Monument to Peter 1 Copper Horseman where. Monument to Peter I sculptor Etienne Falcon "Copper Horseman"
Photo: Copper Horseman - Monument to Peter I
Photo and description
Among the most famous attractions of St. Petersburg, the monument to Peter Great is a special place, also known as the copper rider. Anyone who is familiar with Russian literature, especially with the creations of the classics, probably easily remember several works, where this attraction is given one of the main roles in the plot.
By the way, in fact, the sculpture is made of bronze, and it is called copper again thanks to the classics of Russian literature - Alexander Pushkin. His work "Copper Horseman" is one of the bright examples of how the famous sculpture inspired (and to this day continues to inspire) poets and prose.
The monument was opened in the early 80s of the XVIII century. It is located on the Senate Square. Its height is about ten and a half meters.
History of creating a monument
The author of the model of sculpture is Etienne Maurice Falcone - a sculptor specially invited to Russia from France. At the time of working on the model, he was given housing near the palace, it was in the former stable. His reward for work, according to the contract, was calculated by several hundreds of thousands of Levrov. The head of the statue was blinded by his student Marie-Anna Kollo, who came to Russia with his teacher. At that time she was a little more than twenty years (and her teacher - more than fifty). For his excellent work, she was adopted in the Russian Academy of Arts. She was also appointed a life pension. In general, the monument is the fruit of the work of several sculptors. The manufacture of the monument was started at the end of the 60s of the XVIII century and ended in the 70s.
When the French sculptor has not yet created a model of an equestrian statue, there were various opinions in society as to how the monument should look like. Someone believed that the sculpture should depict the emperor standing in full growth; Others wanted to see him surrounded by allegorical figures symbolizing various virtues; Third generally believed that instead of sculpture, a fountain should be opened. But the invited sculptor rejected all these ideas. He did not want to portray any allegorical figures, was not interested in him and the traditional (for that time) the appearance of the victor's sovereign. He believed that the monument should be simple, laconic, and he must first of all military merit of the emperor (although the sculptor recognized and highly appreciated them), and its activities in the field of lawmaking, creation. Falcone wanted to create an image of a public benefactor, he saw his main task.
According to one of the numerous legends associated with the monument and the history of its creation, the author of the sculpture model even spent the night in the former crowd of Peter the Great, where the ghost of the first Russian emperor appeared and asked questions. What exactly the ghost asked the sculptor? This we do not know, but, as the legend says, the answers appeared the ghost is quite satisfactory.
There is a version that the bronze horse reproduces the appearance of one of the favorite horses of Peter the Great - Lizette. This horse, the emperor bought at randomly methowed rods at a well-known price. This act was completely spontaneous (I liked the emperor to like a bright horse of an old Karabakh breed!). Some historians believe that Lisetta he called it in honor of one of his favorite. The horse served the owner of ten years, only him, and when he died, the emperor ordered to make scarecrow. But in fact, it has nothing to do with the creation of the famous monument. Sketches for the model of the sculpture of Falcone did from Orlovsky Ries from the Imperial Stables, their names were a diamond and whim. The Guards officer sat on one of these horses, threw out on him for a special relief and raised the horse on the piles. At this moment, the sculptor quickly did the necessary sketches.
Production of pedestal
According to the original plan of the sculptor, the pedestal of the monument was to be reminded in the form of a marine wave. Without hoping to find a solid stone of suitable size and necessary form, the creator of the monument planned to make a pedestal of several granite blocks. But unexpectedly suitable stone block was found. A huge stone on which the sculpture is currently installed, was discovered in one of the villages in the vicinity of the city (today this village does not exist, its former territory is in the city trait). The block was known among the locals as a thunder, as lightning struck it in ancient times. According to another version, the stone wore the name of the horse, which is associated with the ancient pagan sacrifices (sacrifice to the otherworldly struck horses). According to legend, the local whores helped the French sculptor helped.
Stone blockage had to extract from the ground. It was formed quite large pita, which was instantly filled with water. So the pond appeared that exists and at present.
For transportation of stone blocks, winter time was chosen so that the magnesium soil sustained the weight of the stone. His movement continued for more than four months: it was started in mid-November and ended at the end of March. Today, some "alternative historians" argue that such transportation of the stone was technically impossible; Meanwhile, numerous historical documents testify to the opposite.
The stone was taken to the seashore, where a special berth was built: a stone block was immersed with a vessel, built for its transportation. Although the stone was taken to the pier in the spring, the loading began only with the arrival of autumn. In September, stone block was taken to the city. To remove it from the vessel, he had to be tricked (it fell on piles, which before that were specially driven into the river bottom).
Stone treatment began long before his arrival in the city. It was discontinued at the order of Catherine II: Arriving to the place where the stone was then there, the empress examined the ships and ordered to stop the processing. But still, as a result of the work, the sizes of the stone decreased significantly.
Sculpture casting
Soon the sculpture casting began. A specially arrived from France the founder did not cope with his work, he had to replace the new one. But, if you believe one of the legends on the creation of a monument, problems and difficulties did not end. According to legend, during the casting, a pipe was faced, according to which melted bronze was floodged. Only due to the skill and the heroic efforts of the founder managed to save the lower part of the sculpture. The master preventing the spread of the flame and saved the lower part of the monument, received burns, his vision was partially damaged.
The manufacture of the upper parts of the monument was also associated with difficulties: they were not able to calmly cast, had to spend the casting. But during the re-casting, serious mistakes were again made, because of which cracks appeared later on the monument (and this is no longer a legend, but documented events). After almost two centuries (in the 70s of the 20th century), these cracks were discovered, the sculpture was renovated.
Legends
The city very quickly began to arise the legends about the monument. The process of myth-making associated with the monument continued in subsequent centuries.
One of the most famous legends tells about the period of the Patriotic War, when the threat of capturing the city by Napoleonic troops arose. The emperor then decided to export from the city of the most valuable works of art, including the famous monument. It was even highlighted on its transportation. At this time, a major last name Baturin has made a meeting with one of the close friends of the emperor and told him about a strange dream, pursuing the major a lot of nights in a row. In this dream, Major turned out to be on the square near the monument. The monument came to life and descended from the pedestal, and then moved towards the residence of the emperor (she was then on the Stone Island). From the palace towards the rider went out of the sovereign. Then the bronze guest began to reproach the emperor in an inept to manage the country. He ended his speech: "But while I stand in my place, there is nothing to fear the city!" The story about this dream was transferred to the emperor. He was amazed and ordered not to export a monument from the city.
Another legend tells about an earlier period of time and about Paul I, which was not yet emperor. Once, walking around the city with his friend, the future sovereign saw a stranger wrapped in a raincoat. The unknown approached them and went nearby. Due to the low-eye hats, a stranger's face was impossible to see. The future emperor drew the attention of his friend to this new traveler, but he answered that he did not see anyone. The mysterious fellow successor suddenly spoke and expressed his future sovereign his sympathy and participation (as if predicted those tragic events that later occurred in the life of Paul I). Pointing to the place where the monument was subsequently installed, the ghost told the future sovereign: "Here you will see me again." Here, saying goodbye, he took off his hat and then shocked Paul managed to see his face: it was Peter the Great.
During the blockade of Leningrad, which, as you know, lasted nine hundred days, there was such a legend in the city: while the copper rider and monuments of the Great Russian commander are in their places and are not covered by bombs, the enemy is not included in the city. However, a monument to Peter the Great was still protected from bombing: he was laid with boards and laid out on all sides, laid out with sands filled with sand.
Photo 19.07.2011:
Photo 15.05.2015:
The monument to the Russian emperor Peter the Great "Copper Horseman" was opened in in 1782. Located in the center. The author of the monument is the sculptor E.M. Falcone.
About the famous monument to Peter I - "Copper Horseman" (According to the materials of the book "St. Petersburg and suburbs: a guide to cultural and historical monuments / Yu.G. Ivanov, O.Yu. Ivanova, R.A. Halhatov. - Smolensk: Rusich, 2010. - 336 C.: IL. - (Memorial seats of Russia) "):
On August 7, 1782, under the thunder of the orchestra and cannon, with a huge set of people, a solemn opening of the monument to Peter I was held. When the linen shields surrounded by the screen, the bronze idol, ascended by the pedestal-cliff, opened the eyes. The head of the emperor, crowned with a wreath of a laurel, froze in an energetic turn. The shifted eyebrows give the appearance of the reformer some severeness, the gaze seems to be directed into the future. The hooves of the tsarist jumps are trapped by the snake - a defeated enemy. On both sides on the pedestal - concise inscription: "Peter the first Catherine second summer 1782".
The idea of \u200b\u200bthe construction of the monument belonged to Empress Catherine II. A huge monument was created for 16 years. For its execution in 1766, the famous French sculptor Etien Falcon was arrived in Russia. The brewer decided to create an image not so much an autocratic ruler, how much the transducer who contributed to his acts to the prosperity of the Great country.
Falcone depicted a squeezing on the horse of Peter in a spacious shirt, dropping off the shoulders. This allowed to effectively pass the movement, powerful energy and the strength of the rider who stopped the horse heaven.
It was difficult to be one of the main parts of the sculpture - the head of Peter. Falcone rejected several eigenous options, and then the head of the sculpture climbed his student Marie Anne Collo, who arrived in Russia together with the sculpter. Using the gypsum cast of the face of the first Russian emperor, the collo achieved not only portrait similarity, but also managed to express a high mind, purposefulness, the will of Peter.
Falcone deeply worked and sculptural image of the royal hill.
The pedestal of the monument was created on the project of architect Yu.M. Felten from giant monolith. In twelve versts from the village of Lachta found granite boulder, called the thunder. According to legend, lightning got into it and he gave a crack. The contemporary wrote: "Looking at one stone excited surprise, and the idea to transport him to another place was horrified." Indeed, moving a monolith with dimensions of 12.8 m in length, 8.2 m wide and 6.4 m in height seemed impossible. However, in September 1768, work began on the preparation of the cliff to transport. The method of her suggested a Military Engineer Laskari. Excavales drove downstairs around the grooved of the stone and exposed his lower part. In the forest gave a lot, leading to the shore of the Finnish Bay. Twelve 30-meter levers Thunder raised and installed on a wooden frame. Under the frame with a stone, a wooden gutter with bronze balls, on which she moved. They pulled a block with a weighing of 1600 tons with the help of ropes and two natal, which led to 32 people move. During the movement on the stone there were people: two drumsman were shot by the signals to employees on the gate, 40 Kamenotesov continued to process the rock, several blacksmiths corrected and sharpened tools, using the same minor mountains installed here. The distance from Lachta to the Finnish Bay (8 miles) was overcome in 4 months. On March 27, 1770, the stone was taken to the pier. Here he was immersed on a specially built barge and towed it in. The stone was unloaded to the shore of the Neva y and moved to the place specified Falcone.
The decision of an unprecedented complexity of the task of delivering a thunder to the capital, cutter, the diligence and ingenuity of people who carried it out, caused the delight of contemporaries. In honor of the transport of the stone, a memorable medal was knocked out with the inscription "Densulation like".
After processing the monolith, the sculpture has begun. The perfect and masterfully fulfilled a monument to Peter I is one of the highest achievements of the monumental sculpture of the XVIII century. Falcone managed to create it peculiar, not repeating antiquity and revival samples. A suspension of A. Pushkin "Copper Horseman" played an extremely important role in the formation of the Ensemble of the Senate Square.
"Copper Horseman" - a monument to the first Russian emperor Peter I, became one of the symbols of St. Petersburg. His solemn discovery, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the reign of Empress Catherine II, was held on August 18 (August 7, on the old style) of 1782 in the Senate Square.
The initiative to create a monument to Peter I belongs to Catherine II. It was according to her order, Prince Alexander Mikhailovich Golitsyn turned to professors of the Paris Academy of Painting and Sculpture Didro and Voltera, whose belief Catherine II completely trusted.
Well-known masters recommended Etienne-Maurice Falcone for this work, which has long dreamed of creating a monumental work. Sketch from wax was made by a master in Paris, and after his arrival in Russia in 1766, work on the gypsum model in the magnitude of the statue began.
Refusing an allegorical decision proposed by him surrounded by Catherine II, Falcone decided to submit a king as "creator, legislator and benefactor of his country", which "extends to the despondent of the country circled into them." The head of the statue he instructed modeling his student Marie Anne Collo, but later, made changes to the image, seeking to express in the face of Peter a combination of thought and strength.
The monument casting took place at the end of August 1774. But to fulfill it at a time, as calculated Falcone, failed. During casting in the foundry, cracks were formed, through which liquid metal began to flow. A fire began in the workshop.
The dedication and resourcefulness of the foundry master of Emelyan Hailov made it possible to extinguish the flame, but the entire upper part of the casting from the knees of the rider and the horse's chest to their goals was irreparable, and she had to cut down. During the first and second casting, the wizard was embossed and the holes remained in the cast part of the monument from pipes (sprues), along which liquid metal was supplied to the form, and polished bronze. The upper part of the statue was cast in the summer of 1777.
Then the connection of two parts of the sculpture and sealing the seam between them, the chasing, grinding and patting bronze. In the summer of 1778, the monument finish was mainly completed. In memory of this, Falcone engraved on one of the folds of Peter I, the inscription in Latin: "Lepil and cast Etienne Falcona Parisian 1778." In August of the same year, the sculptor left Russia, without waiting for the opening of the monument.
Observation of the progress of work on the construction of the monument after the departure of the French sculptor from Russia led the architect Yuri Felten.
The support of the monument serves as a member of the Snake of the Sculptor of Fyodor Gordeeva, symbolizing envy, cosiness and malice.
The footage of the sculpture is a giant granite block, the so-called Thunder-stone was found in 1768 on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, near the village of Horse Lakhta. Delivery of colossal monolith weighing about 1.6 thousand tons to the place of construction of the monument was completed in 1770. At first, he was lucky on land on the platform with grooves, which through 32 bronze balls relied on portable rails, laid on the prepared surface, and then on a specially built barge. According to the picture of the architect Yuri Felten, the stone was granted a form of a rock, as a result of processing its dimensions decreased significantly. In the pedestal in Russian and Latin, the inscription is mounted: "Peter the first Catherine Two". Installation of the monument was led by the sculptor of Gordeev.
The height of the sculpture of Peter I is 5.35 meters, the height of the pedestal is 5.1 meters, the length of the pedestal is 8.5 meters.
In the statue of Peter, a pacifying horse on the steep vertex of the cliff, the unity of movement and peace is superbly transmitted; Special greatness of the monument give the kingnially proud landing of the king, the imperative gesture of the hand, turning the head of the head in the laurel wreath, personifying the resistance of the element and the approval of the main will.
The monumental statue of the rider, the powerful hand of the compressive reins of the horse raised in the rapid rush, symbolizes the growth of the power of Russia.
The location of the monument to Peter I on the Senate Square is not chosen by chance. The Admiralty, the building of the Chief Legislative Body of Tsarist Russia - the Senate is found by the emperor. Catherine II insisted on the placement of a monument in the center of the Senate Square. The author of the sculpture of Etienne Falcona came in his own way, setting a monument closer to the Neva.
Senatskaya Square after the opening of the monument was named Petrovskaya, in 1925-2008 it was called the Square of the Decembrists. In 2008, she returned the former name - Senatskaya.
Thanks to Alexander Pushkin, who used the fantastic plot about the revived monument during a shook city of flooding in his poem, the bronze monument of Peter.
During the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), the monument was covered with sand bags, on top of which a wooden case was built.
The "copper rider" has repeatedly restored. In particular, in 1909, water accumulated inside the monument was lowered inside the monument and cracked the cracks, in 1912 the holes were drilled in the sculpture, in 1935, all newly formed defects were eliminated. The restoration work complex was carried out in 1976.
The monument to Peter I constitutes an integral part of the city center ensemble.
On the day of the city in St. Petersburg, official festive events are traditionally on the Senate Square.
Material prepared on the basis of RIA news and open sources
Address: Senate Square
In that distant august day 1782when the solemn opening of the bronze went on the Senate Square of St. Petersburg monument to Peter firstcalled subsequently Copper riderNo one could imagine that it will be the most symbolic, the most mystical and most recognizable monument of the city.
History of creation
After the death of Elizabeth Petrovna as a result of the next palace coup to power came Catherine II. It was immediately clear that she came to power seriously and for a long time, and in connection with this, the Oddranny Senate proposed to build a monument to the new Russian lord. However, Catherine was not in vain Great, she was not borrowing wisdom, and she decided that in the city of Peter you need to establish a monument, first of all, it was him - converter of Russia, thereby emphasizing his worship and its involvement in the continuation of Peter's case.
After three years of his reign, Ekaterina instructs the Russian representative in France D.Golitsyn To find an experienced sculptor who would have taken to move the image of Peter first in the monument. Of all possible candidates, the choice stopped on E.Falconrecommended by himself D.Didro.
French sculptor E. Falcon agreed to go to work in Russia under the contract for the construction of the equestrian statue of Peter the first "Colossal sizes". Before that, Falcone was the artist-sculptor of the porcelain factory, but, like all the artists, dreamed of creating a grand and eternal work of art. Therefore, he hacked with great hopes for the proposal of Catherine about the construction of the monument to Peter first.
Concept of the Monument of Catherine The second discussed with Didro and Volterom. What kind of philosophical idea was to bear this monument, which was to appear before the descendants the image of Peter - all these questions were the subject of hot disputes and discussions.
In the end, at the suggestion of E. Falcon, it was decided that the imperial image should be the personification of the Wildlife and civilization submission to the wildlife, and for this, the monument itself was to be on a huge stone-mounted pedestal, personifying natural natural forces.
Against the background of the Senate Building
Work on the manufacture of a gypsum layout of the monument and his casting continued more than ten years And were very complex. Calcue a bronze figure of the giant sizes of Falcone helped Russian "Lefty" - Emelyan Hailovworking before on the manufacture of guns.
At the first casting, the upper part of the monument was not turned out, and the lower cracked. But together with joint efforts (the first workpiece of E.Khailov, which, plus the complexity of an additional casting of the top of the monument), was able to create an unprecedented bronze monument.
Rushed with everyone, without waiting for the end of installation 10-ton monumentwho left in the late 70s of the 18th century, Falcone took all the estimated and technical documentation. Works had to continue Y.Felten. In parallel with the construction of the monument, very complex engineering calculations were accomplished and the creation of unique means of transportation for movement On Senate Square Megalita For the Petrovsky pedestal.
And that's all it was ready. Solemn openingthe monument to Peter the first, until the time hidden from the public of the public with a special fence, gathered on the Senate Square almost the whole city! On the balcony of the Senate was Catherine herself. For a special sign, the fence fell, and Peter first appeared to the first, rushing on horse in his beloved city. The drum fight began, the troops were given to Petra, the guns were wagged and in the Petropavlovsk fortress and in the Admiralty. Joyful exclamations accompanied this festive day - August 7, 1782. Square was decided to rename Petrovskaya. But this name did not fit.
The author of the monument E.Falcone was not even invited to a solemn event about the opening of the monument. But Falcone left us a kind autograph On the fold of the Petrovsky Cloak, where it is indicated that he looked and cast a monument to Paris E.Falcon in 1778.
His name on the monument perpetuated and Catherine II. In order to emphasize the continuity of the legislative power in Russia and its involvement, by order of the empress, on the pedestal was the inscription - Peter the first Catherine second, indicating the date of installation of the monument.
Memorable inscription
And the monument itself has gained very soon mystical OleetWith which many legends, anecdotic stories and poetic topics were associated. Petra Petra saw allegedly and Pavel First, and some major Baturin. Form Copper ridercreated by genius Pushkin, gave a new name to the very monument, to which many poets and writers often appealed in their works.
Today a monument to Peter the first visited by tourists a place. Meetings are appointed here, newlyweds and graduates of schools are being photographed after the last call.
The image of Peter the first
The final image of the Peter created by all, involved in this process, was seen differently. Catherine The second represented him roman emperorholding a scepter and rod. Someone advised to surround Peter by allegories, personifying prudence, hard work, justice and victory. Didro offered to create a monument in the form of fountain In the frame of allegorical figures. Etc….
However, Falcone I had a look at the identity of Peter and on her embodiment. He wanted to show Colder, the legislative organizer of the new direction of the country's development. Peter at Falcone rushes on horseback, circling his possessions and blessed them for further prosperity.
Dressing Peter in Roman Clothes Falcone also did not, based on the fact that Peter was still not Roman, but by the Russian emperor. Russian thoroughbreds were also chosen to create a horse orlovskaya hopping From the imperial stables, which were forced to pose in front of the sculptor.
Master of monumental creativity well succeeded figures Peter And impatient his horse standing in the hind legs. The emperor is depicted in a dynamic progressive movement forward as a creator, teller and legislator. Dressed not in a tsarist, Peter sits on a raised horse, and it sits not in the saddle, but on bear Schucket, personifying Russian wildness. In the legs of the horse can be seen snakeSo to speak, the misties of the enemies of reformers. But laurel wreath And the sword on the belt indicate the role of Peter, winning and enemies, and conservatism.
If the falcon has no problems with the figure and general concept, head He had no first Russian emperor. There is a young 17-year-old student of Falcon for helping her teacher Marie Colllowhich independently, in just one night, made a sketch of the head of Peter the first. Her version of Petrovsky is a member of the descendants.
The merits of Marie highly appreciated Catherine the second - the girl became a member of the Academy of Arts and received a lifetime retirement in the amount of ten thousand livres. I wonder what pupils Peter.performed by it in the form heartsthat transfers his eternal love for the city created by him.
History "Thunder-stone"
The rocky pedestal of the monument to Peter the first in itself is a unique landmark that has an amazing story of his appearance. A huge granite stone for a rocky pedestal was found peasant S.G.Vishnyakov in the vicinity of St. Petersburg, about Horse Lakhta. It was a rock fragment, it is incomprehensible as, and in what distant geological times turned out to be near the village. Vishnyakov, engaged in the supply of stone building material in St. Petersburg, offered this "Thunder-stone"manual for the creation of a monument, which published an announcement of the search for such a giant. The stone approached and in size, on the texture and in the form resembling a sea wave, and an enterprising peasant received a set of whole 100 rubles!
"Thunder-stone" near equestrian lacht
Extracted after six months with a lever-jack system two thousanddedstone after processing and cleaning began to weigh about one and a half thousand pounds. The length of Megalith was around 13 meters, height is near 8.. For almost five months, this huge boulder has done a nearly eight kilometer way to the Pier of the Finnish Gulf, from where he was shipped to the Senate Square.
Transportation "Thunder" on land (engraving)
For transportation of stone on land A specially designed platform with balls mounted in parallel gutters was built. In addition, there was a breakdown to the final destination. It is said that the movement of the stone on the promissory sometimes came at a speed of 20-30 meters a day! Considering the fact that the stone was transported from Horse Lachta to the Finnish Bay only in the winter, according to measurement roads, and at the Finnish Bayonly next fall after the construction of a special vessel, then all the movement of the so-called "thunder-stone" on a permanent place occupied almost year!
Transportation "Thunder-stone" water
To drag a stone from a vehicle to the territory of the Senate Square, the vessel was specifically poured into pre-prepared piles. For all manipulations with the brought "Thunder", there was a large number of St. Petersburgers who were gathered on the square.
Unloading "Thunder"
And now, finally, the "thunder-stone" was installed on its permanent place, where it was subjected to processing that reduced its size and led to a partial loss of a "wild" species. And the place from where the stone was removed was filled with groundwater, forming Petrovsky Pondexisting to this time.
The city on the Neva is actually the open-air museum. Monuments of architecture, history and art are concentrated in its central part and are mostly composite. A special place among them is the monument dedicated to Peter Great, - a copper rider. The description of the monument is quite detailed to give any guide, in this story everything is interesting: from creating a sketch to the installation process. Many legends and myths are associated with it. The first one relates to the origin of the name of the sculpture. It was given much later the construction of the monument, but did not change for two hundred years of its existence.
Name
... over the rainstream rock
Moid with a speed of hand
Sat on a bronze horse. ...
These lines are familiar to each Russian person, their author, A. S. Pushkin, describing in the work of the same name called his copper rider. The great Russian poet, born 17 years after the installation of the monument, did not assume that his poem would give a new sculpture name. In his work, he gives the following description of the monument to the copper rider (or rather whose image was displayed in it):
... what a thought on the chel!
What power in it is hidden! ..
... about the powerful Lord of the destiny! ..
Peter appears not by an ordinary person, not a great king, but almost demigod. At these epithets inspired Pushkin monument, its scale and fundamentality. The rider is not a copper, the sculpture itself is made of bronze, and a one-piece granite block was used as a pedestal. But the image of Peter, created by Pushkin in the poem, so corresponded to the energy of the whole composition, which is not worth paying attention to such trifles. Until today, the monument description of the monument is inextricably linked with the work of the great Russian classics in St. Petersburg.
History
Ekaterina II, wanting to emphasize his commitment to the reform activity of Peter, decided to erect a monument in the city, the founder of which he was. The first statue created Francesco Rastrelli, but the monument did not receive the approval of the empress and was kept for a long time in the barns of St. Petersburg. The sculptor-recommended sculptor Etienne Maurice Falcone worked on a monument of 12 years. His confrontation with Catherine ended with the fact that he left Russia, and did not see his creation in her finished form. After examining the identity of Peter according to the existing sources at that time, he created and embodied his image not as a great commander and king, but as a creator of Russia who discovered the path to the sea brought her closer to Europe. Falcone collided that Catherine and all the highest officials had already had a ready-made image of the monument, he could only create the expected forms. If it had happened, the description of the monument was a copper rider in St. Petersburg would be completely different. Perhaps then he would have another name. The work of Falcone moved slowly, this was promoted by the officials of flints, displeasure to the empress and the complexity of the created image.
Installation
For the casting of Peter's figure, even recognized masters of their affairs on the horse did not take place, so Falcone was attracted by Emelyan Khailov, who cast guns. The size of the monument was not the most important problem, it was much more important to observe the weight balance. Having only three points of the support, the sculpture was supposed to be stable. The original solution was the introduction of a snake in the monument, which was a symbol of defeated evil. At the same time, it provided an additional support for the sculptural group. We can say that the monument was created in the co-authorship of the sculptor with his student Marie-Anna Kollo (Head of Peter, Person) and Russian Master Fedor Gordeyev (Snake).
Thunder
No description of the monument is a copper rider without mentioning its foundation (pedestal). A huge granite block was a split zipper, which is why the local population gave her the name of the thunder, which continued in the future. According to Falcone, the sculpture should stand on the basis of the imitating wave. The stone was delivered to the Senate Square on land and water, while working on cutting the granite blocks did not stop. For extraordinary transport, all Russia and Europe followed, in honor of its completion Catherine commanded the medal. In September 1770, the granite foundation was established in the Senate Square. The location of the monument was also controversial. The Empress insisted on the installation of the monument in the center of the square, but Falcone put it closer to the Neva, and the view of Peter turned to the river. Although fierce disputes are underway to today: where did the copper rider ride? Description of the monument to various researchers contains excellent answer options. Some believe that the king looks at Sweden with which he fought. Others suggest that his gaze is turned to the sea, the entry to which was necessary for the country. There is also a point of view, at the base of which the theory lies that the Vladyka overlooks the city laid down.
Copper Horseman, Monument
A brief description of the monument can be found in any guidebook on historical and cultural objects of St. Petersburg. Peter 1 sits on a raised horse, stretching one hand over the current Neva. His head is decorated with a laurel wreath, and the legs of the horse rolling the snake, personifying evil (in a wide understanding of this word). On the granite base by order of Catherine II, "Catherine II Peter I" and the date is 1782. These words on one side of the monument are written in Latin, on the other - in Russian. The weight of the monument itself is about 8-9 tons, the height is more than 5 meters excluding the foundation. This monument became a business card of the city on the Neva. Each person who came to inspect his sights, necessarily visits the Senate Square, and each forms his own opinion and, accordingly, the description of the monument is a copper rider Peter 1.
Symbolism
The power and greatness of the monument leaves no people indifferent for two centuries. On the Great Classic, A. S. Pushkin, he made such an indelible impression that the poet created one of his most significant creations - the "copper rider". Description of the monument in the poem as an independent hero attracts the attention of the reader with its brightness and integrity of the image. This work entered a number of symbols of Russia, as well as the monument itself. "Copper rider, a description of the monument" - the essay on this topic is written by high school students. At the same time, the role of Pushkin's poem, its vision of the sculpture appear in each essay. Since the opening of the monument and until today in society, there are ambiguous opinions about the composition as a whole. Many Russian writers used the image created by Falcone in their work. Everyone found a symbolism in it, which was interpreted in accordance with his views, but the fact that Peter I personifies the movement of Russia forward, no doubt causes. This confirms the copper rider. The description of the monument has become for many ways to express their own thoughts about the fate of the country.
Monument
On the rock, in front of which the abyss opened, the mighty horse rapidly runs. The rider stretches the reins, raising the animal on the piles, while his whole figure personifies confidence and calm. According to Falcone, it was this that Peter I is a hero, a warrior, but also the converter. He points to Dali, who will be subject to him. The struggle with the forces of nature, not too ignorant people, prejudice for him is the meaning of life. When creating sculpture, Catherine wanted to see Peter as a great emperor, i.e. the sample could be the Roman statues. The king should ride a horse, holding in his hands. At the same time, the antique heroes attached to the help of clothing. Falcone was categorically opposed, he said that the Russian sovereign could not wear a tunic, as well as Julius Caesar Kaftan. Peter appears in a long Russian shirt, which closes the raising in the wind of a raincoat - this is exactly what the copper rider looks like. The description of the monument is impossible without some characters made by Falcone in the main composition. For example, Peter is not sitting in the saddle, the bear skiing is in this capacity. Its value is interpreted as belonging to the nation, the people who king leads. Snake under the hooves of the horse symbolizes cunning, enmity, ignorance, defeated by Peter.
Head
The traits of the king's face are slightly 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. Peter, shot of Rastrelli, helped Pupil Falcone to complete the king's face. Her work was very highly appreciated by Catherine II, Marie Anne Kollo was appointed a lifefire. The whole figure, landing of the head, a fierce gesture, an inner fire, expressed in the view, show the character of Peter I.
Location
Falcone paid special attention to the grounds on which the copper rider is located. Many talented people attracted this topic. Rock, granite blocks personifies the difficulties that Peter overcomes in its path. After it reached the vertex, it acquires the importance of the contestancy, subordinviasis of his will of all circumstances. The granite block, made in the form of an excavation wave, also indicates for the conquest of marine spaces. The location of the entire monument is very significant. Peter I, the founder of the city of St. Petersburg, contrary to all difficulties, creates a seaport for his power. That is why the figure is set closer to the river and deployed to her face. Peter I (Copper Horseman) as if he continues to peer into the distance, evaluate the threats for his state and plan new great accomplishments. In order to draw up his own opinion about this symbol of the city on the Neva and all of Russia, it is necessary to visit it, feel the powerful energy of the place reflected by the sculptor character. Reviews of many tourists, including foreign, are reduced to one thought: a few minutes disappears the gift of speech. It is affecting in this case not only but also awareness of its importance for the history of Russia.