral. It is dedicated to Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Mikhailovich Pozharsky, leaders of the second people's militia during the Polish intervention, and the victory over Poland in 1612.
The history of sculpture began in 1803, when members of the Free Society of Lovers of Literature, Sciences and Arts came up with the idea of building a monument. Emperor Alexander liked the idea and supported it. Interestingly, the monument to Minin and Pozharsky became the first monument in Moscow, which was erected not in honor of the tsar, but in honor of folk heroes... In 1808, the sculptor Ivan Martos won the competition for the best design of the monument, and an imperial decree was issued on a subscription to fundraising throughout Russia.
It is worth noting that when creating sculptures of Minin and Pozharsky, Ivan Martos was posed for him own sons... Martos was a supporter of classicism, and that is why the heroes of his creation are a bit like the ancient gods. However, details of their appearance and clothing indicate that Minin and Pozharsky are Russians. For example, Minin's hair is cut in brackets, and his attire resembles a Russian embroidered shirt.
The creation of the monument to Minin and Pozharsky aroused great interest among people. After the victory in the war of 1812, the Russians supported this idea even more, since they saw in the sculpture a symbol of victory.
Initially, it was proposed to erect a monument in Nizhny Novgorod, where the militia was assembled. But later they decided that the victory over Poland has great value for the whole of Russia and it is more logical to install the sculpture in the capital. A marble obelisk was presented to Novgorod.
It should be noted that for the first time in European history the monument was cast in one piece at a time. For its manufacture, 1100 poods of copper were prepared, which was then melted for 10 hours. Granite for the pedestal was brought to St. Petersburg from Finland, and from there it was transported by water to Moscow. In 1818, Grand opening monument with the participation of Emperor Alexander and his entire family.
Martos himself determined the place for the monument - in the center of Red Square, opposite the entrance to the Upper Trading Rows (modern GUM).
History, however, has made its own adjustments - in 1931 the monument was moved to the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, since in its former place it interfered with the holding of demonstrations and parades.
Today the monument to Minin and Pozharsky is one of the main attractions of the Russian capital. By the way, not so long ago in Moscow revived a tradition dating back to the end of the 19th century, and in winter time the skating rink on Red Square, next to the monument to the Saviors of the Fatherland, began to be flooded again.
Tomorrow, November 4, Russia will celebrate a wonderful and for a long time undeservedly forgotten holiday - National Unity Day.
V new Russia this holiday has been celebrated only since 2005, but it is worth remembering that before the revolution on November 1 (October 22 in the old way) from 1649 until 1917, the Feast in honor of the Kazan Icon, celebrated on this day Mother of God(in memory of the deliverance of Moscow and Russia from the Poles in 1612) was celebrated at the state level.
The main heroes of the celebration were the citizen Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, to whom there is a monument to this day on Red Square, the very first monument in Moscow.
Initially, it was planned to erect the monument in 1812 for the bicentennial anniversary of the expulsion of the Poles by the Second Militia led by Prince Pozharsky and citizen Minin.
The monument was supposed to decorate the square in front of the Kremlin in Nizhny Novgorod, where the militia gathered.
The plot of the monument: Nizhny Novgorod citizen Minin points to Prince Pozharsky at the Kremlin and urges him to rise up to fight the Poles. The prince at that moment, near Nizhny Novgorod, was resting and being treated for wounds received in Moscow battles during the First Militia. Kuzma Minin gives him the sword as a future military commander, and he himself undertakes to find to collect funds and people.
Interestingly, at first, as conceived by the sculptor Ivan Martos, both great men stood, but the then protested: "How is it possible for a noble prince to stand on equal terms next to a commoner !?"
Funds for the monument were collected throughout Russia and, finally, it was decided to erect it in the center of Red Square in Moscow in 1818.
Although the monument still drove to Nizhny Novgorod by waterways from St. Petersburg to Moscow.
Inauguration of the monument in 1818. Pay attention to the old Upper Trading Rows.
Before the construction of the current GUM in the 1890s (new Upper Trading Rows), the square looked like this:
But back to the monument. The bas-reliefs on it also reflect two key moments from the history of the Second Militia.
In front of the pedestal, a high relief depicts patriotic citizens donating their property for the good of the Motherland. This is a civil feat.
On the left you can see Ivan Martos himself, the author of the monument, who gives the Fatherland the most precious thing - his two sons.
And, indeed, the sons of Ivan Martos went through Patriotic War 1812 One of the sons was sent to study in Italy, where he was killed by Napoleonic soldiers in 1813.
In total, Martos had 6 daughters and 4 sons from two marriages.
Ivan Martos. Portrait by P.O. Rossi
In 1910, in the magazine "Satyricon" I.L. Orsher described the history of the formation of the militia in the following peculiar way:
One day a man in the shape of a butcher appeared in the square and shouted:
- Let's lay wives and children and buy out the fatherland!
- Let's lay it down! The crowd boomed. Kuzma Minin pledged (later it turned out that it was him), counted the money and said:
- Not enough!
And, inspired, he exclaimed again:
- Let's sell yards and save the fatherland!
- Let's sell! The crowd boomed again. - Courtyards are useless without wives and children.
Immediately they began to sell the yards and the proceeds were given to Minin.
Who bought the yards - none of the historians knows. Or maybe it’s known, but out of shame they hide it. It is believed that a secret patriotic company was founded to buy houses and property.
“It's strange,” says one foreign historian, whose name we gave our word to keep secret. - Everyone was forced to sell their houses; those who did not want to voluntarily sell the house were forced. How, at a time like this, could there be people who dared to buy houses? "
On the shield of Pozharsky is the face of the Savior Not Made by Hands.
The high relief from the back of the pedestal already depicts Prince Pozharsky, driving the Poles from Moscow. This is a military feat.
The detail is simply amazing
After the revolution, no one raised a hand to demolish the monument, the only thing it was moved in 1931 from the center of the square to St. Basil's Cathedral - it interfered with the parades.
True, there was still a legend that someone from above did not like Minin's pointing gesture with a call to free the Kremlin from the temporary workers. In addition, one day someone scrawled on the pedestal: "Look, Prince, what scum has started up in the Kremlin today" (according to another version: "Look, Prince, what scum has lain near the Kremlin walls").
If the monument now stood in the same place, then the view would be something like this:
Or like this:
And the people of Nizhny Novgorod got the monument. In 2005, a copy of the work of the notorious Tsereteli was placed near the Kremlin on the very square where Minin had once convened the militia.
Happy holidays!
When you are on Red Square, go to the monument to honor the memory of the heroes.
In addition, tomorrow, November 4, 2010, the official consecration and opening of the gate icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on the Nikolskaya Tower will take place on Red Square.
You can see it now:
We also recall that earlier, on August 28, 2010, the icon of the Savior on the Spasskaya Tower was unveiled and consecrated:
On September 6, 1817, a monument to Minin and Pozharsky arrived in Moscow. It was cast in St. Petersburg and delivered by water through Nizhny Novgorod. For the first time in the history of Moscow, a monument was erected in honor of the people's heroes, and not the sovereign.
Work on the creation of the monument began in 1804. They were supervised by the Russian monumental sculptor Ivan Petrovich Martos, and the casting was entrusted to Vasily Yekimov, the foundry master of the Academy of Arts. It took 1100 poods of copper to make the monument, the melting time of which was about ten hours.
Who are Minin and Pozharsky? Where they lived? What are you famous for?
Let's take a look at history. They accomplished their feat almost four hundred years ago. It was a hard time for Russia, called by the people "hard times". Ancient Novgorod was captured by the Swedes. All of Russia in the West and Northwest was in the hands of the Polish-Lithuanian invaders. There was even a Polish garrison in the capital. The enemies ruled and ravaged.
1611 was one of the most difficult in the history of Moscow and the entire Russian land. Russia was threatened with the loss of independence. In addition, unprecedented disasters hit the Russian land: for several years in a row there was an unprecedented drought, there was a severe crop failure, and famine began. Whole villages died out.
It seemed that there was no time in history more gloomy than this; it seemed that Russia was dying from all the misfortunes that befell it, and there was nowhere to expect salvation. But it came!
"I stand for the Orthodox faith ..." Kuzma Minin At this time, a wealthy merchant Kuzma Minin lived in the city of Nizhny Novgorod (on the Volga). He called on the Novgorodians to fight the foreigners:
“Brothers! We will stand up for the Russian land, we will take up arms without exception, we will give up our property, we will collect money for the army, we will free Moscow from foreigners! "
The citizens of Nizhny Novgorod recovered their spirits, gathered a militia and moved towards Moscow. On the way, people joined the militia from all sides, and Prince Dmitry Mikhailovich Pozharsky led the army.
In 1612, Russian regiments approached the capital and here they took up a battle with the Poles, fought bravely for three days and won a victory, and soon the Kremlin was freed from the last invaders who had taken refuge there.
This great feat of the citizen Minin and Prince Pozharsky remained forever in the people's memory.
"The crowd of residents was incredible"
The grand opening of the monument to Minin and Pozharsky took place on February 20, 1818. On Red Square, filled with thousands of Muscovites, troops were lined up, a military parade was held. To the beat of drums and shouts of "hurray", the veil was removed from the monument. One of the Moscow newspapers described this event as follows:
“During this solemn ceremony the crowd of residents was incredible; all the shops, the roofs of the Gostiny Dvor, the shops specially arranged for the nobility near the Kremlin wall, and the very towers of the Kremlin were strewn with people eager to enjoy this new and extraordinary spectacle. "
Monument fired on viewers great impression... It depicts the headman of Nizhny Novgorod Kuzma Minin in a Russian shirt, calling on Dmitry Pozharsky to lead the militia and lead him to save the fatherland. Pozharsky, leaning on the shield, takes the sword from Minin's hands.
The pedestal of the monument is made of three solid pieces of granite brought from Finland, and the famous bas-reliefs "Citizens of Nizhniy Novgorod" and "The Expulsion of Poles", as well as the sculpture of Minin and Pozharsky itself, are made of bronze.
Interesting Facts
It is interesting that on the monument there is also an image of the author of the monument. The pedestal of the monument is decorated with bronze reliefs on both sides. One of them depicts a stylized image of the people's militia expelling Poles from Moscow, and the other depicts Nizhny Novgorod residents bringing donations to organize the militia. On the last bas-relief, the extreme figure on the left (a man sending his sons to the militia) - Martos with his sons.
The significance of the monument to Minin and Pozharsky went far beyond the memory of the events of 1612. He not only became the first monument in Moscow, but also the first monument depicting a person from the common people.
In 1930, during the reconstruction of Red Square, the monument was moved to St. Basil's Cathedral. Already in our century, justice prevailed in relation to Nizhny Novgorod, where a copy of the monument to Minin and Pozharsky was installed opposite the fortress gate, from which the people's militia once emerged.
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The monument to Minin and Pozharsky became the first monument in Moscow: formerly in honor of important historical events established triumphal arches, chapels and temples.
The idea of the composition
In 1803, members of the Free Society of Lovers of Literature, Sciences and Arts proposed to erect a monument in Nizhny Novgorod to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the victory of Russians over foreign invaders in 1612. They proposed Prince Dmitry Pozharsky and the zemstvo headman Kuzma Minin as the central figures of the composition.
The place and the heroes were not chosen by chance: in Time of Troubles Minin and Pozharsky gathered in Nizhny Novgorod the Second militia against the Swedish and Polish-Lithuanian invaders. In 1612 Russian army defeated the invading armies and completely liberated the capital.
Work on the monument
The author of the project is the sculptor Ivan Martos. In 1812, under his leadership, the craftsmen began work on the monument; 4 years later, the foundry worker Vasily Yekimov cast the entire sculpture. The monument took 18 tons of brass and copper. For the first time in European history, such a large monument was cast in one go.
The pedestal for the monument was made by mason Samson Sukhanov from three pieces of granite - they were specially brought from Finland. Ivan Martos decorated the pedestal with two high reliefs. On the front high relief "Citizens of Nizhniy Novgorod", the sculptor depicted people donating wealth to defend the Motherland. Among the figures are Martos himself and his two sons, who are sent to war. In the back high relief "The Expulsion of the Poles" Ivan Martos depicted Prince Pozharsky, who drives the invaders from Moscow.
The figures of Minin and Pozharsky were made in classic style and reminded antique statues... However, in sculptural composition there were also traditional Russian elements: Minin's clothes resembled a Russian shirt, the Savior Not Made by Hands was depicted on Pozharsky's shield, and an icon of the Kazan Mother of God was depicted on one of the high reliefs.
Opening of the monument
Initially, they wanted to erect the monument in Nizhny Novgorod. But Ivan Martos insisted that his place was in Moscow on Red Square in front of the Upper Trading Rows (today the GUM building). The monument to Minin and Pozharsky was erected in 1818.
Since 1818, the appearance of Red Square has changed several times: on the site of the shopping arcade, the GUM opened in 1893, and the Mausoleum was built in 1930. The monument interfered with large-scale parades and demonstrations. In 1931 it was transferred to the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, where it is still located.
Today the monument to Minin and Pozharsky is one of the main attractions of both Red Square and the capital as a whole. In winter, near the monument, as at the end 19th century, fill the skating rink.