Controversy and curiosity surround this statue. Here stands the Monument to Peter I. It is located in the Peter and Paul Fortress. This monument sparks debate. It certainly captures attention.
The Monument to Peter I is the work of Mihail Chemiakin. He designed it in the 1980s. It was cast in bronze in the United States. Chemiakin then donated it to Saint Petersburg. The statue was installed in 1991.
Notice the unusual proportions of the Monument to Peter I. The head seems too small for the body. Some find it grotesque. Others find it intriguing. Locals initially criticized it. Guards protected it from vandalism. Over time, opinions softened. People gradually accepted Chemiakin’s vision.
The monument’s height is 1.90 meters. That is about 6 feet 3 inches. It sits on a granite base. The base adds another 0.36 meters or 1 foot 2 inches.
Look closely at the face of the Monument to Peter I. It is based on a life mask of Peter. Carlo Bartolomeo Rastrelli created the mask in 1719. This was six years before Peter’s death. Chemiakin used this mask for the statue’s head.
Chemiakin elongated the body. He was inspired by Russian icons. He worked on the statue for eight years. He created three versions. One is here. The others are in France and New York. Vladimir Vysotsky inspired Chemiakin. He started with Rastrelli’s wax figure proportions. Then he changed the body’s shape.
The Monument to Peter I challenges traditional views. It encourages us to see Peter the Great in a new light. It reminds us that art can provoke thought and discussion. Take a moment to consider this unique portrayal of a powerful ruler. It certainly leaves a lasting impression.