What does joy look like? Here before us stands the Monument to Alexander Pushkin. It radiates joy and sunshine. This is not just any statue. It is a tribute to Russia’s greatest poet. Many consider this the finest of Pushkin’s statues in St. Petersburg.
The statue graces Arts Square. It stands proudly in front of the State Russian Museum. The monument’s creation involved sculptor Mikhail Anikushin and architect Vasily Petrov. It was unveiled on June 19 1957. This marked the 250th anniversary of St. Petersburg. Celebrations were delayed four years due to Joseph Stalin’s death in 1953. The city was founded in 1703.
Anikushin won the Lenin Prize in 1958 for this work. He aimed to capture Pushkin’s vivid character. Anikushin wanted to eliminate unnecessary details. He desired the statue to radiate joy. He later designed another Pushkin statue. It stands at Chernaya Rechka Metro Station.
The bronze statue is over four meters tall. It stands on a red granite pedestal. Together they measure almost eight meters. The pedestal reads “Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin” in gold.
Anikushin created many portraits of Pushkin during the process. The state commission approved an earlier version of the statue. But Anikushin found it lacking. He felt it did not fully capture Pushkin’s personality. Pushkin was straightforward and clear in thought according to Anikushin. The sculptor created a new version at his own expense.
The statue captures Pushkin in motion. His head is raised. His face beams with inspiration. Anikushin’s Pushkin is soft gentle and warm. The statue welcomes us into the poet’s presence. Pushkin’s eyes suggest a deep curiosity. The statue’s location is ideal. The square offers unobstructed views of Pushkin. Trees surround the monument. People sit on benches as if visiting a friend. The Rossi-built buildings provide a regal backdrop. They lend Pushkin a powerful presence. Yet his human form always rises above them. He remains in control.
Another Pushkin monument exists in the Lyceum Garden. Sculptor R Bach completed it around 1900. This garden held great significance for Pushkin. He studied there.
We only have a vague notion of what Pushkin actually looked like. Artists have copied artists for ages. So we recognize what other artists imagined. Pushkin once described himself as a “true demon in pranks a real monkey in face.” But artists Kiprensky and Tropinin set the standard. Anikushin’s version draws from these sources. It aligns with our expectations. This Pushkin is perfect.
So take a moment. Feel the joy radiating from this monument to Alexander Pushkin. Remember the poet’s impact on Russian literature and culture.