Добро пожаловать! Statue

Rising majestically before us is the Monument to Nicholas I, a marvel of 19th-century engineering. This imposing equestrian statue, crafted from bronze, stands as a testament to the Tsar’s thirty-year reign. Unveiled on July 7, 1859, the monument is a technical masterpiece, with the six-meter statue of Nicholas I balanced precariously on only two support points – the rear hooves of his horse. The statue’s creator, Auguste de Montferrand, intended this monument to complement the existing statues of Peter the Great and Alexander I, unifying the diverse architecture of St. Isaac’s Square. Nicholas I, depicted in his military uniform, faces St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Ironically, his horse’s rear faces the Mariinsky Palace, home to his daughter, Grand Duchess Maria Nikolayevna, a detail rumored to have caused her some distress. Look closely at the base. You’ll see allegorical figures representing virtues, modeled on Nicholas I’s daughters. These figures, along with high reliefs depicting key moments of his reign, like the suppression of the Decembrist revolt in 1825 and his intervention in the cholera riots of 1831, offer glimpses into his rule. The monument itself has sparked numerous legends. One such story claims that a wooden tablet was discovered on the horse’s foot after the unveiling. It supposedly read, “You will not catch up!”, a message perhaps aimed at Peter the Great’s statue across the square, which the Monument to Nicholas I appears to be pursuing. Another legend highlights the statue’s alignment with the Bronze Horseman and St. Isaac’s Cathedral, prompting jokes like, “Kolya catches up to Petya, but Isaak’s Cathedral gets in the way!”. The Monument to Nicholas I remains a powerful symbol of imperial Russia. It is a tribute to a complex ruler, a testament to artistic and engineering prowess, and a source of enduring local legends.